[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 172 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 51295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17549]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[Docket No: FTA-2007-29075]


National Transit Database: Rural Reporting Manual

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of National Transit Database Rural 
Reporting Manual.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides interested parties with the opportunity 
to comment on the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) National 
Transit Database (NTD) Rural Reporting Manual (Rural Manual). Pursuant 
to 49 U.S.C. 5335, FTA requires recipients of grants under 49 U.S.C. 
5311 (Other Than Urbanized Area Formula Grants) to provide an annual 
report to the Secretary of Transportation via the NTD reporting system 
according to a uniform system of accounts (USOA). 49 U.S.C. 5311 
provides additional specifications for annual reporting from recipients 
of Section 5311 grants. The Rural Manual provides complete details as 
to FTA's implementation of these annual requirements through reporting 
to the Rural NTD Module. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5334, and in an 
ongoing effort to be responsive to the needs of NTD reporters, the 
Rural Manual is available in the DOT docket for public comment.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 9, 2007. FTA will 
consider late filed comments to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments at the following Web site: http://
http://dms.dot.gov">dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions there for submitting comments to 
the DOT electronic docket.
    Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Mail: Docket Management System; U.S. Department of Transportation, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590.
    Hand Delivery: To the Docket Management System; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
    Instructions: When submitting comments electronically to the 
Department's Docket Management System (DMS) Web site located at http://
http://dms.dot.gov">dms.dot.gov, you must use docket number FTA-2007-29075. This will 
ensure that your comment is placed in the correct docket. If you submit 
comments by mail, you should submit two copies and include the above 
docket number. Note that all comments received will be posted, without 
change, to http://dms.dot.gov including any personal identifying 
information. This means that if your comment includes any personal 
identifying information, such information will be made available to 
users of DMS. You may review the Department's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477), or you may visit http:// http://dms.dot.gov">dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program issues, John D. Giorgis, 
Office of Budget and Policy, (202) 366-5430 (telephone); (202) 366-7989 
(fax); or [email protected] (e-mail). For legal issues, Richard 
Wong, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-0675 (telephone); (202) 
366-3809 (fax); or [email protected] (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Transit Database (NTD) is the 
Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) primary database for 
statistics on the transit industry. Recipients of grants under 49 
U.S.C. 5307 (Urbanized Area Formula Grants) or under 49 U.S.C. 5311 
(Other Than Urbanized Area Formula Grants) are required by statute to 
submit data to the NTD. These data are used to ``help meet the needs of 
* * * the public for information on which to base public transportation 
service planning * * *'' (49 U.S.C 5335). The statute further specifies 
that recipients of grants under 49 U.S.C. 5311 are required to submit 
an annual report ``containing information on capital investment, 
operations, and service provided with funds received. * * * . 
including,

(A) total annual revenue;
(B) sources of revenue;
(C) total annual operating costs;
(D) total annual capital costs;
(E) fleet size and type, and related facilities;
(F) revenue vehicle miles; and
(G) ridership.'' (49 U.S.C. 5311)

The National Transit Database Rural Reporting Manual (Rural Manual) 
provides complete details as to FTA's implementation of these annual 
requirements for recipients of grants under 49 U.S.C. 5311 through 
reporting to the Rural NTD Module.
    Currently, over 650 transit agencies in urbanized areas already 
report to the NTD through an Internet-based reporting system. Pursuant 
to 49 U.S.C. 5335, FTA is expanding NTD reporting to include recipients 
of grants under 49 U.S.C. 5311 (Other Than Urbanized Area Formula 
Grants.) Recipients of these grants include the 50 States, Puerto Rico, 
American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Marianas. (By statute, the 
Virgin Islands are considered to be an urbanized area for purposes of 
FTA grant-making.) Additionally, a number of Indian Tribes are also 
direct recipients of grants under 49 U.S.C. 5311. In addition to 
fulfilling a statutory requirement, this data will be used in the 
annual National Transit Summaries and Trends report, the biennial 
Conditions and Performance Report to Congress, and in meeting FTA's 
obligations under the Government Performance and Results Act.
    This notice provides interested parties with the opportunity to 
comment on FTA's Rural Manual. The Rural Manual is available in the DOT 
Docket FTA-2007-29075 and may also be reviewed on the NTD Web site, 
http://www.ntdprogram.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 29th day of August 2007.
James S. Simpson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-17549 Filed 9-5-07; 8:45 am]
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