Notice of Availability of Interim Guidance and Instructions for Small Starts, 45100-45102 [E6-12847]
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45100
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 8, 2006 / Notices
concerning these proceedings are
available for examination during regular
business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at the
above facility. All documents in the
public docket are also available for
inspection and copying on the internet
at the docket facility’s Web site at https://
dms.dot.gov.
FRA wishes to inform all potential
commenters that anyone is able to
search the electronic form of all
comments received into any of our
dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the
comment, if submitted on behalf of an
association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review DOT’s complete
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000
(Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477–
78) or you may visit https://dms.dot.gov.
FRA expects to be able to determine
these matters without an oral hearing.
However, if a specific request for an oral
hearing is accompanied by a showing
that the party is unable to adequately
present his or her position by written
statements, an application may be set
for public hearing.
Issued in Washington, DC on August 1,
2006.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety
Standards and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E6–12805 Filed 8–7–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Notice of Application for Approval of
Discontinuance or Modification of a
Railroad Signal System or Relief From
the Requirements of Title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 236
Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) Part 235 and 49
U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroads
have petitioned the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) seeking approval
for the discontinuance or modification
of the signal system or relief from the
requirements of 49 CFR Part 236 as
detailed below.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Docket Number FRA–2006–25265
Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad
Company, Mr. W. E. Wimmer, Vice
President—Engineering, 1400 Douglas
Street, Mail Stop 0910, Omaha,
Nebraska 68179.
The Union Pacific Railroad Company
(UP) seeks approval of the proposed
temporary discontinuance of the block
signal system, at UP’s Grant Tower in
Salt Lake City, Utah. The temporary
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20:06 Aug 07, 2006
Jkt 208001
discontinuance will be for a period of
no more than 120 consecutive days,
within a time period starting after
November 1, 2006 and ending before
August 1, 2007. The limits of the
temporary discontinuance are as
follows:
Lynndyl Subdivision from milepost
780.5 to milepost 782.9.
Provo Subdivision from milepost 744.4
to milepost 745.2.
Salt Lake Subdivision Tracks 1 and 2
CP784, milepost 782.9.
Salt Lake Subdivision Track 3, from
milepost 782.9 to milepost 783.4.
The reason given for the proposed
changes is to support the installation of
new track and new signal system. At the
end of the temporary discontinuance,
the affected area will have a new signal
system fully complying with Federal
Regulations.
Any interested party desiring to
protest the granting of an application
shall set forth specifically the grounds
upon which the protest is made, and
contain a concise statement of the
interest of the party in the proceeding.
Additionally, one copy of the protest
shall be furnished to the applicant at the
address listed above.
All communications concerning this
proceeding should be identified by the
docket number and must be submitted
to the Docket Clerk, DOT Central Docket
Management Facility, Room PL–401
(Plaza Level), 400 7th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
Communications received within 45
days of the date of this notice will be
considered by the FRA before final
action is taken. Comments received after
that date will be considered as far as
practicable. All written communications
concerning these proceedings are
available for examination during regular
business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at the
above facility. All documents in the
public docket are also available for
inspection and copying on the internet
at the docket facility’s Web site at https://
dms.dot.gov.
FRA wishes to inform all potential
commenters that anyone is able to
search the electronic form of all
comments received into any of our
dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the
comment, if submitted on behalf of an
association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review DOT’s complete
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000
(Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477–
78) or you may visit https://dms.dot.gov.
FRA expects to be able to determine
these matters without an oral hearing.
However, if a specific request for an oral
PO 00000
Frm 00107
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
hearing is accompanied by a showing
that the party is unable to adequately
present his or her position by written
statements, an application may be set
for public hearing.
Issued in Washington, DC on August 1,
2006.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety,
Standards and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E6–12814 Filed 8–7–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[Docket Number: FTA–2006–24947]
Notice of Availability of Interim
Guidance and Instructions for Small
Starts
Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
availability of the Federal Transit
Administration’s (FTA) Final Interim
Guidance and Instructions for Small
Starts which was initially issued for
comment on June 6, 2006. This
Guidance describes the eligibility,
evaluation, and project development
procedures for projects seeking Small
Starts funding, as well as the
information required from project
sponsors to evaluate and rate a project
for the purpose of project advancement
or a funding recommendation. FTA is in
the process of broader rulemaking on its
major capital investments program, but
the Interim Guidance and Instructions
will allow projects into project
development. The document will also
enable FTA to evaluate and rate projects
as part of the Annual New Starts Report
and make funding recommendations
prior to completion of the broader
rulemaking process. For a Small Starts
project to be included in the FY2008
Annual New Starts Report and
considered for a funding
recommendation, project information
must be received by FTA by September
15, 2006 and any response to FTA
comments on the submittal must be
completed by October 15, 2006.
