Federal Transit Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FTA and FHWA are jointly issuing this proposed guidance on implementation of provisions of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141, that require representation by providers of public transportation in each metropolitan planning organization (MPO) that serves a transportation management area (TMA) no later than October 1, 2014. The purpose of this guidance is to assist MPOs and providers of public transportation in complying with this new requirement.

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 renew the following information collections: 49 U.S.C. Section 5339Alternatives Analysis Program; Over-the-Road Bus (OTRB) Accessibility Program.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) issue this early scoping notice to advise other agencies and the public that they intend to explore potential alternatives for providing high-capacity transit in the GA 400 corridor in north Fulton County, GA from Dunwoody to Alpharetta that would improve transit linkages and coverage to communities within this corridor and would enhance mobility and accessibility to and within the corridor by providing a more robust transit network that offers an alternative to automobile travel. This notice invites the public and agency officials to help support the ongoing alternatives analysis and system planning effort by commenting on the project's purpose and need, the project study area, the alternatives being considered, the transportation problems that are being addressed by the alternatives analysis study, public participation and outreach methods, the relevant transportation and community impacts and benefits being considered, known environmental issues raised by public and agency coordination to date, and the projected capital and operating costs of this project. The early scoping process is intended to support the alternatives analysis and a future National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scoping process and will help streamline the future development of an environmental impact statement (EIS), if warranted. In addition, it supports FTA planning requirements associated with the New Starts (``Section 5309'') funding program for certain kinds of major capital investments. While recent legislation has led to changes in the New Starts process, MARTA will comply with all relevant FTA requirements relating to planning and project development to help analyze and screen alternatives in preparation for the NEPA process. Public meetings are described immediately below. A more detailed discussion of the project and this early scoping process is included in sections that follow.

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) requested a waiver of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Buy America rules for a Video Ready Access Device (VRAD) cabinet. The VRAD cabinet is needed for an AT&T utility relocation associated with the LYNX Blue Line Extension project. This notice is to inform the public of the waiver request, and to seek public comment to inform FTA's decision whether to grant the request.

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: Transit Investments in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) Program. The information collected is necessary to ensure that recipients of TIGGER funds are meeting program objectives and are complying with FTA Circular 5010.1D, ``Grant Management Requirements'' and other federal requirements. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on May 17, 2013.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing final policy guidance to sponsors of New Starts and Small Starts projects. This guidance is available both on the docket and the agency's public Web site. This final guidance includes changes made in response to comments received on the guidance proposed in January 2013, and accompanies the final rule for Major Capital Investment Projects promulgated in January 2013. The rule sets the framework for the New Starts and Small Starts evaluation and rating process; the policy guidance complements the rule by providing technical details about the methods for calculating the project justification and local financial commitment criteria used to evaluate and rate New Starts and Small Starts projects.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) received a request for a waiver to permit the purchase of minivans that are non-compliant with FTA Buy America requirements using FTA funding. The request is from the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO). NFRMPO is in the process of procuring vehicles for its vanpool program, ``VanGo.'' In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5323(j)(3)(A), FTA is providing notice of the waiver request and seeks public comment before deciding whether to grant the request. If granted, the waiver would be for the Buy America final assembly requirement only and would apply only to the FTA-funded procurement by NFRMPO.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Federal lead agency, and the Metropolitan Council (Council), the local lead agency, intend to publish a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the Southwest Light Rail Transit Extension (SWLRT) Project (formerly referred to as the Southwest Transitway Project), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), its implementing regulations, provisions of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), and the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). The original Notice of Intent to prepare a DEIS for the Project was issued on September 23, 2008. The Project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published on October 12, 2012, with a public comment period concluding on December 31, 2012. The Project is a new 15.8-mile light rail alignment with 17 new light rail stations, several new park-and-ride lots, and one new light rail operations and maintenance facility (OMF). The project requires modification to existing freight rail alignments within the project vicinity. The SDEIS will evaluate environmental impacts associated with proposed adjustments to the Locally Preferred Alternative, freight rail alignments, and location of the OMF. The SDEIS will also incorporate pertinent issues raised during the DEIS comment period. For commenting purposes under NEPA, written comments on the scope of the SDEIS should be directed to Ms. Nani Jacobson, Project Manager, Southwest Light Rail Transit Project Office, 6465 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 500, St. Louis Park, MN 55426, Telephone: 612-373-3808; Email: nani.jacobson@metrotransit.org. Comments on the scope may be submitted within 20 days of publication of the preparation notice in the state publication, the EQB Monitor. Notice in the EQB Monitor is anticipated to be published on July 22, 2013, with the 20 day period for submitting written comments ending on August 12, 2013. In accordance with MEPA, comments received within this period, and responses to the comments, will be included in the SDEIS.

