[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 79 (Monday, April 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19112-19113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9468]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA-2009-0021]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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

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 approve 
the extension of the currently approved information collection:
    Metropolitan and Statewide Transportation Planning.

DATES: Comments must be submitted before June 26, 2009.

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: 202-493-2251.
    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,

[[Page 19113]]

Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Candace Noonan, Office of Planning 
and Environment, (202) 366-1648, or e-mail: [email protected].

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 approval 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. Sections 5303 and 
5304 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 
and other areas of States outside of urbanized areas. The information 
collection activities involved in developing the Unified Planning Work 
Program (UPWP), the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the Long Range 
Statewide Transportation Improvement 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 management tools for MPOs and State DOTs, 
the UPWP and State Planning and Research (SP&R) Work Program are used 
by both FTA and FHWA to monitor the transportation planning activities 
of those agencies. It is also needed to establish national out year 
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. Section 5303 and 23 U.S.C.134(h) require the 
development of TIPs for urbanized areas; STIPs are mandated by 49 
U.S.C. Section 5304 and 23 U.S.C. 235(f) for an entire State. 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 5304 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 MPOs.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 634.7 hours for each of the 
453 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 287,519 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.

    Issued: April 21, 2009.
Ann M. Linnertz,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-9468 Filed 4-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P