[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 53215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22924]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. 2003-16095


Notice of Request for the Extension of Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, 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 Federal Transit Administration 
(FTA) 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 November 10, 2003.

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 a.m. to 
5 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: Ms. Candace Noonan, Office of 
Planning, (202) 366-1648.

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; (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 extension of 
this information collection.
    Title: Metropolitan and Statewide Transportation Planning (OMB 
Number: 2132-0529).
    Background: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal 
Highway Administration (FHWA) jointly carry out the federal mandate to 
improve urban and rural transportation. 49 U.S.C. 5303 and 23 U.S.C 134 
and 135 authorize the use of federal funds to assist Metropolitan 
Planning Organizations (MPOs), states, and local public bodies in 
developing transportation plans and programs to serve the 
transportation needs of urbanized areas over 50,000 in population. The 
information collection activities involved in developing the Unified 
Planning Work Program (UPWP), the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the 
Statewide Transportation Plan, the 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 monitor the 
transportation planning activities of those agencies. It is also needed 
to establish national outyear budgets and regional program plans, 
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. 5303 and 23 U.S.C. 134(h) 
require the development of TIPs for urbanized, STIPs are mandated by 23 
U.S.C. 235(f). After approval by the Governor and MPO, metropolitan 
TIPs in 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. 235 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.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 634.7 hours for each of the 
453 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 287,519 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.

    Issued: September 4, 2003.
Rita L. Wells,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-22924 Filed 9-8-03; 8:45 am]
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