[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85357-85358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26839]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA 2023-0030]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: FTA 
Program Evaluation for Processes and Outcomes

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of 
Transportation (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 approve a 
new information collection titled: FTA Program Evaluation for Processes 
and Outcomes.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by docket number FTA-2023-
0030, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov, 
insert docket number FTA-2023-0030 in the keyword box and click 
``Search.'' Next, choose the notice listed, click on the ``Comment'' 
button, and follow the online instructions for submitting a comment.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC, 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    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

[[Page 85358]]

and will be available to internet users, without change, to https://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 https://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents and 
comments received, go to https://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: Julianne Lee at 202-366-6597 or 
[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 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: FTA Program Evaluation for Processes and Outcomes

OMB Number: 2132--New Information Request

Background
    The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Pub. 
L.115-435) requires Federal agencies to develop evidence to support 
policymaking. Federal agencies, including FTA, must systematically 
collect and analyze data to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of 
their programs through evaluation. According to the Act, ``an 
evaluation is an assessment, using systematic data collection and 
analysis, of one or more programs, policies, and/or organizations 
intended to assess their effectiveness and efficiency.'' Evidence 
resulting from evaluations and other evidence-building activities 
should be used to inform leaders about whether Federal programs and 
activities are achieving their intended results and contribute to 
improved use of data and evidence-based decision making. To effectively 
evaluate programs, FTA needs to collect data directly from program 
participants, such as State departments of transportation (DOTs), 
metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), transit authorities, State 
and local government units, and Indian tribes, to understand their 
experiences and benefits of program participation. Participants may be 
engaged through surveys or focus groups to collect relevant data. The 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Government Accountability 
Office (GAO) strongly advocate for stakeholder engagement in evaluation 
design. See: OMB Memorandum M-19-23, available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/M-19-23.pdf and OMB 
Memorandum M-21-27, available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/M-21-27.pdf. To ensure alignment with ongoing 
efforts, this information request seeks to support FTA in meeting the 
Evidence Act's requirements and contribute to FTA's broader framework 
of evidence-based decision-making. This is a voluntary data and 
information collection, with no participation requirement to receive 
Federal benefits. The survey portion of this information collection 
differs from other similar efforts, such as the FTA Stakeholder Survey 
which targets grant recipients and inquires on customer satisfaction 
with a range of FTA services and knowledge of rulemaking. Current and 
previous information collections for grant applicants and recipients to 
provide routine program planning and metrics on plans and deliverables 
are separate from this collection. Rather, this information collection 
will allow FTA decision makers to understand challenges and barriers to 
program implementation, identify opportunities for improving program 
communications and outreach, and make stronger linkages between program 
progress and outcomes.
    Title: FTA Program Evaluation for Processes and Outcomes.
    OMB Control Number: 2132-New.
    Forms: None.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents: State departments of transportation (DOTs) and 
metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), transit authorities, States 
and local government units, and Indian tribes.
    Estimated Annual Respondents: 1444 respondents.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 2166 responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 5054 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.

Nadine Pembleton,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-26839 Filed 12-6-23; 8:45 am]
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