Federal Transit Administration 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Transit Administration invites public comment about its intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to renew the following information collection:

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 approve the revision of the currently approved information collection: 49 U.S.C. 5320 Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in the Parks Program.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of approximately $5 million in funding provided by the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program (TTP)), as authorized by 49 U.S.C. Section 5311(j), as amended by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-41 (July 6, 2012). This notice is a national solicitation for project proposals and includes the selection criteria and program eligibility information for Fiscal Year 2014 projects. FTA may choose to fund the program for more or less than the announcement amount, including applying any FY 2015 appropriations or other funding toward projects proposed in response to the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). This announcement is available on the FTA Web site at: https:// www.fta.dot.gov/grants/15926_3553.html. Additionally, a synopsis of the funding opportunity will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic grants Web site at https://www.grants.gov. FTA requires that all project proposals be submitted electronically through https://www.GRANTS.GOV by 11:59 p.m. EDT on February 18, 2015. Mail and fax submissions will not be accepted. A complete proposal submission will consist of at least two files: (1) The SF 424 Mandatory form (downloaded from GRANTS.GOV) and (2) the Tribal Transit supplemental form found on the FTA Web site at https://www.fta.dot.gov/ grants/15926_3553.html. The Tribal Transit supplemental form provides guidance and a consistent format for applicants to respond to the criteria outlined in this NOFA. Once completed, the applicant must place the supplemental form in the attachments section of the SF-424 Mandatory form. Applicants must use the supplemental form designated for TTP and attach the form to their submission in GRANTS.GOV to complete the application process. A proposal submission may contain additional supporting documentation as attachments. Within 24-48 hours after submitting an electronic application, the applicant should receive three email messages from GRANTS.GOV: (1) Confirmation of successful transmission to GRANTS.GOV; (2) confirmation of successful validation by GRANTS.GOV; and (3) confirmation of successful validation by FTA. If the applicant does not receive confirmations of successful validation and instead receives a notice of failed validation or incomplete materials, the applicant must address the reason for the failed validation or incomplete materials, as described in the notice, and resubmit the proposal before the submission deadline. If making a resubmission for any reason, the applicant must include all original attachments regardless of which attachments are updated and check the box on the supplemental form indicating this is a resubmission. Complete instructions on the application process can be found at https://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/ 15926_3553.html. Important: FTA urges applicants to submit their project proposals at least 72 hours prior to the due date to allow time to receive the validation message and to correct any problems that may have caused a rejection notification. FTA will not accept submissions after the stated submission deadline. GRANTS.GOV scheduled maintenance and outage times are announced on the GRANTS.GOV Web site https://www.GRANTS.GOV. The deadline will not be extended due to scheduled maintenance or outages. Applicants may submit one proposal for each project or one proposal containing multiple projects. Applicants submitting multiple projects in one proposal must be sure to clearly define each project by completing a supplemental form for each project. Additional supplemental forms must be added within the proposal by clicking the ``add project'' button in Section II of the supplemental form. Information such as applicant name, Federal amount requested, description of areas served, and other information may be requested in varying degrees of detail on both the SF 424 form and supplemental form. Applicants must fill in all fields unless stated otherwise on the forms. Applicants should use both the ``Check Package for Errors'' and the ``Validate Form'' validation buttons on both forms to check all required fields on the forms, and ensure that the Federal and local amounts specified are consistent.

The FTA in cooperation with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed public transportation improvement project in the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County, Georgia is being rescinded.

The FTA announces the availability of final guidance on the application of a provision of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) regarding corridor preservation for future transit projects. MAP-21 modified Federal transit law by amending a previously existing provision such that FTA can now, under certain conditions, assist in the acquisition of both non-railroad and railroad right-of- way (ROW) for corridor preservation before the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is complete for any transit project that could eventually use that ROW or could later receive FTA financial assistance. The final guidance defines the type of ROW to which this MAP-21 provision applies and explains the conditions and requirements pertaining to its application. On December 11, 2013, FTA announced in the Federal Register under docket number FTA-2013-0019 the availability of draft guidance and requested public comment. FTA received six comment letters and presents its responses to those comments in this notice.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with the Regional Transportation District (RTD), is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Record of Decision (ROD) for the proposed North Metro Corridor project in Denver, Colorado is being rescinded.

