Research and Innovative Technology Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The United States Department of Transportation is publishing this notice to give eligible nonprofit institutions of higher education located in Federal Regions 3 and 10 advance notice that they will have an opportunity to submit applications for a grant as a Regional Center in the University Transportation Centers (UTCs) program. Funds for this grant program are authorized beginning on October 1, 2012. In the near future, the Department, via the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), will release a grant solicitation through Grants.gov and on the UTC Program's Web site, https://utc.dot.gov, describing the competition and deadlines for applications. Proposals will be evaluated through a competitive process on the basis of demonstrated ability, research, technology and education resources, leadership, multi-modal research capability, and commitment to transportation workforce development programs, technology transfer capability, the use of peer review, and effective partnerships to advance diversity.

In compliance 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 extension of currently approved collections. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on May 16, 2013 (78 FR 28943). No comments were received.

In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval to make changes to an existing information collection related to the Nation's ferry operations (National Census of Ferry Operators, OMB Control Number2139-0009). The data collected for the national census of ferry operators (NCFO) have historically been used to produce a descriptive database of existing ferry operations. Recently enacted MAP-21 legislation (Pub. L. 112-141, section 1121(b)), requires that the NCFO data be used by The Federal Highway Administration for funding allocations based on a specific set of formulae. As a result, BTS is proposing the elimination of census questions that do not support the MAP-21 requirements; while adding items needed to support the FHWA's funding algorithms. As with all previous NCFO initiatives, business sensitive information provided by ferry operators will not be made public. The Information provided will however, be shared with FHWA in order to support their funding allocations as dictated in MAP-21. For copies of the old and new NCFO questionnaires with edits, please contact the project director.

The Coast Guard and the Research and Innovative Technology Administration are analyzing the current and future user needs and requirements of the Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS). The NDGPS was designed to broadcast signals to improve the accuracy and integrity of the Global Positioning System (GPS) derived positions for surface transportation, as well as other civil, commercial, scientific, and homeland security applications. This analysis will be used to support future NDGPS investment decisions by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation beyond fiscal year 2016. This notice seeks comments from Federal, state, and local agencies, as well as other interested members of the public regarding current and future usage of the NDGPS, the need to retain the NDGPS, the impact if NDGPS signals were not available, alternatives to the NDGPS, and alternative uses for the existing NDGPS infrastructure.

In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the following information collection: Confidential Close Call Reporting for Transit Rail System. This data collection effort supports a multi-year program focused on improving transit rail safety by collecting and analyzing data and information on close calls and other unsafe occurrences in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) rail system. The program is co-sponsored by WMATA's Office of the Deputy General Manager Operations (DGMO) and the President/Business Agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689. It is designed to identify safety issues and propose corrective actions based on voluntary reports of close calls submitted confidentially to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), U.S. Department of Transportation. This information collection is necessary to aid WMATA/ATU in systematically collecting and analyzing data to identify root causes of potentially unsafe events.

The United States Department of Transportation (the Department) is publishing this notice to give eligible nonprofit institutions of higher learning advance notice that they will have an opportunity to submit grant applications for the University Transportation Centers (UTCs) program. The Department requests public comments on this notice. Funds for this grant program are authorized beginning on October 1, 2012. In the near future, the Department, via the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), will release a grant solicitation through Grants.gov and on the UTC Program's Web site, https://utc.dot.gov, describing the competition and deadlines for applications. Proposals will be evaluated through a competitive process on the basis of demonstrated ability, research, technology and education resources, leadership, multimodal research capability, and commitment to transportation workforce development programs, technology transfer capability, the use of peer review, and effective partnerships to advance diversity.

This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) and comments that will be used to help identify focus areas for innovative techniques for delivering Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) learning. Feedback and comments on any aspect of the RFI are welcomed from all interested public, private, and academic entities. While all feedback is welcomed, USDOT is particularly interested in feedback on the questions provided in the last section of this RFI. RFI Guidelines: Responses to this RFI should be submitted by August 29, 2011. Responses to this RFI should be delivered electronically as an e-mail or as an attachment to an e-mail sent to pcbits@dot.gov. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or issue a grant. Information obtained as a result of this RFI may be used by the government for program planning on a non-attribution basis. If you wish to submit any information under a claim of confidentiality, you should submit via e- mail to the address given below under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, your complete submission, including the information you claim to be confidential commercial information. When you submit information containing information identified as confidential commercial information, you should include a cover letter setting forth the reasons you believe the information qualifies as ``confidential commercial information.'' (49 CFR 7.13(c)(4) and 7.17) If we receive a request to examine or copy this information, we treat it as any other request under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), but we will process the request in accordance with the procedures found in 49 CFR 7.17.