EFFECTIVE DATE: These policies and
procedures will take effect on August 8,
2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron
Fisher, Office of Planning and
Environment, telephone (202) 366–
4033, Federal Transit Administration,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
E:\FR\FM\08AUN1.SGM
08AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 8, 2006 / Notices
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC
20590 or Ronald.Fisher@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
1. Availability of the Final Guidance
and Comments
A copy of the Proposed and Final
Interim Guidance and Instructions for
Small Starts, comments received on the
Proposed Interim Guidance, and FTA’s
response to comments received from the
public are part of docket FTA–2006–
24947 and are available for inspection
or copying at the Docket Management
Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Room PL–401 on the
plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
You may retrieve the guidance and
comments online through the Document
Management System (DMS) at: https://
dms.dot.gov. Enter docket number
24947 in the search field. The DMS is
available 24 hours each day, 365 days
each year. Electronic submission and
retrieval help and guidelines are
available under the help section of the
Web site. An electronic copy of this
document may also be downloaded by
using a computer, modem and suitable
communications software from the
Government Printing Office’s Electronic
Bulletin Board Service at (202) 512–
1661. Internet users may also reach the
Office of the Federal Register’s home
page at: https://www.nara.gov/fedreg and
the Government Printing Office’s Web
page at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/
index.html.
2. Background
On August 10, 2005, President Bush
signed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU).
Section 3011 of SAFETEA–LU made a
number of changes to 49 U.S.C. 5309,
which authorizes the Federal Transit
Administration’s (FTA’s) capital
investment program known as ‘‘New
Starts.’’ In addition to the changes made
to the New Starts program, 49 U.S.C.
5309 has been amended with the
addition of a new subsection (e)
containing a new capital investment
program category for projects requesting
less than $75,000,000 in Section 5309
capital investment funds with a total
project cost of less than $250,000,000.
That new capital investment program,
which will be referred to as the ‘‘Small
Starts’’ program, is the subject of this
Interim Guidance and Instructions.
FTA, through its rulemaking authority,
plans to propose regulations that would
(1) implement changes to the existing
New Starts program made by section
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:06 Aug 07, 2006
Jkt 208001
3011 of SAFETEA–LU and (2) formalize
the requirements for the Small Starts
program.
On June 6, 2006, FTA published a
Notice of Availability of the Proposed
Interim Guidance and Instructions for
Small Starts for Comments in the
Federal Register (71 FR 33503, Jun. 9,
2006). FTA requested—and received—
comments on the Guidance in the June
notice. This Final Interim Guidance and
Instructions for Small Starts reflects
FTA’s consideration of these comments.
FTA finds that there is good cause to
make this guidance effective upon
publication of this notice because
sponsors of projects seeking Small Starts
funding must have adequate time to
prepare information that FTA will use
to evaluate projects for inclusion in the
President’s FY2008 budget request to
Congress. As noted above, the deadline
to submit these materials to the FTA is
September 15, 2006. This notice
announces the availability of FTA’s
final Interim Guidance and Instructions
for Small Starts. This document is
available on the docket, which can be
accessed by going to https://dms.dot.gov,
or on FTA’s Web site for New Starts
Planning and Project Development at
https://www.fta.dot.gov.
3. Response to Comments
Comments were received from 26
parties. These include transit agencies,
trade organizations, Members of
Congress, and private consulting firms.
This section highlights the key issues
identified in the comments on the
Proposed Interim Guidance and
Instructions for Small Starts, as well as
FTA’s response.
More Emphasis Needed on Economic
Development Criterion
Comments: A total of eight comments
were received. Respondents noted the
need for a greater role in the evaluation
of economic development. In addition,
it was suggested that a separate
evaluation criterion be created instead
of including economic development in
the ‘‘other factors’’ category as was
proposed.
FTA Response: The underlying
premise for this interim guidance is not
to impose any significant changes in the
process until the rulemaking process
has been completed. Further, there is a
significant challenge involved in
properly evaluating a project’s positive
effect on local economic development
and establishing a system that can be
applied nationally, as well as the
informational burden on project
sponsors that this would entail.
