01-31840. Notice of Request for the Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection

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 extend the following currently approved information collection: 49 U.S.C. Section 5335(a) and (b) National Transit Database

DATES:

Comments must be submitted before February 25, 2002.

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, PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 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:

—Gary Delorme, National Transit Database Manager, Office of Program Management [phone].

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 5335(a) and (b) (OMB Number: 2132-0008).

Background: 49 U.S.C. Section 5335(a) and (b) require the Secretary of Transportation to maintain a reporting system by uniform categories to accumulate mass transportation financial and operating information and a uniform system of accounts and records. Each year, transit authorities that receive FTA funding submit data to the National Transit Database. The data that is submitted is used in statutory formulae to apportion over $4 billion in federal funds back to those agencies. In addition, federal, state, and local governments, transit agencies/boards, labor unions, manufacturers, researchers, consultants and universities use the National Transit Database for making transit related decisions. State and local governments also use the National Transit Database in allocating funds under 49 U.S.C. Section 5307. National Transit Database information is essential for understanding cost, ridership and other national performance trends, including transit's share of urban travel. It would be difficult to determine the future structure of FTA programs, to set policy, and to make funding and other decisions relating to the efficiency and effectiveness of the Nation's transit operations without the National Transit Database.

Respondents: State and local government, business or other for-profit institutions, non-profit institutions, and small business organizations.

Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 412 hours for each of the 578 respondents.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 238,136 hours.

Frequency: Annual.

Issued: December 20, 2001.

Dorrie Y. Aldrich,

Associate Administrator for Administration.