Notice of Availability of Proposed Guidance on New and Small Starts Policies and Procedures, 6663 [E7-2249]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 28 / Monday, February 12, 2007 / Notices and 771.133, FTA will comply with all Federal environmental laws, regulations, and executive orders applicable to the proposed project during the environmental review process to the maximum extent practicable. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the environmental and public hearing provisions of Federal transit laws (49 U.S.C. 5301(e), 5323(b), and 5324), the project-level air quality conformity regulation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (40 CFR part 93), the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines of EPA (40 CFR part 230), the regulation implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800), the regulation implementing section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (50 CFR part 402), Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act (23 CFR 771.135), and Executive Orders 12898 on environmental justice, 11988 on floodplain management, and 11990 on wetlands. Issued on February 5, 2007. Leslie T. Rogers, Regional Administrator, Region IX, Federal Transit Administration. [FR Doc. 07–609 Filed 2–9–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–57–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration [Docket Number: FTA–2007–27172] Notice of Availability of Proposed Guidance on New and Small Starts Policies and Procedures Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Proposed Guidance on New and Small Starts Policies and Procedures and requests your comments on it. The guidance explains proposed changes to the New and Small Starts programs that will become effective upon the issuance of Final Guidance, which will be announced in a subsequent Federal Register notice. FTA requests comments on the Proposed Guidance, which is available in DOT’s electronic docket and on FTA’s Web site. DATES: Comments must be received by March 14, 2007. Late filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable. VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:52 Feb 09, 2007 Jkt 211001 You may submit comments [identified by the DOT DMS Docket Number FTA–2007–27172] by any of the following methods: Web site: https://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site. Fax: 202–493–2251. Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–0001. Hand Delivery: 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. Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Transit Administration) and the docket number (FTA–2007–27172). You should submit two copies of your comments if you submit them by mail. If you wish to receive confirmation that FTA received your comments, you must include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to the Department Docket Management System (DMS) Web site located at https:// dms.dot.gov. This means that if your comment includes any personal identifying information, such information will be made available to users of DMS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Fisher, Office of Planning and Environment, telephone (202) 366– 4033, Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590 or Ronald.Fisher@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: 1. 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) fixed guideway capital investment program known as ‘‘New Starts’’, and created a new program category known as ‘‘Small Starts’’. This notice announces the availability of FTA’s Proposed Guidance on New and Small Starts Policies and Procedures and requests your comment as described below. The document is available in the docket, which can be accessed by going to https://dms.dot.gov at any time, or you can view the document on FTA’s Web site at https:// www.fta.dot.gov/15052_ENGHTML.html. PO 00000 Frm 00147 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 6663 A. Proposed Changes for the New and Small Starts Program The purpose of this policy guidance is to solicit comments on the policies and procedures for the New and Small Starts programs. The changes, once announced as final, will apply to all New and Small Starts submittals received after the effective date announced in the Notice of Availability published in the Federal Register for the Final Guidance. The proposed improvements include: Elimination of the reporting requirements for information on FTA’s measures for operating efficiencies and environmental benefits; optional submission of information related to land use; reduction in number of projects required to submit information for the Annual Report on Funding Recommendations; request for grantees to allow FTA’s reviews of descriptions of alternatives to be timely; requirement for travel models to be validated based on recent transit surveys; an approach for accounting for additional user benefits for new transit modes to an area; use of a five-tiered rating for a project’s overall rating; consideration of overmatch for Small and Very Small Starts; new measures for mobility of transit dependents; consolidation of the subfactors used for the capital and operating components of the financial rating; rating credit for consideration of private contracting for operations and maintenance; treatment of FTA rating information in planning studies; and consideration of congestion management/pricing strategies and ‘‘make-the-case’’ document as ‘‘other factors’’ for project justification. Comments received will be used to develop the ratings, evaluations, and procedures for projects seeking funds from the New and Small Starts programs, and will be issued in spring of 2007. FTA will respond to comments received in response to this Notice in a second Federal Register notice to be published after the close of the comment period. The notice will announce the availability of the Reporting Instructions for the Section 5309 New Starts Criteria and the Interim Guidance for Small Starts, reflecting the changes implemented as a result of this policy guidance and comments received thereon. Issued in Washington, DC this 5th day February 2007. James S. Simpson, Administrator. [FR Doc. E7–2249 Filed 2–9–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–57–P E:\FR\FM\12FEN1.SGM 12FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 28 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 6663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2249]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[Docket Number: FTA-2007-27172]