Accordingly, FTA has determined that
the best way to allow for the
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Fmt 4703
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45101
consideration of economic development
at this stage is to give project sponsors
the opportunity to provide evidence of
the project’s impact on development
under ‘‘other factors.’’ Thus, no change
was made from the approach offered in
the Proposed Interim Guidance. The
approach allows project sponsors to cite
well-reasoned, strongly-justified, and
verifiable qualitative and quantitative
explanations of the expected economic
development outcomes of the proposed
Small Starts project. This could include
developer agreements or any other
commitments of development related to
the project that would not occur if the
project was not constructed.
Streetcars Excluded From Very Small
Starts
Comments: A total of 14 comments
were received. Respondents indicated
concern over several provisions in the
Proposed Interim Guidance and
Instructions for Small Starts that they
believe would establish a process that
would make it difficult to fund streetcar
projects through the Small Starts
program. Respondents claimed that the
explicit exclusion of ‘‘fixed guideway’’
projects—and thus rail modes such as
urban streetcar—from Very Small Starts
eligibility, as well as the performance
measures indicated in the Small Starts
program, would create a bias against
this mode of transit.
FTA Response: FTA established the
eligibility criteria for Very Small Starts
with the intent that the very nature of
the performance of these projects
assured a cost-effective project. On
reviewing the comments, FTA agrees
that the exclusion of a new fixed
guideway from the definition of Very
Small Starts is unnecessary, as the
effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a
fixed guideway project can be assured
by these measures. Therefore, FTA will
allow the construction of fixed
guideway projects to be eligible for Very
Small Starts funding if they meet the
other criteria established for this
category.
Specifically, to be eligible for the Very
Small Starts category, the project should
(1) Have substantial transit stations; (2)
use traffic signal priority/pre-emption,
to the extent, if any, that traffic signals
exist in the corridor; (3) have low-floor
vehicles or level boarding; (4) use a
clear brand identity for the proposed
service; (5) operate 10 minute peak/15
minute off peak headways or better and
operate at least 14 hours per weekday
(not required for commuter rail or
ferries); (6) be in corridors with at least
3,000 average weekday existing riders
who will benefit from the proposed
project; and (7) have a total capital cost
E:\FR\FM\08AUN1.SGM
08AUN1
45102
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 8, 2006 / Notices
less than $50 million (including all
project elements) and less than $3
million per mile, exclusive of rolling
stock.
costs are not being incurred for
unproductive lengths.
Majority of Funds Will Go to Very Small
Starts Projects Due to the Ease of
Evaluation and Implementation
Comments: A total of 12 comments
were received. Respondents noted that
the application process for Small Starts
funding was too cumbersome in relation
to the program’s goals and expected
project size. Several comments cited
similarities between the application
process for New Starts and Small Starts.
Respondents noted the number of long,
involved, and often costly steps in New
Starts projects, and hoped to avoid these
in the Small Starts program.
FTA Response: FTA believes that
significant simplification has been
achieved, consistent with the
underlying premise of the Proposed
Interim Guidance not to make major
changes in the process until the
rulemaking has been completed.
Nevertheless, FTA believes that further
simplification may be possible. The
rulemaking process underway for New
Starts and Small Starts will provide an
opportunity to consider additional
simplification. The requirements for an
alternatives analysis and the
information necessary for local financial
commitment have been simplified. For
Very Small Starts, evidence of
eligibility, which is information project
sponsors usually develop for a project
regardless of funding source, is all that
is required for project justification. The
timeframe for travel forecasts and
financial plans has been reduced to the
date of opening, significantly reducing
highway and transit network
development as well as other
information needed for forecasts.
Simplified methods for travel forecasts
are also possible. The planning and
evaluation process has been limited to
the factors in the law and the amount of
supporting information has been
minimized as much as possible without
compromising evaluation of project
justification and local financial
commitment. In addition, in response to
the comments, the information required
for the rating of land use has been
further simplified and included in the
Appendix.
Request for Simpler Processes
Comments: A total of 11 comments
were received. Respondents noted
concern that since Very Small Starts
projects would have an easier time
being rated, that the majority of Small
Starts funding would be allocated to
Very Small Starts projects. This would
mean that very little funding would be
available for larger Small Starts, such as
fixed guideway rail projects.
