[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 38 (Friday, February 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9932-9933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04126]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA-2016-0012]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration invites public comment 
about its intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's 
(OMB) approval to renew the following information collection:

[[Page 9933]]

Transit Research, Development, Demonstration and Training Projects

    The Federal Transit Administration's Research, Development, 
Demonstration, Deployment, Cooperative Research, Technical Assistance, 
Standards Development, and Human Resources and Training programs are 
authorized at 49 U.S.C. 5312, 5313, 5314, and 5322 and collectively 
seek to develop solutions that improve public transportation. Its 
primary goals are to increase transit ridership, improve safety and 
emergency preparedness, improve operating efficiencies, protect the 
environment, promote energy independence, and provide transit research 
leadership; develop and conduct workforce development activities, 
training and educational programs for Federal, State, and local 
transportation employees, United States citizens, and foreign nationals 
engaged or to be engaged in Government-aid relating to public 
transportation work; and to sponsor development of voluntary and 
consensus-based standards to more effectively and efficiently provide 
transit service, as well as support the improved administration of 
Federal transit funds. To accomplish this, FTA funds projects to 
support research and development, demonstration, deployments of various 
technologies and operational models for transit; a national cooperative 
research program, a national training institute, national technical 
assistance centers, and transit workforce development programs. The 
Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting 
comments for the Transit Research, Development, Demonstration and 
Training Projects was published on December 21, 2015 (Citation 80 FR 
244). No comments were received from that notice.

DATES: Comments must be submitted before March 28, 2016. A comment to 
OMB is most effective, if OMB receives it within 30 days of 
publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tia Swain, Office of Administration, 
Office of Management Planning, (202) 366-0354.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Transit Research, Development, Demonstration and Training 
Projects (OMB Number: 2132-0546).
    Abstract: The Transit Research, Development, Demonstration and 
Training Projects program supports research not undertaken by the 
private sector including studies on transit policy issues, operational 
efficiency, and travel behavior. Funding also provides for training and 
educational programs which may include courses in recent developments, 
techniques, and procedures related to intermodal and public 
transportation planning; management; environmental factors; acquisition 
and joint use rights-of-way; engineering and architectural design; 
procurement strategies for public transportation systems; new 
technologies; emission reduction technologies; way to make public 
transportation accessible to individuals with disabilities; 
construction, construction management, insurance, and risk management; 
maintenance; contract administration; inspection; innovative finance; 
workplace safety; and public transportation security. The program also 
funds innovative workforce development activities in areas with special 
emphasis on targeting areas with high unemployment; provide advanced 
training related to maintenance of alternative energy efficient or zero 
emission vehicle; and address current or projected workforce shortages 
in areas that require technical expertise. In addition, it will provide 
for the development of voluntary and consensus-based standards and best 
practices by the public transportation industry, including standards 
and best practices for safety, fare collection, Intelligent 
Transportation Systems, accessibility, procurement, security, asset 
management to maintain a state of good repair, operations, maintenance, 
vehicle propulsion, communications, and vehicle electronics.
    Estimated Total Burden: 20,550 hours.

ADDRESSES: All written comments must refer to the docket number that 
appears at the top of this document and be submitted to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FTA Desk Officer.
    Comments are Invited On: Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including 
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

William Hyre,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-04126 Filed 2-25-16; 8:45 am]
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