[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46548-46549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23314]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. 97-2865]
Notice of Request for the Extension of Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, 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 extend
the following currently approved information collection: Americans with
Disabilities Act.
DATES: Comments must be submitted before November 3, 1997.
ADDRESSES: All written comments must refer to the docket number that
appears at the top of this document and be submitted to the United
States Department of Transportation, Central Dockets Office, Pub. L.
401, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. All comments
received will be available for examination at the above address from
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must
include a self-addressed, stamped postcard/envelope.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Americans with Disabilities Act--Mr.
Arthur Andrew Lopez, Director, Office of Civil Rights, (202) 366-4018.
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: Americans with Disabilities Act (OMB Number: 2132-0555).
Background: On July 26, 1990, the President signed into law civil
rights legislation entitled, ``The Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990'' (ADA) (Pub. L. 101-336). It contains sweeping changes for
individuals with disabilities in every major area of American life. One
key area of the legislation addresses transportation services provided
by public and private entities. Some of the requirements under the ADA
are: (1) No transportation entity shall discriminate against an
individual with a disability in connection with the provision of
transportation service; (2) All new vehicles purchased by public and
private entities after August 25, 1990, must be readily accessible to
and usable by persons with disabilities, including individuals who use
wheelchairs; (3) Public entities that provide fixed route transit must
provide complementary paratransit service for persons with
disabilities, who are unable to use the fixed route system, that is
comparable to the level of service provided to individuals without
disabilities; and (4) Transit authorities who are able to substantiate
that compliance with all service criteria of the paratransit provisions
would cause undue financial burden, may request a temporary time
extension in implementing ADA complementary paratransit service.
On September 6, 1991, DOT issued a final rule implementing the
transportation provisions of ADA (Title 49 CFR Parts 27, 37 and 38),
which includes the requirements for complementary paratransit service
by public entities operating a fixed route system and the provision of
nondiscriminatory accessible transportation service. The regulation
sets forth the changes needed to fulfill the Congressional mandate to
substantially improve access to mass transit service for persons with
disabilities. Effective January 26, 1997, paratransit plans are no
longer required. However, if FTA reasonably believes that an entity may
not be complying with all service criteria, FTA may require an annual
update to the entity's plan. In addition, all other ADA compliance
requirements must still be satisfied. The information collected
provides FTA with a basis for monitoring compliance. The public
entities, including recipients of FTA funds, are required to provide
information during triennial reviews, complaint investigations,
resolutions of complaints, and compliance reviews.
Respondents: State and local government, business or other for-
profit institutions, non-profit institutions, and small business
organizations.
Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 100 hours for each of the
750 respondents.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 75,000 hours.
Frequency: Annual.
[[Page 46549]]
Issued: August 28, 1997.
Gordon J. Linton,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-23314 Filed 9-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