The FTA and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) are planning to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Section 4(f) Evaluation for increased transit service to King of Prussia, PA. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as FTA's regulations and guidance for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1501.2 through 8 and 23 CFR 771.111). FTA is issuing this notice to solicit public and agency input regarding the scope of the EIS and to advise the public and agencies that outreach activities conducted by SEPTA and its representatives will be considered in the preparation of the EIS. SEPTA is undertaking this Draft EIS under current FTA regulations and guidance. SEPTA has indicated that it intends to seek FTA New Starts funding.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on the Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS). The Advisory Committee meets at least twice a year to advise FTA on transit safety issues. The recommendations of the TRACS will help FTA develop policies, practices, and regulations for enhancing safety across all modes of public transportation as FTA implements new statutory authority for public transportation safety oversight.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for projects in the following locations: Cleveland, OH and San Francisco, CA. The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions by FTA on the subject projects and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

On May 29, 2013, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the allocation of $3.7 billion under the Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program to the four FTA recipients most severely affected by Hurricane Sandy. This amount was in addition to the initial $2 billion allocation announced in the March 29, 2013 Federal Register notice. This notice corrects the May 29 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 revisions of the following information collection: Transit Investments in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction Program.

This notice announces a public meeting of the Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS). TRACS is a Federal Advisory Committee established by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (the Secretary) in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the Secretary and the Federal Transit Administrator on matters relating to the safety of public transportation systems.

This Notice accomplishes several purposes. First, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA) summarizes and responds to written comments FTA received in response to a November 9, 2012, Federal Register Notice regarding proposed grant program provisions for this modified program. Second, this Notice establishes the framework for the Tribal Transit Program, including the terms and conditions and local match requirements. Finally, this Notice announces the availability of funds and a national solicitation for proposals from grantees for projects selected on a competitive basis; the grant terms and conditions that will apply to the discretionary program; and grant application procedures and selection criteria for FY 2013 projects.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for projects in the following locations: Village of Thomaston, Nassau County, NY; Detroit, MI; and Los Angeles, CA. The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions by FTA on the subject projects and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