This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) and comments that will be used to help identify research and development (R&D) opportunities for wireless technology in surface transportation. The President's Wireless Infrastructure and Innovation Initiative includes a proposed $100M R&D investment to spur innovative wireless applications in surface transportation that advance the Administration's safety, mobility, and environmental sustainability agenda. Feedback and comments on any aspect of the RFI are welcomed from all interested public, private, and academic entities, and individuals. While all feedback is welcomed, the USDOT is particularly interested in feedback on the questions provided in the last section of this RFI. RFI Guidelines: Responses to this RFI must be submitted by June 13, 2011. Responses to this RFI should be delivered electronically as an e- mail or as an attachment to an e-mail sent to winits@dot.gov. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract, to issue a grant or cooperative agreement, or to make any other funding or partnership commitment. Information obtained as a result of this RFI may be used by the government for program planning. If you wish to submit any information under a claim of confidentiality, you should submit via email to the address given below under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, your complete submission, including the information you claim to be confidential commercial information. When you submit information containing information identified as confidential commercial information, you should include a cover letter setting forth the reasons you believe the information qualifies as ``confidential commercial information.'' (49 CFR 7.13(c)(4) and 7.17) If we receive a request to examine or copy this information, we will treat it as any other request under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), but we will process the request in accordance with the procedures found in 49 CFR 7.17.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval for a new information collection related to the evaluation of a demonstration/ research program on voluntary reporting of close calls and near misses in the rail environment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on March 12, 2010 (75 FR 11988) and the comment period ended on May 11, 2010. The 60-day notice produced no comments.

In compliance 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 is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for re-instatement of an expired collection. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 16, 2010 (75 FR 21716).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of DOT requiring large certificated air carriers to file ``On-Time Flight Performance Reports'' and ``Mishandled-Baggage Reports'' pursuant to 14 CFR 234.4 and 234.6. These reports are used to monitor the quality of air service that major air carriers are providing the flying public. The Federal Aviation Administration uses the On-Time Flight Performance Reports to identify problem areas within the air traffic control system.

The U.S. Government is providing notice that it is actively considering several mitigation options prior to changing the health status of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite IIR-20M (satellite vehicle number 49SVN 49) from unhealthy to healthy. The potential mitigations are each designed to reduce the impact of the unique nature of the SVN 49 signal to a portion of the user segment. The mitigations are described in an Appendix posted in the public docket. The mitigations are intended only for use with the SVN 49 satellite and will not be implemented for any other GPS satellite. Responses from this public comment period will be considered during the final decision to choose which mitigation(s) to implement.

In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval for an information collection related to the Nation's ferry operations. The information to be collected will be used to produce a descriptive database of existing ferry operations. A summary report of survey findings will be published on the BTS Web page. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on December 1, 2009 [74 FR 62880].

In compliance 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 extension of currently approved collections. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on November 16, 2009 (74 FR 59018).

The U.S. Department of Transportation is providing notice that it intends to suspend competitions for its University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program grants (49 USC 5506) pending the enactment of multi-year, surface transportation authorization legislation that is necessary to define the purpose, eligibility, number, and funding amounts of any future grants.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval for renewal of information collection supporting a five-year research study that aims at improving rail safety by analyzing information on close calls and other unsafe occurrences in the rail industry. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on October 21, 2009 (74 FR 54116) and the comment period ended on December 21, 2009. The 60-day notice produced no comments.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS collecting a sample of airline passenger itineraries with the dollar value of the passenger ticket. Certificated air carriers that operated scheduled passenger service with at least one aircraft having a seating capacity of over 60 seats report these data. Comments are requested concerning whether: (a) The collection is still needed by the Department of Transportation; (b) BTS accurately estimates the reporting burden; (c) there are other ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; and (d) there are ways to minimize reporting burden, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) intends to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) renew the information collection request for the Close Calls project. This data collection effort is in support of a five-year research study aiming at improving rail safety by analyzing information on close calls and other unsafe occurrences in the rail industry. The ongoing research study is conducted by the Office of Human Factors in the Federal Railroad Administration and is designed to identify safety issues and propose corrective actions based on voluntary reports of close calls submitted to BTS. This collection is necessary because data on close calls are not normally reported to the railroad carriers or the Federal Railroad Administration. Continuous data collection for this research project is necessary to develop trends about rail safety and to improve railroad safety on an ongoing basis.