Federal Transit Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Transit Administration and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) are planning to prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 2.3 mile extension of light rail along Capitol Expressway from the existing Alum Rock Station to Eastridge Transit Center in the City of San Jose. Pursuant to 23 C.F.R 771.129(a) and 771.130, the Supplemental Draft EIS will replace the Draft EIS that was made available for public review in April 2004. The Final EIS required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et. seq.) (NEPA) was never completed for this project as a result of limited opportunities for securing federal funds at that time. Due to dramatic declines in local and state funding sources as a result of the global economic recession, VTA is now preparing a Supplemental Draft EIS in order to be eligible for federal funds for this project. A Supplemental Draft EIS is needed to

In an effort toward greater transparency and to ensure integrity in public investments, FTA today publishes an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on capital project management. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is considering a revision of its Project Management Oversight (PMO) rule, shifting its focus from project oversight only to project management and oversight. A revised Part would more clearly identify necessary project management skills needed to be demonstrated by project sponsors for all fixed guideway capital projects, as well as additional requirements that would apply only to the more complex major capital projects, and distinguish project characteristics that would require documentation of project plans and implementation strategies in a project management plan, as well as the use of FTA's Project Management Oversight Contractors (PMOCs). Beginning the rulemaking process to update its project management rule will aid some key agency priorities. It will help ensure integrity and accountability in its construction grant programs, and it will provide data the agency can use in its efforts to streamline its discretionary capital project approval process. FTA seeks to elicit a broad array of comments from project sponsors, the industry, other stakeholders, and the public on a number of subjects.

The purpose of this notice is to convey additional 2009 final guidance on New Starts/Small Starts policies and procedures. On July 29, 2009, FTA announced in the Federal Register the availability of proposed guidance and requested public comment. FTA received a total of 15 comments from transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, labor unions, advocacy groups, and other interested parties. After reviewing the public comments, FTA is issuing final guidance, which is included at the end of this notice.

The FTA, as the Federal lead agency, and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) intend to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Yellow Line Extension Project in Cook County, Illinois. CTA operates the rapid transit system in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. The proposed project, described more completely within, would extend the Yellow Line, a heavy rail transit line, to connect the Dempster Street Station to Old Orchard Road. The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to alert interested parties regarding the intent to prepare the EIS, to provide information on the nature of the proposed project and possible alternatives and to invite public participation in the EIS process.

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

The Federal Transit Administration invites public comment about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to renew the following information collection: Tribal Transit Program (OMB Number: 2132-0567). The information to be collected for this program is to ensure FTA's compliance with applicable Federal laws and the Common Grant Rule. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on May 13, 2009.

The Federal Transit Administration invites public comment about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to renew the following information collection: 49 CFR Part 611 Major Capital Investment Projects (OMB Number: 2132-0561). The information to be collected for this program is to evaluate proposed New and Small Starts projects. The Federal Register Notice with a 60- day comment period soliciting comments was published on April 27, 2009.

The purpose of this notice is to convey the 2009 final guidance on New Starts/Small Starts policies and procedures. On May 20, 2009, FTA announced in the Federal Register the availability of proposed guidance and requested public comment. FTA received a total of 29 comments, primarily from transit agencies and metropolitan planning organizations, as well as cities, advocacy groups, State departments of transportation, and other interested parties. After reviewing the public comments, FTA is issuing final guidance, which is included at the end of this notice. Please note that FTA is concurrently publishing a separate notice in today's Federal Register that includes additional proposed guidance on the New Starts and Small Starts program for public comment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on April 27, 2008. No comments were received in response to that notice.

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 following new information collection:

Following the two recent Buy America rulemakings pursuant to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) received a petition for reconsideration of the treatment of bi-metallic composite conducting rail as a steel product that must be manufactured in the United States.

This notice announces the availability of, and requests comments on, the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Proposed Guidance on New Starts/Small Starts Policies and Procedures. The proposed guidance presents weights to be assigned for the six project justification criteria for New Starts and the three project justification criteria for Small Starts in the project evaluation process. FTA also proposes a process to ensure that the impacts of tunnels are considered in project evaluation.

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 a new information collection:

Division I of the ``Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009'' (Pub. L. 111-8), signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 11, 2009, made funds available for all of the surface transportation programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Fiscal Year (FY) ending September 30, 2009. This notice supplements the December 18, 2008 Federal Register notice. The notice apportions formula funds made available under the Omnibus Appropriations Act and allocates FY 2009 funds to congressionally designated projects that were contained in the accompanying committee report and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The notice does not include any extensions of previously lapsed

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is expanding the type of projects it considers to be ``beyond the ADA'' and thus increase the types of projects eligible for funding under the New Freedom program. Under this interpretation, new and expanded fixed route and demand responsive transit service planned for and designed to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities are eligible projects.

