[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 76 (Friday, April 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21170-21171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8463]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[Docket Number: FTA-2008-0020]


Notice of Availability of Proposed Guidance on New and Small 
Starts Policies and Procedures

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Federal Transit 
Administration's (FTA) Proposed Guidance on New and Small Starts 
Policies and Procedures and requests your comments on it. The guidance 
explains proposed changes to the New and Small Starts programs that 
will become effective upon the issuance of Final Guidance, which will 
be announced in a subsequent Federal Register notice. FTA requests 
comments on the Proposed Guidance, which is available in DOT's 
electronic docket and on FTA's Web site.

DATES: Comments must be received within 30 days after publication in 
the Federal Register. Late filed comments will be considered to the 
extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by the Docket Number 
FTA-2008-0020] by any of the following methods:
    Web site: http://regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
    Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.
    Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Transit 
Administration) and the docket number (FTA-2007-0020). You should 
submit two copies of your comments if you submit them by mail. If you 
wish to receive confirmation that FTA received your comments, you must 
include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Note that all comments 
received will be posted without change to the federal government Web 
site located at http://regulations.gov. This means that if your

[[Page 21171]]

comment includes any personal identifying information, such information 
will be made available to users of Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Fisher, Office of Planning and 
Environment, telephone (202) 366-4033. FTA is located at 1200 New 
Jersey Ave., SE., East Building, Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are 
from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    On August 10, 2005, President Bush signed the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU). Section 3011 of SAFETEA-LU made a number of changes to 49 
U.S.C. 5309, which authorizes the Federal Transit Administration's 
(FTA) fixed guideway capital investment program known as ``New 
Starts,'' and created a new program category known as ``Small Starts.'' 
This notice announces the availability of FTA's Proposed Guidance on 
New and Small Starts Policies and Procedures and requests your comment 
as described below. The document is available in the docket, which can 
be accessed by going to http://regulations.gov at any time, or you can 
view the document on FTA's Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov/planning/newstarts/planning_environment_5615.html.

A. Proposed Changes for the New and Small Starts Program

    The purpose of this policy guidance is to solicit comments on the 
policies and procedures for the New and Small Starts programs. The 
changes, once announced as final, will apply to all New and Small 
Starts submittals received after the effective date announced in the 
Notice of Availability published in the Federal Register for the Final 
Guidance. FTA proposes minor changes to its ratings by introducing a 
rating for reliability, which could affect the project justification 
rating. FTA proposes this change to honor the spirit of SAFETEA-LU, 
which established this new criterion for project justification, while 
refraining from making the more significant changes in SAFETEA-LU that 
are appropriate for rulemaking. Other changes proposed will support 
FTA's efforts to streamline studies for projects seeking New and Small 
Starts funding. They include an initiation package for alternatives 
analysis, an easing of the eligibility requirements for the Small 
Starts program, and documentation of the uncertainties in the 
predictions of capital costs and ridership. It is this last proposed 
provision that is expected to have the greatest impact on expediting 
FTA reviews, as a more explicit representation of project uncertainties 
should facilitate communication between FTA and project sponsors over 
capital cost and ridership uncertainties. FTA also proposes that its 
ratings include additional attention to the adequacy of the local 
financial commitment for ongoing recapitalization of the existing 
transit system. Finally, FTA proposes to allow review and comment by 
contractors of information submitted for the Before and After Study so 
that their roles can be accurately portrayed.
    Comments received will be used to develop the ratings, evaluations, 
and procedures for projects seeking funds from the New and Small Starts 
programs, and will be issued in June 2008. FTA will respond to comments 
received in response to this Notice in a second Federal Register notice 
to be published after the close of the comment period. The notice will 
announce the availability of the Reporting Instructions for the section 
5309 New Starts Criteria and the Interim Guidance for Small Starts, 
reflecting the changes implemented as a result of this policy guidance 
and comments received thereon.

    Issued in Washington, DC this 9th day April 2008.
James S. Simpson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-8463 Filed 4-17-08; 8:45 am]
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