Federal Transit Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule amends the U.S. Department of Transportation's regulated industry drug testing program to include oral fluid testing. This additional methodology for drug testing will give employers a choice that will help combat employee cheating on urine drug tests and provide a less intrusive means of achieving the safety goals of the program. In order for an employer to implement oral fluid testing under the Department's regulation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will need to certify at least two laboratories for oral fluid testing, which has not yet been done. The final rule includes other provisions to update the Department's regulation and to harmonize, as needed, with the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs using Oral Fluid established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, this rule amends the FAA, FMCSA, FRA and FTA regulations to ensure consistency within the Department of Transportation and by removing or adjusting references to the word ``urine'' and/or add references to oral fluid, as well as removing or amending some definitions for conformity and to make other miscellaneous technical changes or corrections.

This notice provides priorities for programs in fiscal year (FY) 2023, announces the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, and full-year apportionments and allocations for grant programs, provides contract authority, and describes plans for several competitive programs.

The FHWA and FTA are issuing this notice to advise other Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribes, and the public that a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) Program for proposed highway and high-capacity transit improvements between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, across the Columbia River in the Interstate 5 (I-5) corridor, including the interstate bridge replacement and addressing changes that have occurred since the I-5 Columbia River Crossing (CRC) Project's 2011 Record of Decision (ROD).

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $212,301,048 in grants under the Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program (Emergency Relief Program) for states, territories, local government authorities, Indian tribes, and other FTA recipients affected by major declared disasters in calendar years 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022. FTA may award additional funding made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections. Projects may include costs for disaster response, recovery, and rebuilding activities. Costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic are not eligible for this funding. FTA will distribute these funds in a manner consistent with the eligibility requirements of this program, subject to the priorities set forth below.

This Notice finalizes and responds to comments on proposed changes to the National Transit Database (NTD) reporting requirements published in the Federal Register on July 7, 2022.

Federal public transportation law permits the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to 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 if, among other things, no Federal agency is interested in acquiring the asset for Federal use. Accordingly, FTA is issuing this Notice to advise Federal agencies that Pace Suburban Bus (Pace) intends to transfer the land and building located at 9 Osgood Street, Joliet, Illinois (hereinafter ``the Subject Property'') to Will County, Illinois (hereinafter ``the County'').

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for approximately $1.22 billion in competitive grants under the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low-No Program) (Federal Assistance Listing: 20.526) and approximately $469 million in competitive grants under the FY 2023 Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (Buses and Bus Facilities Program) (Federal Assistance Listing 20.526), subject to availability of appropriated funding.

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.

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: National Transit Asset Management (TAM) System.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces a public meeting of the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS).

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is making available, on its website and in the docket, final initial updates to the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program policy guidance. These revisions amend FTA's CIG Final Interim Policy Guidance last published in June 2016 to reflect changes made to the program by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the ``Bipartisan Infrastructure Law''. In March 2022, FTA published initial guidance proposals for implementing changes made to the CIG program by the IIJA for public comment. FTA appreciates the thoughtful comments received and has incorporated some of the suggestions into the initial updated CIG program policy guidance. FTA is placing formal responses to the comments received in the docket. This policy guidance continues to complement FTA's regulations that govern the CIG program.

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.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for up to $500,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2021 funds for a single cooperative agreement for a research project to help transit agencies address operator and rider assaults. The goals of this research project are to identify public safety risks for transit vehicle operators and riders, determine the most effective mitigation strategies to minimize those risks, and promote the implementation of those strategies.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing Safety Advisory 22-3 to recommend that transit agencies identify Nova Bus models manufactured in 2018 or later that use a Bosch steering gearbox affixed to the vehicle frame through a mounting plate and perform inspections, as recommended by Nova Bus. In addition, FTA recommends that any transit agency that identifies buses equipped with this mounting plate assembly submit a summary of their findings to FTA. FTA Safety Advisory 22-3 ``Steering Gearbox Bolt Failure'' is available in its entirety on FTA's Safety Advisory website: (https:// www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/safety/fta-safet y- advisories).

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.

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.

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.

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: National Transit Asset Management (TAM) System.

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: Enhanced Mobility Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities & Nonurbanized Area Formula Programs.

In response to multiple individual requests for a Buy America nonavailability waiver for non-ADA-accessible vans or minivans that can be used in federally funded vanpool programs, and because the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has been unable to identify any manufacturer of non-ADA-accessible vans or minivans that fully comply with Buy America, FTA is issuing a partial, time-limited, general nonavailability waiver from the requirements of Buy America as described in this notice.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing Safety Advisory 22-1 (SA 22-1) to recommend that State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) direct Rail Transit Agencies (RTAs) that operate Rail Fixed Guideway Public Transportation Systems in their jurisdictions to evaluate the sufficiency of rail car passenger door inspection and function testing procedures. FTA is issuing Safety Advisory 22-2 (SA 22-2) to recommend that SSOAs direct RTAs that operate Rail Fixed Guideway Public Transportation Systems in their jurisdictions to consider signal system safety and train control as part of the RTA's Safety Risk Management (SRM) process. In addition, FTA recommends SSOAs incorporate SA 22-2 into their oversight activities. FTA SA 22-1 ``Rail Car Passenger Door Inspection and Functional Testing'' and SA 22-2 ``Signal System Safety and Train Control'' are available in their entirety on the agency's public website: (https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/safety/ fta-safety-advisories).

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $600 million in competitive grants under the fiscal year (FY) 2022 and FY 2023 Competitive Grants for Rail Vehicle Replacement Program. As required by Federal public transportation law, Competitive Grants for Rail Vehicle Replacement Program funds will be awarded competitively to assist in the funding of capital projects to replace rail rolling stock. FTA may award additional funding 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. FTA began the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) in June 2022 under OMB emergency approval and is seeking renewal of this approval through OMB's standard PRA clearance process: All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP).

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regarding the Chicago Red Line Extension (RLE) Project in Cook County, Chicago, Illinois. The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions by FTA on the subject project and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

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: Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program.