FTA Response: The comments are not
based on any requirement in the
Proposed Interim Guidance, but rather
reflect speculation on how FTA will
make funding recommendations. The
Proposed Interim Guidance did not
address how FTA would make its
funding decisions, nor did it address the
division of funding between Small
Starts and Very Small Starts. As with all
projects in the Section 5309 capital
investment grant program, the
evaluation and rating process for Small
Starts is separate and distinct from
FTA’s decision to recommend a project
for funding. That decision is driven by
a number of factors, including the
‘‘readiness’’ of projects for capital
funding, geographic equity, the amount
of available funds versus the number
and size of the projects in New Starts
the pipeline, and the project’s overall
rating. The Interim Guidance and
Instructions have been revised to add a
section that clearly states that funding
decisions are not covered by the rating
process.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Requirement for 1,000 Riders at
Endpoints Is Too High for Very Small
Starts
Comments: A total of 11 comments
were received. Respondents
representing both large and small transit
agencies, as well as trade organizations,
noted that this metric would be difficult
to meet. Most respondents noted that
this requirement could be met at one
end or at points along a route, but
achieving 1,000 riders at each endpoint
is not likely.
FTA Response: In light of the
projected variety of project candidates
for Very Small Starts funding, this
minimum ridership requirement has
been be eliminated in the Interim
Guidance and Instructions. However, as
with any proposed New Start project,
FTA will review the scope and cost of
the project to insure that significant
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:06 Aug 07, 2006
Jkt 208001
Issued in Washington, DC this 2nd day of
August 2006.
Sandra K. Bushue,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6–12847 Filed 8–7–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–57–P
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Fmt 4703
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping
Requirements; Agency Information
Collection Activity Under OMB Review
Maritime Administration, DOT.
Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice
announces that the Information
Collection abstracted below has been
forwarded to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval. The nature of the information
collection is described as well as its
expected burden. The Federal Register
Notice with a 60-day comment period
soliciting comments on the following
collection of information was published
on May 16, 2006. No comments were
received.
Comments must be submitted on
or before September 7, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Zok, Maritime Administration
(MAR–500), 400 Seventh St., SW.,
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone:
202–366–0364; FAX: 202–366–9580, or
e-mail: jim.zok@dot.gov.
Copies of this collection also can be
obtained from that office.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Maritime
Administration (MARAD).
Title of Collection: Customer Service
Survey.
OMB Control Number: 2133–0528.
Type of Request: Extension of
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Individuals receiving
goods and services from the Maritime
Administration.
Forms: MA–1016, MA–1017, MA–
1021 and MA–1038.
Abstract: Executive Order 12862
requires agencies to survey customers to
determine the kind and quality of
services they want and the level of
satisfaction with existing services. This
collection provides the instruments
used to collect the information
regarding MARAD programs and
services.
Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 256
hours.
Addresses: Send comments to the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, 725 17th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20503, Attention:
MARAD Desk Officer.
Comments Are Invited On: (A)
Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\08AUN1.SGM
08AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45100-45102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12847]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[Docket Number: FTA-2006-24947]
Notice of Availability of Interim Guidance and Instructions for
Small Starts
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Federal Transit
Administration's (FTA) Final Interim Guidance and Instructions for
Small Starts which was initially issued for comment on June 6, 2006.
This Guidance describes the eligibility, evaluation, and project
development procedures for projects seeking Small Starts funding, as
well as the information required from project sponsors to evaluate and
rate a project for the purpose of project advancement or a funding
recommendation. FTA is in the process of broader rulemaking on its
major capital investments program, but the Interim Guidance and
Instructions will allow projects into project development. The document
will also enable FTA to evaluate and rate projects as part of the
Annual New Starts Report and make funding recommendations prior to
completion of the broader rulemaking process. For a Small Starts
project to be included in the FY2008 Annual New Starts Report and
considered for a funding recommendation, project information must be
received by FTA by September 15, 2006 and any response to FTA comments
on the submittal must be completed by October 15, 2006.
