Office of the Secretary of Transportation 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 1 - 11 of 11
Notice of Transportation Services' OMB Designation, timely return of excess transit benefits to the Treasury, and stakeholder notification of the minimum internal controls
On April 27, 2012, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) designated the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Office of Transportation Services (TRANServe), located within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration, as the lead Federal Agency by to facilitate the timely return of any excess transit benefits accumulating on vanpool companies' accounts to the Treasury and to prevent the future accumulation of excess transit benefits, among other things. As the lead Federal agency, TRANServe is directed to inform commercial vanpool companies of the Federal internal controls that now govern the Transit Benefit Program to prevent future accumulations, and assist in the timely return of the current excess transit benefits. Thus, the following notice sets forth the process for returning excess transit benefits, as well as the minimum internal controls that have been developed for operating a compliant transit benefit program as it relates to van pools.
Interim Guidance on State Freight Plans and State Freight Advisory Committees
On July 6, 2012, the President signed into law Public Law 112- 141, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Section 1118 of MAP-21 directs the Secretary of Transportation to encourage each State to develop a comprehensive State Freight Plan that outlines immediate and long-range plans for freight-related transportation investments. Section 1117 of MAP-21 directs the Secretary to encourage each State to establish a State Freight Advisory Committee. The Department of Transportation is issuing this Notice to provide Interim Guidance on both State Freight Plans and State Freight Advisory Committees. It encourages States to develop State Freight Plans and provides guidance to States on the required elements of a State Freight Plan and information on funding and on the relationship of State Freight Plans to other provisions of MAP-21. It encourages States to develop State Freight Advisory Committees as part of the process for developing a State Freight Plan. The Department requests public comments on all aspects of this Interim Guidance.
Notice of Transportation Services' Transition From Paper to Electronic Fare Media Comments, Response to Public Comments, and Final Notification
On March 29, 2011, and April 2, 2012, U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Transportation Services (TRANServe), located within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration, published for public comment Notices of the adoption of a new program distribution methodology for transit benefits. To date, TRANServe has implemented its plan in three of the eight TRANServe Services Areas and continues to implement electronic fare media across the United States, ensuring that the implementation in the remaining five TRANServe Service Areas is consistent with applicable statutes and regulations. TRANServe's plan is a two-year initiative designed to be responsive to industry changes and technological advances. Over time, many State and local transit authorities are transitioning, or have already transitioned, to electronic fare media, compelling the shift from a paper based system (vouchers) to an electronic fare media structure. Now that the Federal Register notification process is final, TRANServe will continue to engage all appropriate stakeholders through outreach and communication for assistance and advice.
Letters of Interest for Credit Assistance Under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Program
Pursuant to the recently enacted Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), DOT announces the availability of funding authorized in the amount of $1.75 billion ($750 million in Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 funds and $1 billion in FY 2014 funds (and any funds that may be available from prior fiscal years)) to provide TIFIA credit assistance for eligible projects. The FY 2013 and FY 2014 funds are subject to an annual obligation limitation that may be established in appropriations law. The amount of TIFIA budget authority available in a given year may be less than the amount authorized for that fiscal year. Under TIFIA, DOT provides secured (direct) loans, lines of credit, and loan guarantees to public and private applicants for eligible surface transportation projects. Projects must meet statutorily specified eligibility criteria to receive credit assistance. This notice outlines the process that project sponsors must follow in seeking TIFIA credit assistance. DOT is publishing this notice to give project sponsors an opportunity to submit Letters of Interest for the newly authorized funding as soon as possible. However, in addition to authorizing more funding for TIFIA credit assistance, MAP-21 made some significant changes to the TIFIA program's structure, including the terms and conditions pursuant to which DOT can provide TIFIA credit assistance. While this notice provides guidance about how DOT will implement some of the changes made by MAP-21, it does not provide guidance about how DOT will implement all of these changes. Further information about the changes made by MAP-21 and additional DOT guidance for implementation of these provisions is provided in Part VII below. Also, Part VII invites interested parties to submit comments about DOT's implementation of MAP-21 and DOT's guidance for awarding TIFIA credit assistance. Unless otherwise noted, statutory section references in this notice are to sections of title 23 of the U.S. Code, as amended by MAP-21, which takes effect on October 1, 2012. Letter of Interest Submission: All project sponsors wishing to apply for TIFIA credit assistance must first submit a Letter of Interest, as more fully described in this notice of funding availability. Letters of Interest