Federal Transit Administration 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 extension of a currently approved information collection: Job Access and Reverse Commute Program.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for a total of $2,000,000 in competitive cooperative agreement awards in fiscal year (FY) 2021 funds for projects that enhance mobility innovations for transit. Funds will be awarded competitively for projects that advance emerging technologies, strategies and innovations in passenger-centric mobility in two distinct areas. Of the total available funds, $1,000,000 is available to accelerate innovative mobility and is for projects to improve mobility and enhance the rider experience with a focus on innovative service delivery models, creative financing, novel partnerships, and integrated payment solutions; and $1,000,000 is available for projects to support the development of software solutions that facilitate the provision of integrated demand-response public transportation service that dispatches public transportation fleet vehicles through riders mobile devices or other means. Projects will be competitively selected based on criteria outlined in this notice. FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is considering amending Circular 4702.1B, Title VI Requirements and Guidelines for Federal Transit Administration Recipients (Title VI Circular) to incorporate lessons learned since its issuance on October 1, 2012. The Title VI Circular provides guidance and instructions to FTA recipients of Federal financial assistance on how to comply with requirements under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the DOT Title VI regulations at 49 CFR part 21, which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs. The agency is seeking suggestions from all transit stakeholdersincluding transit agencies, transit riders and community members, planning officials, States, cities, and the private sectoron enhancements that could be made to the Title VI Circular to provide clarity, to ensure Title VI requirements are met, and to advance equity. Specifically, FTA seeks input on requirements related to public participation, service and fare equity, facility equity analyses, implementation of rider conduct policies, and additional technical resources for determining and documenting disparate impact.

As a result of the derailment of a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metrorail train on October 12, 2021, FTA has issued Safety Advisory 21-1 to direct State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) to report information to FTA regarding out-of-tolerance wheel gauges on all rail transit rolling stock in revenue service. The Safety Advisory also advises SSOAs to require fleet-wide inspections of wheel gauges at rail fixed guideway public transportation systems (RTAs) in their jurisdiction. A copy of Safety Advisory 21-1 can be found on the FTA website at https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/ safety/fta-safety-advisories.

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 extension of a currently approved information collection.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $3.5 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 funds under the Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) pilot program. This funding opportunity seeks to improve coordination to enhance access and mobility to vital community services for older adults, people with disabilities, and people of low income. As required by Federal public transportation law, funds will be awarded competitively as grants to finance innovative mobility management capital projects that will improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services. FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICR) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describe the nature of the information collection and their expected burdens.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $25,000,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 funding under the Route Planning Restoration Program (Federal Assistance Listing: 20.505). As required by Federal public transportation law and subject to funding availability, funds will be awarded competitively to support planning designed to (i) increase ridership and reduce travel times, while maintaining or expanding the total level of vehicle revenue miles of service provided in the planning period; or (ii) make service adjustments to increase the quality or frequency of service provided to low-income riders and disadvantaged neighborhoods or communities. FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

The Federal Transit Administration, as lead Federal agency, and the Niagara Frontier Transit Metro System, Inc. (Metro), as local project sponsor and joint lead agency intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate potential benefits and impacts of the NFTA proposed Buffalo-Amherst-Tonawanda Corridor Transit Expansion project (the Proposed Project). The Proposed Project to be evaluated in the EIS would expand high quality transit service in Buffalo, New York to Tonawanda and Amherst, New York. FTA, in coordination with Metro will prepare the EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), and the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act, Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law and its implementing regulations (SEQR). This Notice of Intent (NOI) initiates public scoping for the EIS, and provides information on the Proposed Project, the Project's purpose and need and the alternatives being considered for evaluation in the EIS. This NOI invites public comments on environmental impacts that may be associated with the Proposed Project and alternatives. Interested members of the public, tribes, and agencies are invited to submit comments on the proposed scope of the EIS, Metro's purpose and need, the identification of alternatives to be considered, the environmental benefits and impacts to be evaluated, and any other project-related issues or analysis. In consideration of the Federal Government's COVID-19 Emergency Declaration dated March 13, 2020, FTA has determined that virtual public meetings and hearings are a permissible and useful tool to provide for public involvement in the NEPA process.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is extending the comment period for the request for information (RFI) regarding FTA's Public Transportation Safety Program (Safety Program), which was published on July 15, 2021, with the original comment period closing on August 16, 2021.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describe the nature of the information collection and their expected burdens.