EFFECTIVE DATE: These policies and procedures will take effect on
August 8, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Fisher, Office of Planning and
Environment, telephone (202) 366-4033, Federal Transit Administration,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
[[Page 45101]]
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590 or Ronald.Fisher@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Availability of the Final Guidance and Comments
A copy of the Proposed and Final Interim Guidance and Instructions
for Small Starts, comments received on the Proposed Interim Guidance,
and FTA's response to comments received from the public are part of
docket FTA-2006-24947 and are available for inspection or copying at
the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room
PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. You may retrieve the guidance and comments
online through the Document Management System (DMS) at: https://
dms.dot.gov. Enter docket number 24947 in the search field. The DMS is
available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Electronic submission
and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the help section
of the Web site. An electronic copy of this document may also be
downloaded by using a computer, modem and suitable communications
software from the Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin
Board Service at (202) 512-1661. Internet users may also reach the
Office of the Federal Register's home page at: https://www.nara.gov/
fedreg and the Government Printing Office's Web page at: https://
www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.
2. Background
On August 10, 2005, President Bush signed the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU). Section 3011 of SAFETEA-LU made a number of changes to 49
U.S.C. 5309, which authorizes the Federal Transit Administration's
(FTA's) capital investment program known as ``New Starts.'' In addition
to the changes made to the New Starts program, 49 U.S.C. 5309 has been
amended with the addition of a new subsection (e) containing a new
capital investment program category for projects requesting less than
$75,000,000 in Section 5309 capital investment funds with a total
project cost of less than $250,000,000. That new capital investment
program, which will be referred to as the ``Small Starts'' program, is
the subject of this Interim Guidance and Instructions. FTA, through its
rulemaking authority, plans to propose regulations that would (1)
implement changes to the existing New Starts program made by section
3011 of SAFETEA-LU and (2) formalize the requirements for the Small
Starts program.
On June 6, 2006, FTA published a Notice of Availability of the
Proposed Interim Guidance and Instructions for Small Starts for
Comments in the Federal Register (71 FR 33503, Jun. 9, 2006). FTA
requested--and received--comments on the Guidance in the June notice.
This Final Interim Guidance and Instructions for Small Starts reflects
FTA's consideration of these comments. FTA finds that there is good
cause to make this guidance effective upon publication of this notice
because sponsors of projects seeking Small Starts funding must have
adequate time to prepare information that FTA will use to evaluate
projects for inclusion in the President's FY2008 budget request to
Congress. As noted above, the deadline to submit these materials to the
FTA is September 15, 2006. This notice announces the availability of
FTA's final Interim Guidance and Instructions for Small Starts. This
document is available on the docket, which can be accessed by going to
https://dms.dot.gov, or on FTA's Web site for New Starts Planning and
Project Development at https://www.fta.dot.gov.
3. Response to Comments
Comments were received from 26 parties. These include transit
agencies, trade organizations, Members of Congress, and private
consulting firms. This section highlights the key issues identified in
the comments on the Proposed Interim Guidance and Instructions for
Small Starts, as well as FTA's response.
More Emphasis Needed on Economic Development Criterion
Comments: A total of eight comments were received. Respondents
noted the need for a greater role in the evaluation of economic
development. In addition, it was suggested that a separate evaluation
criterion be created instead of including economic development in the
``other factors'' category as was proposed.
FTA Response: The underlying premise for this interim guidance is
not to impose any significant changes in the process until the
rulemaking process has been completed. Further, there is a significant
challenge involved in properly evaluating a project's positive effect
on local economic development and establishing a system that can be
applied nationally, as well as the informational burden on project
sponsors that this would entail. Accordingly, FTA has determined that
the best way to allow for the consideration of economic development at
this stage is to give project sponsors the opportunity to provide
evidence of the project's impact on development under ``other
factors.'' Thus, no change was made from the approach offered in the
Proposed Interim Guidance. The approach allows project sponsors to cite
well-reasoned, strongly-justified, and verifiable qualitative and
quantitative explanations of the expected economic development outcomes
of the proposed Small Starts project. This could include developer
agreements or any other commitments of development related to the
project that would not occur if the project was not constructed.
Streetcars Excluded From Very Small Starts
Comments: A total of 14 comments were received. Respondents
indicated concern over several provisions in the Proposed Interim
Guidance and Instructions for Small Starts that they believe would
establish a process that would make it difficult to fund streetcar
projects through the Small Starts program. Respondents claimed that the
explicit exclusion of ``fixed guideway'' projects--and thus rail modes
such as urban streetcar--from Very Small Starts eligibility, as well as
the performance measures indicated in the Small Starts program, would
create a bias against this mode of transit.
