Federal Transit Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FHWA, FRA, and FTA are publishing this interim final rule (IFR) to modify the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that apply to all three agencies to be consistent with the removal of regulations previously issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the amendments to NEPA included in the section of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 known as the Building United States Infrastructure through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act of 2023, and amendments regarding efficient environmental reviews included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. This rule will become effective immediately while the agencies seek comment on what further changes may be appropriate.

This rulemaking rescinds the FTA regulation on Transportation for Elderly and Handicapped Persons, as FTA finds that the regulation is obsolete and unnecessary.

FTA is amending the regulations that govern the provision of charter service by recipients of Federal financial assistance. This final rule removes the Federal financial assistance programs listed in an appendix and the guidance in additional appendices and makes non- substantive technical edits throughout to remove outdated citations and provide clarity.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is revising its regulations on the agency's organization, functions, and procedures to update outdated information and increase clarity.

FTA is proposing changes to the reporting requirements for the Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP). The proposed revisions would reduce reporting burdens for rail transit agencies and State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOA).

In this action, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) seeks to reduce the regulatory burden on recipients subject to FTA's private investment procedures by removing an unnecessary reporting requirement.

FTA is withdrawing the October 30, 2023, advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) concerning minimum safety standards to address fatigue-related safety incidents. FTA has determined not to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking at this time.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regarding the West Seattle Link Extension Project, Seattle, King County, Washington. The purpose of this notice is to publicly announce FTA's environmental decisions on the subject project, and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regarding two projects: the Ontario International Airport Connector Project, Cities of Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario, San Bernardino County, California; and the Draw One Bridge Replacement Project in Boston, Suffolk County and Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The purpose of this notice is to publicly announce FTA's environmental decisions on the subject projects, and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

This document delays the applicability date of the January 16, 2025, Third-Party Contracting Guidance Circular (C 4220.1G), which makes updates to reflect statutory and regulatory changes that have occurred since the previous update in C 4220.1F.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has made available on its website the final updated Third-Party Contracting Guidance Circular (C 4220.1G). The updated circular reflects statutory and regulatory changes that have occurred since the last update, provides additional non-binding guidance, and supersedes the previous Third-Party Contracting Guidance Circular C 4220.1F. This notice responds to the comments FTA received on the proposed circular, which was published in the Federal Register on November 27, 2024.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is reopening the comment period for the Federal Register notice regarding FTA's National Transit Database reporting changes and clarifications, which was published on October 31, 2024, with the original comment period closing on December 30, 2024.

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 requests comments on FHWA, FRA, and FTA's (collectively the "Agencies") revised Section 139 Efficient Environmental Reviews for Project Decisionmaking and One Federal Decision Interim Final Guidance (Interim Final Guidance). This Interim Final Guidance explains the environmental review process and best management practices for the surface transportation projects to which the Section 139 environmental review process applies. This Interim Final Guidance supersedes and replaces the SAFETEA-LU Environmental Review Process Final Guidance, jointly issued by FHWA and FTA in 2006. This Interim Final Guidance reflects statutory amendments to the Section 139 environmental review process and includes information on the FRA and railroad projects.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regarding the following project: Midtown Manhattan Bus Terminal Replacement Project, also known as the Port Authority Bus Terminal, in New York, New York. The purpose of this notice is to publicly announce FTA's environmental decisions on the subject project, and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

This notice announces the calendar year 2025 drug and alcohol random testing rates for specific recipients of FTA financial assistance. The minimum random drug testing rate will remain at 50 percent, and the random alcohol testing rate will remain at 10 percent.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has determined that street-running rail collisions are a risk to public transportation and is issuing Safety Advisory 24-2 to recommend actions to mitigate this risk.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to submit applications for the Bus Safety and Accessibility Research Program for up to $10,000,000 under the Public Transportation Innovation Program in multiple fiscal years. The strategic goal for this program is to make existing and new buses safer for their operators and vulnerable road users, and safer and more accessible for their passengers. The Bus Safety and Accessibility Research Program seeks proposals to research standard bus designs, safety innovations and systems, and bus compartments that support these safety and accessibility goals. Additionally, this NOFO will require the development of detailed design specifications and production of a prototype that is available through a retrofit on existing buses and for installation in new buses.

This notice provides information regarding FTA's finding that it is appropriate to grant a Buy America nonavailability waiver to the Detroit Transportation Corporation (DTC) for the procurement of special trackwork turnout switch components needed for the DTC's People Mover that are not manufactured in the United States. Specifically, this waiver covers one pair of EN60E1A1 switch point rails and all appurtenances associated with its installation.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is publishing a final rule for minimum safety standards for rail transit roadway worker protection (RWP) to ensure the safe operation of public transportation systems and to prevent safety events, fatalities, and injuries to transit workers who may access the roadway in the performance of work. This final rule applies to rail transit agencies (RTAs) covered by the State Safety Oversight (SSO) program, SSO agencies (SSOAs), and rail transit workers who access the roadway to perform work. This final rule sets minimum standards for RWP program elements, including an RWP manual and track access guide; requirements for on-track safety and supervision, job safety briefings, good faith safety challenges, and reporting unsafe acts and conditions and near-misses; development and implementation of risk-based redundant protections for workers; and establishment of RWP training and qualification and RWP compliance monitoring activities. RTAs are expected to comply with these Federal standards as a baseline and use their existing Safety Management System (SMS) processes to determine any additional mitigations appropriate to address the level of RWP risk identified. This final rule requires SSOAs to oversee and enforce implementation of the RWP program requirements.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as lead Federal agency, and the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit), 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 Ballard Link Extension Project (Project) located in the City of Seattle, King County, Washington.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is publishing a final rule for State Safety Oversight (SSO). This final rule implements new requirements of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)), removes outdated references, and simplifies notification requirements.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regarding the Carteret Ferry Terminal project, Borough of Carteret, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The purpose of this notice is to publicly announce FTA's environmental decisions on the subject project, and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has finalized an updated circular, to assist recipients in their implementation of the Rural Areas Formula Program and the rural component of the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. The update and consolidation of the circulars incorporates provisions from the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act; the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL); the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Federal awards to non-Federal entities; and current FTA policies and procedures. This notice responds to the comments FTA received on the proposed circular, which was published in the Federal Register on April 4, 2024.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has finalized a new circular entitled, "Urbanized Areas Formula Grant Programs Guidance," which consolidates and replaces the circulars for the Urbanized Area Formula Grants Program (FTA Circular C 9030.1), the State of Good Repair Grants Program (FTA Circular C 5300.1), and the Urbanized Area formula component of the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (FTA Circular C 5100.1). The update and consolidation of the circulars incorporate provisions from the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act; the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Federal awards to non-Federal entities; and current FTA policies and procedures. This notice responds to the comments FTA received on the proposed circular, which was published in the Federal Register on July 12, 2023.