2022-13412. Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program Section 5309

AGENCY:

Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice of request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describe the nature of the information collection and their expected burdens.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before July 25, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain . Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

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. A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tia Swain, Office of Administration, Management Planning Division, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Mail Stop TAD-10, Washington, DC 20590 [phone] or [e-mail] .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13, Section 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to issue two notices seeking public comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve paperwork packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.12. On March 1, 2022 FTA published a 60-day notice (87 FR 11508) in the Federal Register soliciting comments on the ICR that the agency was seeking OMB approval. FTA received no comments after issuing this 60-day notice. Accordingly, DOT announces that these information collection activities have been re-evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12(c).

Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires OMB to approve or disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30-day notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507 (b)-(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes that the 30-day notice informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication to best ensure having their full effect. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995.

The summaries below describe the nature of the information collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The requirements are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.

Title: Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program Section 5309.

OMB Control Number: 2132-0561.

Background: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) administers the discretionary Capital Investment Grants (CIG) grant program under 49 U.S.C. Section 5309 that provides funding for major transit capital investments including rapid rail, light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit, and ferries. Three types of eligible projects are outlined in law: smaller scaled corridor-based transit capital projects known as “Small Starts”; new fixed guideway transit systems and extensions to existing fixed guideway systems known as “New Starts”; and projects to improve capacity in existing fixed guideway corridors, known as “Core Capacity”. The CIG program has a longstanding requirement that FTA evaluate proposed projects against a prescribed set of statutory criteria at specific points during the projects' development including when they seek to enter a subsequent phase of the process or a construction grant agreement. In addition, FTA must report on its evaluations and ratings annually to Congress.

The current Federal Public Transportation Law, 49 U.S.C. 5309, has not changed the statutorily defined project justification and local financial commitment criteria that are the subject of this information collection. In addition, the statutorily required approval steps for projects seeking CIG funds have not changed. The current request for renewal of this information collection does not reflect any changes as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). FTA will seek comment from stakeholders through the publication of a separate Federal Register Notice outside of the PRA process. In general, the information used by FTA for CIG project evaluation and rating should arise as a part of the normal project planning process.

Respondents: State and local government agencies, including transit agencies.

Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 155 respondents.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 68,840 hours.

Frequency: Annually.

Nadine Pembleton,

Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Administration.