2019-15261. 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 the extension of a currently approved information collection: 49 U.S.C. Section 5310—Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program & Section 5311—Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted before September 16, 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: [phone].

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:

Kelly Tyler, Office of Program Management [phone] or email: [e-mail]. Elan Flippin, Office of Program Management [phone] or email [e-mail].

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: 49 U.S.C. Section 5310—Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals With Disabilities Program & Section 5311—Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program (OMB Number: 2132-0500).

Background: 49 U.S.C. 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program provides financial assistance for the specialized transportation service needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities in large urban, small urban and rural areas. Formula funding is apportioned to direct recipients: States for rural (under 50,000 population) and small urban (areas (50,000-200,000); and designated recipients chosen by the Governor of the State for large urban areas (populations or 200,000 or more); or a State or local governmental entity that operates a public transit service. Section 3006(b) of Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), Public Law 114-94 authorized a pilot program for innovative coordinated access and mobility. 49 U.S.C. 5311—Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program provides financial assistance for the provision of public transportation services in rural areas. This program is administered by States. The Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program or Tribal Transit Program (TTP), is authorized as 49 U.S.C. 5311(j). The TTP is a set-aside from the Rural Area Formula Program (Section 5311), and consists of a $30 million formula program and a $5 million competitive grant program. These funds are apportioned directly to Indian tribes. Eligible recipients of TTP program funds include federally recognized Indian tribes, or Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities as identified by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 49 U.S.C. 5310 and 5311 authorize FTA to review applications for federal financial assistance to determine eligibility and compliance with statutory and administrative requirements. The applications must contain sufficient information to enable FTA to make the findings required by law to enforce the requirements of the programs. Information collected during the project management stage provides a basis for monitoring approved projects to ensure timely and appropriate expenditure of federal funds by grant recipients.

Respondents: State or local governmental entities that operates a public transportation service.

Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 523 respondents.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 54,727 hours.

Frequency: Annual.

Nadine Pembleton,

Director Office of Management Planning .