FTA Response: FTA established the eligibility criteria for Very
Small Starts with the intent that the very nature of the performance of
these projects assured a cost-effective project. On reviewing the
comments, FTA agrees that the exclusion of a new fixed guideway from
the definition of Very Small Starts is unnecessary, as the
effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a fixed guideway project can be
assured by these measures. Therefore, FTA will allow the construction
of fixed guideway projects to be eligible for Very Small Starts funding
if they meet the other criteria established for this category.
Specifically, to be eligible for the Very Small Starts category,
the project should (1) Have substantial transit stations; (2) use
traffic signal priority/pre-emption, to the extent, if any, that
traffic signals exist in the corridor; (3) have low-floor vehicles or
level boarding; (4) use a clear brand identity for the proposed
service; (5) operate 10 minute peak/15 minute off peak headways or
better and operate at least 14 hours per weekday (not required for
commuter rail or ferries); (6) be in corridors with at least 3,000
average weekday existing riders who will benefit from the proposed
project; and (7) have a total capital cost
[[Page 45102]]
less than $50 million (including all project elements) and less than $3
million per mile, exclusive of rolling stock.
Majority of Funds Will Go to Very Small Starts Projects Due to the Ease
of Evaluation and Implementation
Comments: A total of 11 comments were received. Respondents noted
concern that since Very Small Starts projects would have an easier time
being rated, that the majority of Small Starts funding would be
allocated to Very Small Starts projects. This would mean that very
little funding would be available for larger Small Starts, such as
fixed guideway rail projects.
FTA Response: The comments are not based on any requirement in the
Proposed Interim Guidance, but rather reflect speculation on how FTA
will make funding recommendations. The Proposed Interim Guidance did
not address how FTA would make its funding decisions, nor did it
address the division of funding between Small Starts and Very Small
Starts. As with all projects in the Section 5309 capital investment
grant program, the evaluation and rating process for Small Starts is
separate and distinct from FTA's decision to recommend a project for
funding. That decision is driven by a number of factors, including the
``readiness'' of projects for capital funding, geographic equity, the
amount of available funds versus the number and size of the projects in
New Starts the pipeline, and the project's overall rating. The Interim
Guidance and Instructions have been revised to add a section that
clearly states that funding decisions are not covered by the rating
process.
Requirement for 1,000 Riders at Endpoints Is Too High for Very Small
Starts
Comments: A total of 11 comments were received. Respondents
representing both large and small transit agencies, as well as trade
organizations, noted that this metric would be difficult to meet. Most
respondents noted that this requirement could be met at one end or at
points along a route, but achieving 1,000 riders at each endpoint is
not likely.
FTA Response: In light of the projected variety of project
candidates for Very Small Starts funding, this minimum ridership
requirement has been be eliminated in the Interim Guidance and
Instructions. However, as with any proposed New Start project, FTA will
review the scope and cost of the project to insure that significant
costs are not being incurred for unproductive lengths.
Request for Simpler Processes
Comments: A total of 12 comments were received. Respondents noted
that the application process for Small Starts funding was too
cumbersome in relation to the program's goals and expected project
size. Several comments cited similarities between the application
process for New Starts and Small Starts. Respondents noted the number
of long, involved, and often costly steps in New Starts projects, and
hoped to avoid these in the Small Starts program.
FTA Response: FTA believes that significant simplification has been
achieved, consistent with the underlying premise of the Proposed
Interim Guidance not to make major changes in the process until the
rulemaking has been completed. Nevertheless, FTA believes that further
simplification may be possible. The rulemaking process underway for New
Starts and Small Starts will provide an opportunity to consider
additional simplification. The requirements for an alternatives
analysis and the information necessary for local financial commitment
have been simplified. For Very Small Starts, evidence of eligibility,
which is information project sponsors usually develop for a project
regardless of funding source, is all that is required for project
justification. The timeframe for travel forecasts and financial plans
has been reduced to the date of opening, significantly reducing highway
and transit network development as well as other information needed for
forecasts. Simplified methods for travel forecasts are also possible.
The planning and evaluation process has been limited to the factors in
the law and the amount of supporting information has been minimized as
much as possible without compromising evaluation of project
justification and local financial commitment. In addition, in response
to the comments, the information required for the rating of land use
has been further simplified and included in the Appendix.
Issued in Washington, DC this 2nd day of August 2006.
Sandra K. Bushue,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-12847 Filed 8-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