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 renew the following information collection:

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program (Ladders of Opportunity Initiative). FTA has budgeted approximately $9 million for this solicitation. This NOFA solicits proposals that promote innovative nationally and regionally significant public transportation workforce development models and programs that invest in America's economic growth and help build ladders of opportunity into the middle class for American workers.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) issue this Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and an evaluation per 49 U.S.C. 303 and 23 CFR 774 (``Section 4(f)'') for a new Light Rail Transit (LRT) line in DeKalb and Fulton Counties, Georgia. The proposed LRT line would extend from Lindbergh MARTA station in the city of Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, southeast through the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters and Emory University and Emory Hospital campuses, to Avondale MARTA station in the City of Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia. The EIS and Section 4(f) Evaluation will be prepared in accordance with regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 4(f), as well as FTA's regulations and guidance implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508 and 23 CFR 771.105). The purpose of this NOI is to: (1) Advise the public and agencies that FTA is preparing an EIS for the proposed project; (2) provide project information including previous planning studies and decisions, the project purpose and need, and alternatives being considered; and, (3) invite public and agency participation in the EIS process, which includes a review and written comments on the scope of the EIS.

This notice announces a public meeting of the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS). TRACS is a Federal Advisory Committee established by the Secretary of Transportation in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administrator on matters relating to the safety of public transportation systems.

This final rule establishes procedures governing the implementation of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program as authorized by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as the Federal Lead Agency, and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), as the Local Project Sponsor, intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the West Lake Corridor Project (Project) in Lake County, Indiana and Cook County, Illinois. The Project is an approximately 9-mile proposed southern branch extension of NICTD's existing South Shore Line (SSL) between Dyer and Hammond, Indiana. Additionally, the Project would operate on about 15 miles of existing SSL and Metra Electric District's (MED) line to the Millennium Station in downtown Chicago. Alternatives to be considered include a No Build, Commuter Rail, and several design options for the latter in terms of route alignment, station locations, maintenance facility sites, and vehicle mode. More information can be found on the Project's Web site at: https://www.nictdwestlake.com. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as provisions of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP- 21). The purpose of this notice is to alert interested parties regarding FTA's plan to prepare the EIS; provide information on the nature of the proposed Project; solicit public and agency input regarding the scope of the EIS including the project's purpose and need, alternatives to be considered, and the impacts to be evaluated; and announce that public and agency scoping meetings will be conducted. This input will be used to assist decision makers in determining a locally preferred alternative (LPA) and preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). If the No Build alternative is eliminated, an LPA will be selected and the project sponsors will request permission from FTA to enter into Project Development per requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5309. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) would be issued after the project has entered Project Development. FTA intends to issue a single FEIS and ROD document pursuant to MAP-21 Section 1319 requirements, unless FTA determines statutory criteria or practicability considerations preclude issuance of the combined document pursuant to Section 1319. Dates, Times and Locations: A public scoping meeting to present information and accept comments on the study will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN 46321. Comparably, an interagency scoping meeting for federal, state, regional and local resource and regulatory agencies will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN 46321. Appropriate agencies that may have an interest in this project, or have a potential interest in becoming a participating agency, will be notified of the meeting through separate direct correspondence. The building used for the meetings is accessible to persons with disabilities. Any person who requires special assistance, such as a language interpreter, should contact the NICTD West Lake Corridor Project at 219-250-2920 at least 48 hours before the meeting. Comment Due Date: Written comments on the purpose and need for the proposed improvements, and the scope of alternatives and impacts to be considered should be sent to NICTD West Lake Corridor Project via any of the methods outlined in the Addresses section below, on or before Tuesday, November 11, 2014.

This final rule amends the application requirements for the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Program). This rulemaking is prompted by enactment of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which converted the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Pilot Program into a permanent program, allowed any State to apply for the Program, created a renewal process for Program participation, and expanded the scope of the Secretary's responsibilities that may be assigned and assumed under the Program to environmental review responsibilities for railroad, public transportation, and multimodal projects, in addition to highway projects.

This action withdraws an FTA notice of funding availability (NOFA), Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program Ladders of Opportunity Initiative, published in the Federal Register on September 5, 2014 (79 FR 53095). FTA will issue a revised NOFA for this program.

