[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82135-82136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32723]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-2010-0171]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for
Approval of a New Information Collection
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
[[Page 82136]]
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to
request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of a new
information collection that is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal
Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Please submit comments by February 28, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number
2010-0171 by any of the following methods:
Web Site: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of Transportation, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allen Greenberg at
[email protected] or (202) 366-2425, Office of Operations,
Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE. Washington, DC 20590, Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program initial stage
research on the topic of Dynamic Ridesharing.
Background: The Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program was
established to conduct longer term, higher risk research that will
result in potentially dramatic breakthroughs for improving the
durability, efficiency, environmental performance, productivity, and
safety of highway and intermodal transportation systems. To facilitate
identification and assessment of higher-risk, breakthrough research
topics, the Program conducts literature reviews, event scanning, and
targeted convening. As part of an assessment of potential high-risk,
breakthrough research on dynamic ridesharing, the EAR Program is
conducting this collection of information on behavioral preferences
using focus groups.
As a response to the opening of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes
in the Washington, D.C., metro area in the mid-1970s, a unique
commuting phenomenon developed: ``slugging.'' This type of single-trip
dynamic carpooling evolved from drivers and passengers coming together
to fulfill each party's needs (i.e., allowing drivers to meet HOV
requirements and thus use the express travel lanes and riders to enjoy
a free, fast trip to work). Academic and entrepreneurial types alike
are looking at ways to facilitate dynamic ridesharing through
technological means. Some suggestions for enhancing dynamic ridesharing
include website forums that connect drivers with riders and Smartphone
applications that would allow drivers and riders to register and
connect with each other. These efforts build off of the success of
three meeting-place based dynamic ridesharing systems that exist in
Houston, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. These three systems have no
formal leadership or management; rather they have evolved to fulfill a
need for carpools created by the presence of HOV lanes. These naturally
occurring dynamic ridesharing systems operate by having drivers and
riders meet at central, easily accessible locations such as park and
ride lots where they create instantaneous carpools based on desired
destinations. The lines are highly successful and have existed for a
long time (30+ years in the case of DC), and they are a critical
component to these robust dynamic ridesharing systems which serve
thousands of commuters each weekday. Despite their success and
interesting nature, they have been severely understudied by academics
and transportation professionals. Focus group participants will be
recruited based on a number of criteria. The primary factor is whether
participants have utilized dynamic carpooling, then the frequency of
their use and finally whether they work for the federal government or
private sector. Participants would not be representing their place of
work, and they would be asked to participate as members of the public
on their own time outside of work hours.
Respondents: The Focus Group will send approximately 108
participants on a three-city tour (Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA;
and Houston, TX) to study the informal, dynamic carpooling systems in
each city. The government expects the contractor to recruit slugging/
casual carpooling participants in each city.
Frequency: Annually.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: There will be approximately
9 focus groups (3 in each city); with each group consisting of 12
participants with a time commitment of 1.5 hours each person. The
screening for potential participants will take approximately 5 minutes
per person. There will be approximately 108 participants.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The annual burden for the
Focus Group would be between 162 hours. The annual burden for screening
participants will be 9 hours.
Annual Total = 171 hours.
Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of
this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed
collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of
the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality,
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that
the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic
technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information.
The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request
for OMB's clearance of this information collection.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued On: December 22, 2010.
Judith Kane,
Acting Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. 2010-32723 Filed 12-28-10; 8:45 am]
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