[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78456-78457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25184]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA 2023-0026]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Charter 
Service Operations

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation.

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 approve 
the extension of a currently approved information collection: Charter 
Service Operations.

DATES: Comments must be submitted before January 16, 2024.

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

[[Page 78457]]

9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Micah Miller at (404) 865-5474, 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: Charter Service Operations.
    OMB Number: 2132-0543.
    Background: FTA's Charter Service Regulations protects private 
charter operators from unauthorized competition from FTA grant 
recipients. In essence, the charter regulations were implemented to 
ensure that transit agencies, subsidized with federal money, do not 
unfairly compete with privately owned bus companies. Under the charter 
rules, with limited exceptions, local transit agencies are restricted 
from operating chartered services.
    Charter service means, but does not include demand response service 
to individuals:
     Transportation provided by a recipient at the request of a 
third party for the exclusive use of a bus or van for a negotiated 
price. The following features may be characteristic of charter service:
    [cir] A third party pays the transit provider a negotiated price 
for the group,
    [cir] Any fares charged to individual members of the group are 
collected by a third party,
    [cir] The service is not part of the transit provider's regularly 
scheduled service, or is offered for a limited period of time, or
    [cir] A third party determines the origin and destination of the 
trip as well as scheduling; or
     Transportation provided by a recipient to the public for 
events or functions that occur on an irregular basis or for a limited 
duration and:
    [cir] A premium fare is charged that is greater than the usual or 
customary fixed route fare; or
    [cir] The service is paid for in whole or in part by a third party.
    There are limited exceptions when a grantee may provide charter 
service, including:
     Official government business,
     Qualified Human Service Organizations (elderly, persons 
with disabilities, and low-income individuals),
     When no registered charter provider responds to a notice 
sent by a recipient,
     Leasing (must exhaust all available vehicles first),
     By agreement with all registered charter providers,
     Petitions to the Administrator: Events of regional or 
national significance, or hardship.
    Respondents: Transit Agencies and Private Operators.
    Estimated Annual Responses: 1,810 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 359 hours.
    Frequency: Annually, bi-annually, quarterly, and as required.

Nadine Pembleton,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-25184 Filed 11-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P