This NPRM provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on proposed revisions to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) statewide and nonmetropolitan and metropolitan transportation planning regulations related to the use of and reliance on planning products developed during the transportation planning process for project development and the environmental review process. The revisions are prompted by the enactment of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Specifically, through this rulemaking FHWA and FTA would interpret and implement MAP-21's additional authority for FHWA and FTA to use planning products developed by States, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO), and other agencies during the transportation planning process in the environmental review process for a project.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $19.98 million of Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 and FY 2014 funds under the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning as authorized under Section 20005(b) of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141, July 6, 2012. The program augments FTA's Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program by supporting comprehensive planning associated with new fixed guideway and core capacity improvement projects that will help the projects develop information to address the CIG Program's evaluation criteria and thus be more competitive for that program's funding. This notice solicits proposals to compete for FY 2013 and FY 2014 funding under the Pilot Program for TOD Planning and may include additional funds made available under future appropriations. It outlines the process to apply for funding, identifies FTA's priorities for these discretionary funds, and establishes the criteria FTA will use to identify meritorious projects for funding. This announcement is available on the FTA Web site at: https://www.fta.dot.gov. FTA may announce final selections on the Web site and in the Federal Register. Additionally, a synopsis of this funding opportunity will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic grants (GRANTS.GOV) Web site at https:// www.grants.gov.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has issued and placed in the docket and on its Web site final Agency guidance, in the form of a circular, on joint development. This circular provides guidance to recipients of FTA financial assistance on how to use FTA funds or FTA- funded real property, for joint development. This circular: (1) Defines the term ``joint development''; (2) explains how a joint development project can qualify for FTA assistance; (3) describes the legal requirements applicable to the acquisition, use, and disposition of real property acquired with FTA assistance; (4) outlines the most common crosscutting requirements applicable to FTA-assisted joint developments; and (5) describes FTA's process for reviewing a joint development project proposal. This circular incorporates provisions of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141 (2012), advances the goals of 49 U.S.C. 5315 by informing FTA recipients of opportunities for private sector participation in public transportation projects, and includes the most current guidance for the Federal public transportation program. This final circular is the result of the notice issued by FTA that appeared in the Federal Register on March 6, 2013, entitled ``Joint Development: Proposed Circular''.

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 approve the revision of the currently approved information collection: 49 U.S.C. 5335(a) and (b) National Transit Database (NTD). The guidance changes in this notice primarily relate to urbanized area transit providers.

Today the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing Safety Advisory 14-3 advising rail transit agencies that operate reconditioned vintage/heritage trolley vehicles manufactured prior to January 1, 1956, of an operating concern regarding B and K high voltage operating controllers. This safety advisory recommends specific and immediate action for rail transit agencies not overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and provides supporting technical resources. The FTA's Safety Advisory 14-3, ``Vintage/Heritage Trolley Vehicle B and K Operating Controllers,'' is available in its entirety on the agency's public Web site (https://www.fta.dot.gov/tso_15922.html).

In response to the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District's (Bridge District) request for a Buy America waiver for waterjets, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) hereby waives its Buy America requirements for waterjets to be installed in the Bridge District's M.V. Mendocino ferry vessel. This waiver is limited to a single procurement for the waterjets to be installed in the M.V. Mendocino ferry vessel, which is part of an FTA-funded project.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) received a request for a waiver to permit the purchase of new waterjets that are non- compliant with Buy America requirements using FTA funding. The request is from the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District (Golden Gate Bridge) for its M.V. Mendocini ferry vessel. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5323(j)(3)(A), FTA is providing notice of the waiver request and seeks public comment before deciding whether to grant the request. If granted, the waiver only would apply to a one-time FTA- funded procurement by Golden Gate Bridge.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Cap Metro) and the City of Austin, is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Urban Rail project in Austin, Texas is being rescinded.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed public transportation improvement project in Broward County, Florida is being rescinded.

Today the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing Safety Advisory 14-2 to provide guidance to rail fixed guideway public transportation agencies of the need to assess the adequacy of safe stopping distances for rail transit trains in terminal stations. This safety advisory recommends specific and immediate action for rail transit agencies not overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and provides supporting technical resources. FTA is issuing this guidance in response to preliminary investigative findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the collision and derailment that occurred at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) on March 24, 2014. Further, FTA is directing each State Safety Oversight (SSO) agency designated to implement FTA's SSO program specified at 49 CFR part 659 and 49 U.S.C. 5329(e) to coordinate with every rail transit agency within its jurisdiction to review and approve, as necessary, corrective action plans to be implemented to address Safety Advisory 14-2, ``Verification of Rail Vehicle Safe Stopping Distances in Terminal Stations'' by August 12, 2014. Additionally, FTA directs SSO agencies to provide a summary of actions taken by each rail transit agency in the next Annual SSO Program Report. FTA's Safety Advisory 14-2, ``Verification of Rail Vehicle Safe Stopping Distances in Terminal Stations,'' is available in its entirety on the agency's public Web site (https://www.fta.dot.gov/tso_ 15922.html).