Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Transit Administration invites public comment about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) to approve the following new information collection: 49 U.S.C. Section 5339—Alternatives Analysis Program (OMB Number: 2132-NEW). The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on May 13, 2009.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted before September 17, 2009. A comment to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

LaStar Matthews, Office of Administration, Office of Management Planning, (202) 366-2295.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 49 U.S.C. Section 5339—Alternatives Analysis Program.

Abstract: Under Section 3037 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act—A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the Alternatives Analysis Program (49 U.S.C. 5339) provides grants to States, authorities of the States, metropolitan planning organizations, and local government authorities to develop studies as part of the transportation planning process. The purpose of the Alternatives Analysis Program is to assist in financing the evaluation of all reasonable modal and multimodal alternatives and general alignment options for identified transportation needs in a particular, broadly defined travel corridor. The transportation planning process of Alternatives Analysis includes an assessment of a wide range of public transportation or multimodal alternatives, which will address transportation problems within a corridor or subarea; provides ample information to enable the Secretary to make the findings of project justification and local financial commitment; supports the selection of a locally preferred alternative; and enables the local Metropolitan Planning Organization to adopt the locally preferred alternative as part of the long-range transportation plan. FTA intends to evaluate program implementation by collecting information such as project milestones and financial status reports.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 28 hours for each of the respondents.

ADDRESSES:

All written comments must refer to the docket number that appears at the top of this document and be submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725—17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FTA Desk Officer.

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.