[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 28 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6665-6666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2336]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Innovative Technology Administration

[Docket No. BTS-2005-22232]


Notice of Request for Clearance of a New Information Collection: 
Omnibus Household Survey Program

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Research and 
Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the 
intention of the BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget's 
(OMB's) approval for a new information collection related to the use of 
and satisfaction with the nation's transportation system.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 13, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You can mail or hand-deliver comments to the U.S. Department 
of Transportation (DOT), Dockets Management System (DMS). You may 
submit your comments by mail or in person to the Docket Clerk, Docket 
No. BTS-2005-22232, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Comments should 
identify the docket number; paper comments should be submitted in 
duplicate. The DMS is open for examination and copying, at the above 
address, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays. If you wish to receive confirmation of receipt of your 
written comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard 
with the following statement: ``Comments on Docket BTS-2005-22232.'' 
The Docket Clerk will date stamp the postcard prior to returning it to 
you via the U.S. mail. Please note that due to delays in the delivery 
of U.S. mail to Federal offices in Washington, DC, we recommend that 
persons consider an alternative method (the Internet, fax, or 
professional delivery service) to submit comments to the docket and 
ensure their timely receipt at U.S. DOT. You may fax your comments to 
the DMS at (202) 493-2251.
    If you wish to file comments using the Internet, you may use the 
DOT DMS Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. Please follow the online 
instructions for submitting an electronic comment. You can also review 
comments on-line at the DMS Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. The 
electronic docket is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. 
Please follow the instructions online for more information and help. An 
electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem and 
suitable communications software from the Government Printing Office 
Electronic Bulletin Board Service at telephone number 202-512-1661. 
Internet users may reach the Federal Register's home page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html and the Government Printing Office's 
database at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
    Please note that anyone is able to electronically search all 
comments received into our docket management system by the name of the 
individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment if submitted 
on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may 
review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register 
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; pages 19475-19570) 
or you may review the Privacy Act Statement at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. June Taylor Jones, (202) 366-4743, 
Passenger Travel Program Manager, BTS, RITA, Department of

[[Page 6666]]

Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office 
hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Omnibus Household Survey Program.
    Background: In 2005, Congress passed, and the President signed, the 
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU; Pub. L. 109-59). SAFETEA-LU contained a 
number of legislative mandates including providing data, statistics and 
analyses to transportation decision-makers. The Research and Innovative 
Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (RITA/
BTS) was tasked to accomplish this legislative mandate under 49 U.S.C. 
111(c)(1). RITA/BTS plans to use the Omnibus Household Survey (OHS) to:
     Assess the public's evaluation of the nation's 
transportation system in light of the DOT's strategic goals (safety, 
reduced congestion, global connectivity, environmental stewardship and 
security, preparedness and response),
    Provide a vehicle for the operating administrations within 
the DOT as well as other governmental agencies, to survey the public 
about current transportation issues, and
    Provide national estimates of transportation mode usage.
    Each version of the OHS will focus on some subset of topics taken 
from the list below. Topics may vary from survey to survey since 
covering all topics in one questionnaire would make the respondent 
burden unacceptable:

    Frequency of mode use in the month prior to the survey month: 
Commercial air, Privately-owned vehicle, Taxi, Light rail, Commuter 
rail, Public bus, Intercity Rail (Amtrak), Other modes such as 
biking and walking.
    Confidence in the safety of the following modes of 
transportation: Commercial air, Privately-owned vehicle, Taxi, Light 
rail, Commuter rail, Water transportation (taxis, ferries, ships), 
Public bus, Intercity Rail (Amtrak), Other modes such as biking/
walking/ferries.
    Confidence in the security procedures for the following modes of 
transportation: Commercial air, Charter/general aviation, Privately-
owned vehicle, Taxi, Light rail, Commuter rail, Water transportation 
(taxis, ferries, ships), Public bus, Intercity Rail (Amtrak).
    Assessment of/satisfaction with security procedures for the 
following modes of transportation: Commercial air, Charter/general 
aviation, Privately-owned vehicle, Taxi, Light rail, Commuter rail, 
Water transportation (taxis, ferries, ships), Public bus, Intercity 
Rail (Amtrak).
    Processing through security at: Commercial airports, Train 
stations, Waterway entry points for ferries, water taxis, cruises.
    Knowledge of/confidence in the Registered Traveler Program: 
Knowledge of Registered Traveler Program, Have used Registered 
Traveler Program, Confidence in Registered Traveler Program.
    Knowledge of current check-in procedures at: Commercial 
airports, Train stations, Waterway entry points for ferries, water 
taxis, cruises.
    Knowledge of/confidence in the Alien Flight Student Program and 
TSA Vetting Programs.
    Experiences with transit delays related to suspicious/unattended 
baggage.
    Willingness/tolerance of transportation security risk management 
procedures.
    In formation on journey to work

Transportation used (single mode/multiple mode)
Time required for one-way trip
Number of days traveled
Assessment of congestion
Methods for dealing with congestion
Telecommuting information, Commuting costs
Availability of transportation subsidies.

    Impact of congestion on commute.
    Impact of fuel costs on transportation use/travel behavior.
    Impact of on-line shopping on passenger and freight travel.

    Respondents: The population for the OHS Program is the non-
institutionalized population, aged 18 and older, who live in the United 
States. The sampling frame will be a list-assisted random digit dialing 
(RDD) sample of U.S. residential telephone numbers. The sampling frame 
will be constructed to produce samples proportional to population 
density, resulting in nationally representative samples of residential 
telephone numbers. Individual survey respondents within selected 
households will be chosen at random.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: The burden per respondent is 
estimated to be an average of 15 minutes based on calculations from 
previous data collections.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The total annual burden is estimated 
to be 250 hours (that is 15 minutes times 1000 respondents equals 
15,000 minutes or 250 hours).
    Frequency: This survey is currently scheduled to be conducted 
yearly but may be conducted as much as 3 times per year based on data 
needs of agencies using the OHS for data collection.
    Public Comments Invited: Interested parties are invited to send 
comments regarding any aspect of this information collection, 
including, but not limited to: (1) The necessity and utility of the 
information collection for the proper performance of the functions of 
the DOT; (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's 
clearance of this information collection.

    Authority: Sections 1801(e) and 5601 of the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users 
(P.L. 109-59; 2005) and 49 CFR 1.46.

    Issued in Washington, DC on the 6th day of February, 2007.
William Bannister,
Acting Deputy Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Research 
and Innovative Technology Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-2336 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-HY-P