will be received on a rolling basis commencing on the date hereof, using the form on the TIFIA Web site: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/tifia/guidance_applications/index .htm. Project sponsors that have previously submitted Letters of Interest for a prior fiscal year's funding, but have not been asked by DOT to submit an application as of the date of this notice, must submit a new Letter of Interest to be considered for the funding described in this notice of funding availability. Addresses for Letters of Interest: Submit all Letters of Interest to the attention of Mr. Duane Callender via email at: TIFIACredit@dot.gov. Submitters should receive a confirmation email, but are advised to request a return receipt to confirm transmission. Only Letters of Interest received via email, as provided above, shall be deemed properly filed. Addresses for Comments: You must include the agency name (Office of the Secretary of Transportation) and the docket number DOT-OST-2012- 0130 with your comments. To ensure your comments are not entered into the docket more than once, please submit comments, identified by the docket number DOT-OST-2012-0130, by only one of the following methods: Web site: The U.S. Government electronic docket site is www.regulations.gov. Go to this Web site and follow the instructions for submitting comments into docket number DOT-OST-2012-0130; Fax: Telefax comments to: 202-366-2908. Mail: Mail your comments to U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Docket Operations, M-30, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; or Hand Delivery: Bring your comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Instructions for Submitting Comments: You must include the agency name (Office of the Secretary of Transportation) and Docket number DOT- OST-2012-0130 for this notice at the beginning of your comments. You should submit two copies of your comments if you submit them by mail or courier. For confirmation that the Office of the Secretary of Transportation has received your comments you must include a self- addressed stamped postcard. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, and will be available to Internet users. You may review the Department's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or you may visit www.regulations.gov.
Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business Transportation Resource Center Program
The Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary (OST), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) announces the opportunity for business centered community-based organizations, transportation-related trade associations, colleges and universities, community colleges, or chambers of commerce registered with the Internal Revenue Service as 501C(6) or 501C(3) tax-exempt organizations, to compete for participation in OSDBU's Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) program in the Mid-Atlantic Region. OSDBU will enter into a Cooperative Agreement with an organization to provide outreach to the small business community in a designated region and provide financial and technical assistance, business training programs, business assessment, management training, counseling, marketing and outreach, and the dissemination of information, to encourage and assist small businesses to become better prepared to compete for, obtain, and manage DOT funded transportation- related contracts and subcontracts at the federal, state and local levels. Throughout this notice, the term ``small business'' will refer to: 8(a), small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE), women owned small businesses (WOSB), HubZone, service disabled veteran owned businesses (SDVOB), and veteran owned small businesses (VOSB). Throughout this notice, ``transportation- related'' is defined as the maintenance, rehabilitation, restructuring, improvement, or revitalization of any of the nation's modes of transportation. Funding Opportunity Number: USDOT-OST-OSDBU-SBTRC2012-11.
Department of Transportation Updated Environmental Justice Order 5610.2(a)
The Department of Transportation (the Department or DOT) is issuing an update to Departmental Order 5610.2(a) (Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations). This Order updates the Department's original Environmental Justice Order, which was published April 15, 1997. The Order continues to be a key component of the Department's strategy to promote the principles of environmental justice in all Departmental programs, policies, and activities. DOT Order 5610.2(a) sets forth the DOT policy to consider environmental justice principles in all (DOT) programs, policies, and activities. It describes how the objectives of environmental justice will be integrated into planning and programming, rulemaking, and policy formulation. The Order sets forth steps to prevent disproportionately high and adverse effects to minority or low-income populations through Title VI analyses and environmental justice analyses conducted as part of Federal transportation planning and NEPA provisions. It also describes the specific measures to be taken to address instances of disproportionately high and adverse effects and sets forth relevant definitions. This updated Order reaffirms DOT's commitment to environmental justice and clarifies certain aspects of the original Order, including the definitions of ``minority'' populations in compliance with the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity of October 30, 1997. The revisions clarify the distinction between a Title VI analysis and an environmental justice analysis conducted as part of a NEPA review, and affirm the importance of considering environmental justice principles as part of early planning activities in order to avoid disproportionately high and adverse effects. The updated Order maintains the original Orders general framework and procedures and DOT's commitment to promoting the principles of environmental justice in all DOT programs, policies, and activities. This Order is effective upon its date of issuance.