This notice provides priorities for programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, announces Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, American Rescue Plan Act, and full-year apportionments and allocations for grant programs, provides contract authority, and describes plans for several competitive programs.

The Federal Transit Administration is seeking suggestions from all transit stakeholders (transit authorities, planning officials, States, cities, the private sector, and the public) on improvements that could be made to the evaluation process for projects seeking funding from the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program. Specifically, FTA seeks input on evaluation measures and data sources that can better capture the benefits and costs of transit and how the CIG program can facilitate outcomes that maximize those benefits.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

The Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) may authorize a recipient of FTA funds to transfer land or a facility to a public body for any public purpose with no further obligation to the Federal Government (the Government) if, among other things, no Federal agency is interested in acquiring the asset for Federal use. FTA is issuing this Notice to advise Federal agencies that the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA) has requested FTA approval to transfer the Union Station property (Property) to the City of Oklahoma City (City) if no Federal agency is interested in acquiring the asset for Federal use. The 2.75-acre Property is located within the City of Oklahoma City at 300 SW 7th Street, Oklahoma City, OK.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as lead Federal agency, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) as local project sponsor and joint lead agency, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate potential benefits and impacts of the PANYNJ proposal (the Proposed Project) to construct a new Bus Terminal and associated infrastructure (the Replacement Facility) in Midtown Manhattan in the City of New York, New York. The Proposed Project to be evaluated in the EIS includes both the Replacement Facility, and four private, high-rise buildings (three commercial and one mixed-use retail/residential) to be built on PANYNJ property consistent with present as-of-right zoning. The Replacement Facility is necessary because the existing Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) has significant capacity and operational constraints, is aging and obsolete, and cannot meet forecasted increases in bus service demand. FTA, in coordination with PANYNJ, will prepare the EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), and, as appropriate, the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and City of New York's City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR). This Notice of Intent (NOI) initiates public scoping for the EIS, and provides information on the Proposed Project, the Project's purpose and need, and the alternatives being considered for evaluation in the EIS. This NOI invites public comments on environmental impacts that may be associated with the Proposed Project and alternatives. Interested members of the public, tribes, and agencies are invited to submit comments on the proposed scope of the EIS, PANYNJ's purpose and need, the identification of alternatives to be considered, the environmental benefits and impacts to be evaluated, and any other project-related issues or analyses. In consideration of the Federal Government's COVID-19 Emergency Declaration dated March 13, 2020, FTA has determined that virtual public meetings and hearings are a permissible and useful tool to provide for public involvement in the NEPA process.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as lead Federal agency, and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro), as local project sponsor and joint lead agency, issue this notice to advise the public that they intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Blue Line Project (the Project) in Austin, Texas. The Project is a proposed light rail transit (LRT) line that would extend approximately 8.2 miles from Republic Square in downtown Austin to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). FTA has determined that the Project is sufficiently developed to allow for meaningful public comment and requires an EIS.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is announcing an initiative to permit FTA recipients and subrecipients to utilize geographic, economic, or other hiring preferences on FTA-funded construction projects. This initiative will be carried out as a pilot program for a period of four years (unless extended) under authority provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, the Federal grants management regulation, and a recent Office of Management and Budget Memorandum (March 19, 2021). The purpose of this pilot program is to provide flexibility to utilize hiring preferences to promote equitable creation of employment opportunities and workforce development activities, particularly for economically or socially disadvantaged workers, while evaluating the impact of such preferences on full and open competition and project delivery.

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 extension of a currently approved information collection: Clean Fuels Grant Program.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $10,052,572 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 and FY 2021 funding under the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning (TOD Pilot Program) (Federal Assistance Listing: 20.500). As required by Federal public transportation law and subject to funding availability, funds will be awarded competitively to support comprehensive planning associated with new fixed guideway and core capacity improvement projects. FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

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 extension of a currently approved information collection: Survey of FTA Stakeholders.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review for an emergency approval of a new, mandatory information collection. The FTA requests OMB approve this collection within 15 days. The FTA is collecting this information to inform FTA actions to support the transit industry's COVID-19 recovery efforts. The ICRs describe the nature of the information collection and their expected burdens.

By this notice, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is establishing an Emergency Relief Docket for calendar year 2021, so that grant recipients and sub-recipients affected by a national or regional emergency or disaster may request temporary relief from FTA administrative and statutory requirements.