Notice of Availability of Proposed Guidance on New and Small 
Starts Policies and Procedures

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Federal Transit 
Administration's (FTA) Proposed Guidance on New and Small Starts 
Policies and Procedures and requests your comments on it. The guidance 
explains proposed changes to the New and Small Starts programs that 
will become effective upon the issuance of Final Guidance, which will 
be announced in a subsequent Federal Register notice. FTA requests 
comments on the Proposed Guidance, which is available in DOT's 
electronic docket and on FTA's Web site.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 14, 2007. Late filed comments 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by the DOT DMS Docket 
Number FTA-2007-27172] by any of the following methods:
    Web site: https://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
    Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery: 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.
    Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Transit 
Administration) and the docket number (FTA-2007-27172). You should 
submit two copies of your comments if you submit them by mail. If you 
wish to receive confirmation that FTA received your comments, you must 
include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Note that all comments 
received will be posted without change to the Department Docket 
Management System (DMS) Web site located at https://dms.dot.gov. This 
means that if your comment includes any personal identifying 
information, such information will be made available to users of DMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Fisher, Office of Planning and 
Environment, telephone (202) 366-4033, Federal Transit Administration, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20590 or Ronald.Fisher@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. 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) fixed guideway capital investment program known as ``New 
Starts'', and created a new program category known as ``Small Starts''. 
This notice announces the availability of FTA's Proposed Guidance on 
New and Small Starts Policies and Procedures and requests your comment 
as described below. The document is available in the docket, which can 
be accessed by going to https://dms.dot.gov at any time, or you can view 
the document on FTA's Web site at https://www.fta.dot.gov/15052_ENG-
HTML.html.

A. Proposed Changes for the New and Small Starts Program

    The purpose of this policy guidance is to solicit comments on the 
policies and procedures for the New and Small Starts programs. The 
changes, once announced as final, will apply to all New and Small 
Starts submittals received after the effective date announced in the 
Notice of Availability published in the Federal Register for the Final 
Guidance. The proposed improvements include: Elimination of the 
reporting requirements for information on FTA's measures for operating 
efficiencies and environmental benefits; optional submission of 
information related to land use; reduction in number of projects 
required to submit information for the Annual Report on Funding 
Recommendations; request for grantees to allow FTA's reviews of 
descriptions of alternatives to be timely; requirement for travel 
models to be validated based on recent transit surveys; an approach for 
accounting for additional user benefits for new transit modes to an 
area; use of a five-tiered rating for a project's overall rating; 
consideration of overmatch for Small and Very Small Starts; new 
measures for mobility of transit dependents; consolidation of the 
subfactors used for the capital and operating components of the 
financial rating; rating credit for consideration of private 
contracting for operations and maintenance; treatment of FTA rating 
information in planning studies; and consideration of congestion 
management/pricing strategies and ``make-the-case'' document as ``other 
factors'' for project justification. Comments received will be used to 
develop the ratings, evaluations, and procedures for projects seeking 
funds from the New and Small Starts programs, and will be issued in 
spring of 2007. FTA will respond to comments received in response to 
this Notice in a second Federal Register notice to be published after 
the close of the comment period. The notice will announce the 
availability of the Reporting Instructions for the Section 5309 New 
Starts Criteria and the Interim Guidance for Small Starts, reflecting 
the changes implemented as a result of this policy guidance and 
comments received thereon.

    Issued in Washington, DC this 5th day February 2007.
James S. Simpson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-2249 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P

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