Notice2023-23694
Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 27, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Highway Administration
Abstract
The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for an information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 207 (Friday, October 27, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 207 (Friday, October 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73932-73933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23694]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-2023-0042]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments
for a New Information Collection
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to
request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for an
information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal
Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Please submit comments by December 26, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number
0042 by any of the following methods:
Website: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of Transportation, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Petty, Office of Planning
(HEPP-1), 202-366-6654, and Spencer Stevens, Office of Planning (HEPP-
20), 202-366-6221, Department of Transportation, Federal Highway
Administration, Office of Civil Rights, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Survey of Metropolitan Planning Organizations and State
Departments of Transportation Regarding Practices for Incorporating
Equity and Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Planning and
Project Decision-Making.
Background: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT, or ``the
Department'') is committed to pursuing a comprehensive approach to
advancing equity for all. In support of the Department's Equity Action
Plan (<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/equity/equity-action-plan">https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/equity/equity-action-plan</a>), DOT is working to support transportation agencies in better
addressing the needs of underserved communities.
One focus area for DOT relates to the Department's programmatic
enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (DOT Order 1000.12C),
including emphasizing agency review of potentially-discriminatory
plans,
[[Page 73933]]
investment programs, and projects to prevent unlawful discrimination,
and empower communities, including limited English proficient
communities, in transportation decision-making (49 CFR 21.5, 21.7, 21.9
and 28 CFR part 406). DOT is also emphasizing the requirements of
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (28 CFR 35.104) and of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) for ensuring
that transportation plans and investment programs do not discriminate
on the basis of disability and provide equal opportunity and access for
persons with disabilities.
In August of 2022, FHWA conducted a survey of all State departments
of transportation (State DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations
(MPOs) to better understand how these agencies consider equity and
comply with Title VI in transportation planning and programming
activities (OMB Control Number 2125-0665). This survey included
questions about how each State DOT or MPO uses quantitative data or
tools to analyze equity factors for transportation plans and investment
programs, as well as how each agency provides a meaningful and
representative role to members of all communities, including
underserved and limited English proficient communities, in shaping
these plans and programs (28 CFR part 407). Information from the survey
was used to help the Department form an understanding of the state of
the practice related to equity and civil rights compliance and
meaningful public involvement in transportation planning and
programming, and to inform research products and capacity-building
activities for State DOTs and MPOs, to help them improve practices.
FHWA plans to conduct follow-up annual surveys, beginning in 2024,
to monitor the progress of State DOTs and MPOs in advancing their
transportation planning equity and meaningful public involvement
practices, and to identify ongoing research, training, and technical
assistance needs. These surveys will cover similar topics as the 2022
survey, with reworded questions to reduce respondent burden and to
align with updates to the Department's Equity Action Plan and other
policies or guidance.
Survey responses may also inform future revisions to existing
guidance, or the development of new guidance, to DOT funding recipients
on meeting the requirements of title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the
National Environmental Policy Act, section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, transportation planning and
programming, or other legal or regulatory requirements that relate to
transportation equity and public involvement.
FHWA plans to conduct the survey on a voluntary-response basis,
utilizing an electronic survey platform. This is planned as an annual
information collection, and FHWA estimates that the survey will take
approximately one hour to complete. The survey will consist of both
multiple-choice and short-answer question formats.
Respondents: 52 State DOTs and approximately 420 MPOs.
Frequency: Annually, beginning in 2024.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: Approximately 60 minutes per
respondent.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Approximately 472 hours.
Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of
this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed
collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of
the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality,
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that
the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic
technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information.
The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request
for OMB's clearance of this information collection.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued On: October 23, 2023.
Jazmyne Lewis,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-23694 Filed 10-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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