Department of Transportation September 27, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is proposing to waive the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act's domestic preference requirements for certain products that Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) needs for its Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant project. The proposed waiver would exempt the following products used in PGW's project from BABA requirements on the basis of nonavailability: electro-fusion tapping tees, anodeless risers, transition fittings, lockwing valves, magnesium anodes, service adapters, curb valves, caps, couplings, and stiffeners. In accordance with section 70914(c) of BABA, PHMSA is seeking public comments on the proposed waiver.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), on behalf of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority), is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by the Authority that are final agency actions. The actions relate to the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) Palmdale to Burbank Project Section (Project). The Project will provide the public with electric-powered HSR service that provides predictable and consistent travel times between the Antelope Valley and the San Fernando Valley; provide connectivity to airports, mass transit systems, and the highway network in the Antelope Valley and the San Fernando Valley; and connect the Northern and Southern portions of the planned statewide HSR system. These actions grant permits, approvals, or authorizations for the Project.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has finalized an updated circular, to assist recipients in their implementation of the Rural Areas Formula Program and the rural component of the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. The update and consolidation of the circulars incorporates provisions from the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act; the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL); the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Federal awards to non-Federal entities; and current FTA policies and procedures. This notice responds to the comments FTA received on the proposed circular, which was published in the Federal Register on April 4, 2024.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has finalized a new circular entitled, "Urbanized Areas Formula Grant Programs Guidance," which consolidates and replaces the circulars for the Urbanized Area Formula Grants Program (FTA Circular C 9030.1), the State of Good Repair Grants Program (FTA Circular C 5300.1), and the Urbanized Area formula component of the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (FTA Circular C 5100.1). The update and consolidation of the circulars incorporate provisions from the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act; the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Federal awards to non-Federal entities; and current FTA policies and procedures. This notice responds to the comments FTA received on the proposed circular, which was published in the Federal Register on July 12, 2023.

Van Pool Transportation LLC (Van Pool or Applicant), a noncarrier, filed an application to acquire control of an interstate passenger motor carrier, TransAction Corporate Shuttles, Inc. (TCS), from its sole shareholder, the Cynthia Cain Fren[eacute] Revocable Trust (Seller). The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the transaction subject to the owners of Van Pool filing to join the application. If the owners' filing is satisfactory and no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.