Division I of the ``Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009'' (Pub. L. 111-8), signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 11, 2009, made funds available for all of the surface transportation programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Fiscal Year (FY) ending September 30, 2009. This notice supplements the December 18, 2008 Federal Register notice. The notice apportions formula funds made available under the Omnibus Appropriations Act and allocates FY 2009 funds to congressionally designated projects that were contained in the accompanying committee report and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The notice does not include any extensions of previously lapsed

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 extend the following currently approved information collection: Transit Investments in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction Program.

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) of Austin, Texas, has asked the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to waive its Buy America requirements to permit it to purchase rail car vehicles that will be manufactured by Stadler Bussnang AG (Stadler) in Switzerland. According to Capital Metro, the rail cars are not available from a domestic source. This Notice sets forth Capital Metro's arguments for a non-availability waiver and seeks comment thereon.

Several parties have asked the Federal Transit Administration to waive its Buy America requirements of 49 CFR 661.11 for the purchase of minivans that are manufactured or assembled outside the United States. According to these parties, minivans and minivan chassis are not available from a domestic source. FTA seeks public comment before deciding whether to grant these requests. If granted, a waiver would apply to all minivans and minivan chassis, not only those manufactured by Chrysler.

This notice announces final environmental action taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the Mid-City/Exposition Transit Corridor Light Rail Transit Project in Los Angeles, California. The purpose of this notice is to announce the decision by FTA to not perform supplemental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on the subject project and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge this final agency action. This notice does not alter or extend the limitation period of 180 days for challenge of project decisions subject to a previous notice published in the Federal Register on August 17, 2006.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) appropriated $100 million for a new discretionary grant program for public transportation projects that reduce a transit system's greenhouse gas emissions or result in a decrease in a transit system's energy use. Because of time limitations in ARRA funding, this notice announces the availability of the new grant program, application requirements, and deadlines for submitting grant proposals for funding. However, because the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program is a new grant program, FTA also is accepting comments on the program's provisions and may alter some of the requirements in response to comments.

This notice announces the availability of $17 million in funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program (TTP)), a program authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Section 3013 (c). This notice is a national solicitation for grant applicants to be selected on a competitive basis, and includes grant terms, conditions, and reporting requirements; application procedures; and the criteria that FTA will utilize to select ARRA TTP projects. ARRA TTP funding may be used only for capital expenditures. FTA will announce the availability of, and competition for, the FY 2009 (annual) TTP in a separate notice.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) issue this early scoping notice to advise other agencies and the public that they intend to explore, in the context of the Council on Environmental Quality's early scoping process, methods of improving transit service in the City of Ogden, Utah. The early scoping process is part of a planning Alternatives Analysis (AA) required by Title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) Sec. 5309 for the selection of alternatives that will be subject to the appropriate environmental process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Early scoping meetings have been planned and are announced below. The Ogden-WSU Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis is focusing on improving transit service in a 5-mile corridor between downtown Ogden and Weber State University (WSU). The entire study area is located within the City of Ogden, Weber County, Utah. The corridor connects the Ogden Intermodal Center/FrontRunner commuter rail station to the area's major employment, housing, commercial and education destinations, including Downtown Ogden, Weber State University, and McKay Dee Hospital. With the connection to FrontRunner commuter rail, the corridor also serves trips to and from the greater Wasatch Front Region. In 2005, the UTA and its regional partners completed a Major Investment Feasibility Study of the corridor. The 2005 study concluded that a corridor connecting downtown Ogden and WSU was a promising candidate for increased transit capital investment, potentially incorporating streetcar or Bus Rapid Transit service. This study also developed local consensus for an initial statement of the Purpose and Need for the project, and evaluated potential alignments and modes. The planning Alternatives Analysis now being initiated is expected to result in the selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative by the Utah Transit Authority and its partners, which include the Wasatch Front Regional Council, the metropolitan planning organization for the Greater Salt Lake metropolitan area. Other partners include the City of Ogden, Weber County, Weber State University, McKay Dee Hospital, and the Utah Department of Transportation. The Locally Preferred Alternative will then be a ``proposed action,'' subject to an appropriate environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If the Preferred Alternative is anticipated to have significant impacts, an environmental impact statement (EIS) would be initiated with a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register. Public and agency scoping of the EIS would be conducted at that time. The early scoping notice is intended to generate public comments on the scope of the alternatives analysis. This includes the purpose and need for the project, the range of alternatives, and environmental and community impacts and benefits to be considered in the alternatives analysis.

This notice announces the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) policy on the reporting of coordinated human services transportation data to the National Transit Database (NTD). On August 12, 2008, FTA proposed a new policy clarifying how transit providers reporting to the NTD may include sponsored trips in their reports. FTA received two comments on the proposed policy and is now formally adopting the new policy.

This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) concerning major capital investment projects published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2007 (72 FR 43328). FTA has determined that withdrawal of the NPRM is warranted due to an intervening statutory change.