The Federal Transit Administration invites public comment about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the following new information collections: 49 U.S.C. Section 5307Capital Assistance Program and Section 5309Urbanized Area Formula Program; 49 U.S.C. Section 5310Capital Assistance Program for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities and Section 5311Nonurbanized Area Formula. The information collected is necessary to determine eligibility of applicants and ensure the proper and timely expenditure of federal funds within the scope of each program. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on February 6, 2013 (Citation 78 FR 8690). No comments were received from that notice.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the allocation of $2,000,000,000 under the Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program (Emergency Relief Program, Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 20.527) for FTA recipients affected by Hurricane Sandy, which impacted the northeastern seaboard in October 2012 and had a particularly devastating impact on transit systems in New York and New Jersey. FTA is allocating funds as outlined in a Notice of Availability of Emergency Relief Funds published in the Federal Register on February 6, 2013 (78 FR 8691), and consistent with the requirements of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (Appropriations Act, Pub. L. 113-2). Concurrently with this notice of allocations, FTA is publishing in today's Federal Register an interim final rule (IFR) for the Emergency Relief Program (49 CFR Part 602). This rule outlines general program requirements that will apply to all funds allocated in this notice and to subsequent grant awards under this program. The rule takes effect immediately. FTA's Emergency Relief Program was authorized by Congress in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21, Pub. L. 112- 141) and provides FTA with primary responsibility for reimbursing emergency response and recovery costs after an emergency or major disaster that affects public transportation systems. The Appropriations Act provides $10.9 billion for FTA's Emergency Relief Program for recovery, relief and resiliency efforts for public transportation in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. As a result of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (Pub. L. 112-25), five percent of the $10.9 billion made available under the Appropriations Act ($545,000,000) is subject to the significant spending cuts known as sequestration and is unavailable for Hurricane Sandy disaster relief. The Appropriations Act requires that not more than $2 billion shall be made available no later than March 30, 2013. With this notice, FTA is allocating the initial $2 billion, excluding funds to be used for program implementation and oversight, to recipients affected by Hurricane Sandy (affected recipients) for eligible emergency response and recovery costs. In the February 6, 2013, Federal Register notice, FTA instructed affected recipients to submit requests for reimbursement of eligible expenses incurred in advance of January 29, 2013, and for the costs of contract work advertised and force account work budgeted prior to January 29, 2013. FTA announced individual allocations on a rolling basis beginning March 6, 2013. Table 1 shows a summary of the allocations made in this notice. Table 2 shows the allocation for each affected recipient. In addition to funds allocated for the reimbursement of costs meeting the above criteria, FTA is allocating the remainder of the initial $2 billion, based on the anticipated cost of recovery for each affected recipient. These funds are available for eligible emergency operations, emergency protective measures, and emergency and permanent repairs to and replacement of assets that suffered serious damage as a result of the storm. Recipients should develop a list of eligible projects, consistent with the Emergency Relief Program rule, at 49 CFR Sec. 602.17, and review the list of projects with the applicable FTA Regional Office prior to submitting a grant application in FTA's Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM) system. FTA granted affected recipients pre-award authority for projects eligible for the initial $2 billion allocation in the February 6, 2013 Federal Register notice. Prior to exercising pre-award authority, recipients are encouraged to work with the appropriate Regional Office to ensure that the applicable Federal requirements are followed. All allocations, including these pro-rated allocations, are included in Table 2. Guidance regarding project eligibility and determinations regarding applicability of certain FTA requirements issued in the February 6, 2013 notice will only apply to costs incurred prior to January 29, 2013, and to other expenses that meet the requirements specified in that notice for inclusion under Category One, Two or Three. Recipients may request waivers of FTA administrative requirements by submitting a request to FTA docket number FTA-2013-0001, as described in the February 6, 2013 Federal Register notice, and in the Emergency Relief Program rule at 49 CFR Sec. 602.15, however, recipients should not proceed with a project under the expectation that waivers will be provided. Additional program requirements, considerations and grant application procedures specific to these funds are included in this notice.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the Baltimore Red Line Project, Baltimore County and City, MD. 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 extend the following currently approved information collection: 49 U.S.C. 5317New Freedom Program.

This NPRM provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) joint procedures that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The revisions are prompted by enactment of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). This NPRM proposes to add new categorical exclusions for projects within an existing operational right-of-way and projects receiving limited Federal funding, as described in MAP-21. The Agencies seek comments on the proposals contained in this document.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is establishing an Emergency Relief Docket for calendar year 2013 so grantees and subgrantees affected by national or regional emergencies may request relief from FTA administrative and statutory requirements. By this notice, FTA is establishing an Emergency Relief Docket for calendar year 2013.

This final rule makes revisions to the joint Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The revisions are aimed at streamlining the FTA environmental process for transit projects, in response to the August 31, 2011, Presidential Memorandum titled ``Speeding Infrastructure Development through More Efficient and Effective Permitting and Environmental Review.'' The revisions also respond to Executive Order 13563's directive to periodically review existing regulations to determine if they can be made more effective and/or less burdensome. The new categorical exclusions (CEs) established by this rule, which affect actions by FTA and FTA grant applicants, are intended to improve the efficiency of the environmental review process by making available the least intensive form of review for those actions that typically do not have the potential for significant environmental effects, and, therefore, do not merit additional analysis and documentation associated with an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement.