[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 106 (Monday, June 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31540-31541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11705]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA-2008-0026]


Notice of Request for the Extension of Currently Approved 
Information Collections

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: 49 U.S.C. 
section 53 14(a) United We Ride State Coordination Grants.

DATES: Comments must be submitted before August 1, 2008.

ADDRESSES: To ensure that your comments are not entered more than once 
into the docket, submit comments identified by the docket number by 
only one of the following methods:
    1. Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions 
for submitting comments on the U.S. Government electronic docket site.
    (Note: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) electronic 
docket is no longer accepting electronic comments.) All electronic 
submissions must be made to the U.S. Government electronic docket site 
at http://www.regulations.gov. Commenters should follow the directions 
below for mailed and hand-delivered comments.
    2. Fax: 202-366-7951.
    3. Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., Docket Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    4. Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
    Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number 
for this notice at the beginning of your comments. Submit two copies of 
your comments if you submit them by mail. For confirmation that FTA has 
received your comments, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Note 
that all comments received, including any personal information, will be 
posted and will be available to Internet users, without change, to 
http://www.regulations.gov. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477), or you may visit http://www.regulations.gov. Docket: For access 
to the docket to read background documents and comments received, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Background documents and 
comments received may also be viewed at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, M-30, 
West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Doug Birnie, Office of Program 
Management, (202) 366-1666, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to send 
comments regarding any aspect of these information collections, 
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 approval of 
this information collection.
    Title: 49 U.S.C. Section 53 14(a) United We Ride State Coordination 
Grants (OMB Number: 2132-0562).
    Background: The Federal Interagency Transportation Council on 
Access and Mobility, comprised of 11 federal departments and agencies, 
launched United We Ride (UWR) to enhance the coordination of human 
service transportation. UWR intends to break down the barriers between 
programs and set the stage for local and state partnerships that 
generate common-sense solutions and deliver A-plus performance for 
those individuals who depend on transportation services to participate 
fully in community life. The UWR initiatives include: (1) Promotion of 
coordinated local transportation planning among federally-assisted 
programs funding transportation, (2) removal of federal barriers to 
coordination of transportation services, (3) United We Ride state and 
local leadership awards, (4) State United We Ride Coordination Grants, 
(5) National Mobility Services for All Americans Demonstration Program 
creating one call transportation call centers for

[[Page 31541]]

consumers and (6) Help Along the Way technical assistance coordinated 
by the National Resource Center on Human Service Transportation 
Coordination.
    Congress and the Executive Branch are interested in ensuring that 
various human service transportation activities funded by various 
federal programs are better coordinated. The General Accounting Office 
(GAO) issued a report on ``Transportation Disadvantaged Populations'' 
(June 2003) that identified 62 different federal programs across eight 
federal agencies that provide funding that may be used to support 
community transportation services.
    The report points out that there are multiple public and private 
agencies that provide human service transportation in any one community 
and services vary greatly in terms of eligibility requirements, hours 
or scope of operation, specific destinations and quality.
    Given the multiplicity of programs and the significant dollar 
amounts spent, more effective coordination is needed to ensure better 
service to more people. This is especially true when federal, state and 
local budgets for human service activities are under extreme financial 
pressure.
    As also indicated by GAO, many objectives have been achieved; 
however, the fragmentation and lack of coordination within supporting 
agencies continue to be a challenge.
    On February 24, 2004, President Bush signed an Executive Order 
13330 on Human Service Transportation Coordination establishing the 
Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility and 
requiring attention to the obstacles outlined by GAO.
    The United We Ride initiative includes a State Coordination Grant 
that provides support to help states provide leadership and assistance 
to localities to develop more coordinated and improved human service 
transportation delivery systems in accordance with the objectives set 
forth by the President in Executive Order 13330.
    Respondents: State and local government, business or other for-
profit institutions, and nonprofit institutions.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 40 hours for each of the 50 
respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,000 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.

    Issued: May 19, 2008.
Ann M. Linnertz,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-11705 Filed 5-30-08; 8:45 am]
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