02-24253. Notice of Request for Renewal of a Currently Approved Information Collection: Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS)

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to renew the information collection that is summarized below under Supplementary Information. We are required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 to publish this notice in the Federal Register.

DATES:

Please submit comments by November 25, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

You may mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590; telefax comments to [phone]; or submit electronically at http://dmses.dot.gov/​submit. All comments should include the docket number in this notice's heading. All comments may be examined and copied at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you desire a receipt you must include a self-addressed stamped envelope or postcard or, if you submit your comments electronically, you may print the acknowledgment page.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Robert Rozycki, [phone], Highway Systems Performance (HPPI-20), Office of Highway Policy Information, Office of Policy, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS).

OMB Control Number: 2125-0028 (Expiration Date: February 28, 2003).

Background: The HPMS data that is collected is used for management decisions that affect transportation, including estimates of the Nation's future highway needs and assessments of highway system performance. The information is used by the FHWA to develop and implement legislation and by State and Federal transportation officials to adequately plan, design, and administer effective, safe, and efficient transportation systems. This data is essential to the FHWA and Congress in evaluating the effectiveness of the Federal-aid highway program. The HPMS also provides miles, lane-miles and travel components of the Federal-Aid Highway Fund apportionment formulae. The data that is required by the HPMS is continually reassessed and streamlined by the FHWA.

Respondents: State governments of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the four territories (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, and Virgin Islands).

Estimated Average Burden Per Response: The estimated average burden per response for the annual collection and processing of the HPMS data is 1,440 hours for the States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and 20 hours for each of the four territories.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: The estimated total annual burden for all respondents is 74,960 hours.

Public Comments Invited

You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that burdens could be minimized, including use of electronic technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information collection.

Electronic Access

Internet users may access all comments received by the U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, by using the universal resource locator (URL): http://dms.dot.gov. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Please follow the instructions online for more information and help. An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem and suitable communications software from the Government Printing Office Electronic Bulletin Board Service at telephone number 202-512-1661. Internet users may reach the Federal Register's Home Page at http://www.nara.gov/​fedreg and the Government Printing Office's database at http://www.access.gpo.gov/​nara.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

Issued on: September 19, 2002.

James R. Kabel,

Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.