Notice2024-28280
Request for Information on US DOT's Transportation Community Explorer (TC Explorer) Tool and Index Methodology
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
December 3, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation Department
Abstract
The Department of Transportation is issuing this request for information (RFI) to solicit feedback on DOT's updated Transportation Community Explorer (TC Explorer) Tool and Index methodology developed to assist communities in their project selection process and grant development.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95908-95910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28280]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[DOT-OST-2024-0133]
Request for Information on US DOT's Transportation Community
Explorer (TC Explorer) Tool and Index Methodology
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), Department of Transportation
(DOT).
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation is issuing this request for
information (RFI) to solicit feedback on DOT's updated Transportation
Community Explorer (TC Explorer) Tool and Index methodology developed
to assist communities in their project selection process and grant
development.
DATES: Responses to this RFI should be received by December 16, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number above and
submitted by one of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal Rulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
Instructions: For detailed instructions on submitting comments, see
the Public Participation heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document. Note that all comments received will be
posted without change to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any
personal information provided.
Privacy Act: Except as provided below, all comments received into
the docket will be made public in their entirety. The comments will be
searchable by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You should not include information in
your comment that you do not want to be made public. For information on
DOT's compliance with the Privacy Act, please visit <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/privacy">https://www.transportation.gov/privacy</a>.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> or the street
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the
dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, please
contact Kristin Wood, 774-293-2726.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The TC Explorer is data driven tool that allows communities to
better identify transportation investments that can benefit
communities, including rural and Tribal communities, across a variety
of factors. When done right, transportation policy can transform
economies, connect people to opportunities, and empower underserved
communities to build generational wealth for the future.
In January 2022, DOT developed its first tool to measure how
communities were experiencing transportation related disadvantage;
then, in April 2023, the Department launched an updated version of the
tool titled the DOT Equitable Transportation Community Explorer (ETC
Explorer v1.1), which included an updated format and methodology. The
Department is currently seeking to make updates that improve the
usefulness and accuracy of the tool, particularly for rural and tribal
communities, and rename the tool as the Transportation Community (TC)
Explorer.
Over the last year and a half, DOT received feedback on the TC
Explorer
[[Page 95909]]
through various RFIs, public meetings and other venues. All comments
and recommendations were considered in the proposed update of the tool
(TC Explorer). The proposed updates fall into six categories:
1. Updated Methodologies:
a. DOT consolidated the current tool's five components of
disadvantage into three:
i. Transportation Insecurity--When people are unable to get to
where they need to go to meet the needs of their daily life regularly,
reliably, affordably, and safely. Sub-components comprising
Transportation Insecurity are cost burden, vehicle access
vulnerability, destination access vulnerability and traffic fatality
burden.
ii. Place-Based Burden--The disadvantage inherent in a location and
experienced by all residents of the location. Sub-components comprising
Place-Based Burden are extreme weather hazard, proximity to
infrastructure, air pollution, and surface pollution.
iii. Population-Based Vulnerability--The disadvantage experienced
by a population due to demographic and socioeconomic traits that make
them particularly vulnerable. Sub-components comprising Population-
Based Vulnerability are communication, employment, income, housing, and
health vulnerabilities.
b. DOT modified the normalization method used to process raw
indicator data for inclusion in disadvantage scores to better account
for the effects of outliers in the data.
c. DOT has made significant updates to the transportation
insecurity methodology. These updates are reflected in both the TC
Explorer National and States results, as well as in the Transportation
Insecurity Analysis Tool (TIAT).
d. DOT has updated its Climate methodology using the Climate and
Transportation Vulnerabilities Methodology from the Fifth National
Climate Assessment.
2. Updated Data:
a. The tool has been updated with the most recent data available.
(* note: When the updated tool is formally released this winter, it
will contain the 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimate
data, if available.)
b. Roads data has been divided into two categories, for freeways
and expressways and for high-traffic roads as reported by the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA) Highway Performance Management System.
c. Data sets that contain data for all 50 states have been used.
d. Some data sets have been replaced to better represent/measure
how a community is experiencing transportation disadvantage. Some
examples of those are--
i. Income Inequality.
ii. Housing Condition.
iii. Access Burden.
iv. Climate.
3. Updated Display: DOT seeks to improve the interface display to
increase the user interface with the new version of the TC Explorer.