Notice of Transportation Services' Transition from Paper to Electronic Fare Media
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Transportation Services (TRANServe), located within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration, has initiated the adoption of a new program distribution methodology for transit benefits. TRANServe has shifted to electronic fare media in specific areas in New York, parts of the National Capitol Region, and parts of the Southeast. TRANServe intends to implement electronic fare media across the United States within the eight TRANServe Geographic Service Areas as it ensures that the implementation in each area will be consistent with applicable statutes and regulations. The implementation of electronic distribution, and a limited paper voucher process, allows for the most effective and efficient mechanism for the qualified transportation fringe benefit.
Department of Transportation Final Environmental Justice Strategy
The Department of Transportation is issuing a revised environmental justice strategy, which sets forth DOT's commitment to identifying and addressing disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects of agency policies and activities on minority and low-income populations. This strategy is published as a final document; however, it is a revision of a previous version published in 1995, and may be adjusted periodically in the future to reflect new insights acquired through implementation and changing social and technological conditions. The strategy has been revised in response to an interagency Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Justice (EJ MOU), confirming the importance of addressing environmental justice considerations in agency programs, policies, and activities. The strategy identifies actions the Department intends to take to implement Executive Order 12898, ``Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations'', signed by President Clinton on February 11, 1994. This Executive Order directs agencies to identify and address disproportionately high and adverse impacts on minority and low-income populations with respect to human health and environment. The EJ MOU acknowledges the continued importance of EJ and participating Federal agencies pledged to review and update existing EJ strategies. This updated EJ strategy reflects DOT's continued commitment to EJ principles and to integrating those principles into DOT programs, policies, and activities. The revised strategy is publicly available on the DOT Web site at: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/environmentaljustice/ejat dot/ dotejstrategy/.
Agency Requests for Renewal of a Previously Approved Information Collection: SBTRC Regional Field Offices Intake Form (DOT F 4500) and SBTRC Regional Field Offices Quarterly Report Form (DOT F 4502)
The OSDBU invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The collection involves the following two (2) forms that have an expiration date of 01/31/2012, and are presently in use. The SBTRC forms have added the term of Regional Field Offices Intake Form and Regional Field Offices Quarterly Report Form, respectively. The Regional Field Offices Intake Form (No. DOT F 4500) is used to document the type of assistance provided to each small business that is enrolled in the database of the Program. The use of the Regional Field Office Quarterly Report Form (No. DOT F 4502) highlights activities such as counseling, marketing, meetings/ conferences, and services to businesses as completed during the quarter. The Quarterly Report Form provides a more composite and comprehensive review of the Field Offices' activities over a longer time frame. The information will be used to ascertain whether the program is providing services to its constituency, the small business community, and is done so in a fair and equitable manner. The information collected is necessary to determine whether small businesses are participating in DOT funded and DOT assisted opportunities with the DOT. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13.
Notice of Funding Availability for the Department of Transportation's National Infrastructure Investments Under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations, 2012; and Request for Comments
This notice announces the availability of funding and requests proposals for the Department of Transportation's National Infrastructure Investments. In addition, this notice announces selection criteria and pre-application and application requirements for the National Infrastructure Investments. The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 (Pub. L. 112-055, Nov. 18, 2011) (``FY 2012 Appropriations Act'') appropriated $500 million to be awarded by the Department of Transportation (``DOT'') for National Infrastructure Investments. This appropriation is similar, but not identical to the appropriation for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or ``TIGER Discretionary Grant'', program authorized and implemented pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the ``Recovery Act''). Because of the similarity in program structure, DOT will continue to refer to the program as ``TIGER Discretionary Grants.'' As with previous rounds of TIGER, funds for the FY 2012 TIGER program are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area or a region. Through this notice, DOT is soliciting applications for TIGER Discretionary Grants. In the event that this solicitation does not result in the award and obligation of all available funds, DOT may decide to publish an additional solicitation(s).
Proposed Information Collection Request; Notice of New Requirements and Procedures for Grant Payment Request Submission
The Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary (OST) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on November 10, 2011, allowing for a 60-day public comment period.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
