[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 68 (Friday, April 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 18421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8506]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA/FHWA Docket No. FTA-2000-7171]


Notice of Request for the Extension of Currently Approved 
Information Collections

AGENCIES: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the FTA and FHWA to request the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend the following currently 
approved information collection: Metropolitan and Statewide 
Transportation Planning.

DATES: Comments must be submitted before June 6, 2000.

ADDRESSES: All written comments must refer to the docket number that 
appears at the top of this document and be submitted to the United 
States Department of Transportation, Central Dockets Office, PL-401, 
400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. All comments received 
will be available for examination at the above address from 10:00 a.m. 
to 5:00 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. 
Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard/envelope.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Stout, FTA, (202) 366-1628 
or Mr. Sheldon Edner, FHWA, (202) 366-4066.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to send 
comments regarding any aspect of this information collection, 
including: (1) The necessity and utility of the information collection 
for the proper performance of the functions of the FTA and the FHWA; 
(2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) 
ways to minimize the collection burden without reducing the quality of 
the collected information. Comments submitted in response to this 
notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB 
reinstatement of this information collection.
    Title: Metropolitan and Statewide Transportation Planning (OMB 
Number: 2132-0529).
    Background: The FTA and FHWA jointly carry out the Federal mandate 
to improve urban and rural transportation. 49 U.S.C. 5303-5306 and 23 
U.S.C. 134 and 135 require metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) 
and States to develop transportation plans and programs. The 
information collection activities involved in developing the Unified 
Planning Work Program (UPWP), the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the 
Statewide Transportation Plan, the Metropolitan Transportation 
Improvement Program (TIP), and the Statewide Transportation Improvement 
Program (STIP) are necessary to identify and evaluate the 
transportation issues and needs in each urbanized area and throughout 
every State. These products of the transportation planning process are 
essential elements in the reasonable planning and programming of 
federally-funded transportation investments.
    In addition to serving as a management tool for MPOs and State 
DOTs, the UPWP is used by both FTA and FHWA to oversee the expenditure 
of federal transportation planning funds and to monitor the 
transportation planning activities of those agencies. It is also needed 
to develop policy on using funds, monitor State and local compliance 
with national technical emphasis areas, respond to congressional 
inquiries, prepare congressional testimony, and ensure efficiency in 
the use and expenditure of federal funds by determining that planning 
proposals are both reasonable and cost-effective. 49 U.S.C. Section 
5304 and 23 U.S.C. 134(h) require the development of TIPs for urbanized 
areas; STIPS are mandated by 23 U.S.C. 135(f). After approval by the 
Governor and MPO, metropolitan TIPs in air quality attainment areas are 
to be incorporated directly into the STIP. For nonattainment areas, 
FTA/FHWA must make a conformity finding on the TIPs before including 
them into the STIP. The complete STIP is then jointly reviewed and 
approved or disapproved by FTA and FHWA. These conformity findings and 
approval actions constitute the determination that States are complying 
with the requirements of 23 U.S.C.135 and 49 U.S.C. Section 5303 as a 
condition of eligibility for federal-aid funding. Without these 
documents, approvals and findings, capital and/or operating assistance, 
cannot be provided.
    Respondents: State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and 
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs).
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 646 hours for each of the 
392 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 253,250 hours.
    Frequency: Annually and biennially.

    Issued: April 3, 2000.
Dorrie Y. Aldrich,
FTA Associate Administrator for Administration.

    Dated: April 3, 2000.
Michael J. Vecchietti,
FHWA Acting Director of Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-8506 Filed 4-6-00; 8:45 am]
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