[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21404-21405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09864]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA 2019-0004]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

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 a 
revision of a previously approved information collection: Rail Fixed 
Guideway Systems; State Safety Oversight.

DATES: Comments must be submitted before July 15, 2019.

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. Website: 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 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 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 
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 
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 www.regulations.gov. Docket: For access to the 
docket to read background documents and comments received, go to 
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 9:00 a.m. 
and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Wright, Office of Transit Safety 
& Oversight (202) 366-5922 or email: [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: Rail Fixed Guideway Systems; State Safety Oversight

(OMB Number: 2132-0558)

    Background: FTA administers a national program for public 
transportation safety under 49 U.S.C. Section 5329. One element of this 
program, at 49 U.S.C. 5329(e), requires States to oversee the safety of 
the rail transit agencies (RTAs) in their jurisdictions, including 
heavy and light rail systems, streetcars, inclined planes, cable cars, 
monorail/automated guideways and hybrid rail. Through this program, 
State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) ensure that RTAs identify and 
address safety risks, follow their safety rules and procedures, and 
take corrective action to address safety deficiencies. This program, 
which only applies to RTAs, enhances and replaces the State Safety 
Oversight (SSO) program previously authorized at 49 U.S.C. 5330.
    The previously authorized program required SSOAs to perform 
oversight without Federal grant funding available. As a result, the 
approved information collection includes burden hours associated with 
activities administered by SSO agencies to collect information from 
RTAs and activities performed by RTAs to provide information to SSOAs. 
FTA decided to include these burden hours to address concerns raised by 
SSOAs and RTAs regarding unfunded Federal requirements.
    With the expiration of the previously authorized program, and the 
new Federal grant program for States, authorized at 49 U.S.C. 
5329(e)(6), FTA wishes to amend the information collection activities 
to focus only on the activities of SSOAs and RTAs to report information 
to FTA. Activities included in the previous information collection 
request that are not specifically related to FTA information collection 
are removed from this information collection request and are addressed 
in the Regulatory Impact Assessment developed for the final rule 
implementing 49 U.S.C. 5329(e). This proposed change aligns with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, United States Office of 
Personnel

[[Page 21405]]

Management, Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Guide, Version 2.0, 2011.
    The revised information collection request includes the annual 
report FTA requires from SSOAs, the burden of which has been reduced 
substantially through the development of a web-based system designed to 
replace the existing spreadsheet-based process and provides direct 
interface with the National Transit Database. It also includes the 
FTA's grant management reporting requirement and the triennial audit 
program, which requires information from both SSOAs and RTAs. Further, 
the information collection reflects requirements for SSOAs and RTAs to 
respond to FTA directives and advisories and SSOAs participation in 
monthly teleconference calls with FTA. Finally, the information 
collection request includes RTA event notifications to FTA.
    With these changes, the total burden hours have decreased from 
586,443 hours for the previous information collection request to 16,365 
representing an overall decrease of 570,078 hours.
    Respondents: States and Rail Transit Agencies.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 96 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 16,365 hours.
    Frequency: Annually.

Nadine Pembleton,
Director Office of Management Planning.
[FR Doc. 2019-09864 Filed 5-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P