Updates to the display include:
a. State and County Selectors are provided.
b. Statistics related to residents and tracts appears at the top
right of the tool.
c. Tabs appear at the bottom right of the tool include: Overall
Disadvantage, Transportation Insecurity, Place-Based Burden,
Population-Based Insecurity and Raw Data.
d. Instead of bar charts, scores for each component and sub-
component are provided on a dial. The scores still represent a project
area's disadvantage rating in relation to all other census tracts.
e. The Raw Data tab replaces the current version's pop-up
databoxes. It displays the salient raw indicator data for the selected
project area.
4. Updated Display Layers: DOT seeks to improve the organization of
layers to improve usability by consolidating multiple layers of a
similar theme into one layer. For example, in the current tool users
click on seven layers to see the intercity bus network. In the proposed
updates, users will only need to click on one layer titled ``intercity
bus''.
5. Removing the ``Add Your Data'' Tab: DOT found through the
comments and interface with users that this feature was not used and
further caused confusion for non-GIS users. The data is available for
download and can be integrated on a user's platform to integrate with
localized data if needed.
6. Updated Transportation Insecurity Analysis Tool (TIAT):
Comprehensive updates have been made to the tool's functionality and
display. As mentioned earlier, DOT's transportation insecurity
methodology has been updated, which is reflected in the TIAT.
The TC Explorer and TIAT mapping tools, index methodologies, and
datasets are available at <a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af">https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af</a>.
II. Key Questions for Input
Through this request for information, DOT seeks input, information,
and individual recommendations on DOT's proposed updates to the TC
Explorer from a broad array of stakeholders in the public sector,
including state, Tribal, and local governments, and territorial areas,
and in the private sector, including advocacy, businesses, not-for-
profit, academic, and philanthropic organizations, as well as from any
other interested parties. DOT will use responses to this RFI to
consider both the current proposed and additional updates to the TC
Explorer. After DOT has updated the tool with any appropriate
modifications, the tool will supersede the current version of the TC
Explorer tool. Respondents to this RFI do not need to address every
question, but DOT welcomes input in the following areas:
1. Methodology: Please refer to DOT's website for more information
regarding the tool's updated methodology available at <a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af/page/Data-and-Methodology-Download/">https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af/page/Data-and-Methodology-Download/</a>. Please provide comments and specific
recommendations for improving the methodology.
2. Datasets: Data in this version of the tool provides measures in
the areas of Transportation Insecurity, Place-Based Burden, and
Population-Based Vulnerability available at <a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af">https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af</a>.
A. What recommendations for additional datasets would enhance and
improve upon the set of indicators currently used? In any comments
submitted, please include--
i. Why and how the data recommendations would improve upon the
current set of data and/or indicators used in the tool.
ii. Full information regarding data sources (including URL, and
source government agency and/or organization);
iii. Intended measure--what does the dataset and/or indicator
measure (for example, pollution exposure or emissions, health
conditions, transportation access, etc.)?
B. Scope--does the recommended data and/or indicator include data
from all 50 states and territories? If not, please provide comments as
to how to address the issue.
C. A summary of the quality (i.e., completeness, accuracy,
consistency, and reliability) of the data for use in the tool; and
D. Geographic resolution of the data (i.e., census block, census
block group, census tract, zip code, county, etc.).
E. Is this data set publicly available?
3. Map Usability and Accessibility. The US DOT Transportation
Community Explorer map available at
[[Page 95910]]
<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af">https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af</a> provides an online geospatial platform
that gives the user the capability to identify the communities
identified as disadvantaged. DOT is soliciting information regarding
usability and accessibility of the updated geospatial platform as
follows:
i. What modifications can improve the usability, accessibility, or
design of the mapping functions that display the data and results?
ii. Are there specific features or functions that will enhance the
usability of the interactive map by community members and
organizations, government staff, and other stakeholders?
iii. Are there additional resources DOT should consider developing
to help users understand the data included in the tool and how to use
it in project selection decisions and grant applications?
4. Additional Feedback:
i. Does the tool's name reflect its purpose?
ii. DOT seeks any additional feedback on the updated TC Explorer
tool.
Please note: This version of the Transportation Community Explorer
map has been developed for illustrative purposes to demonstrate the
proposed index methodology. It is subject to change following the
public comment period.
III. Public Participation
How do I prepare and submit comments?
To ensure that your comments are filed correctly, please include
the docket number provided in (xx) in your comments. Please submit one
copy (two copies if submitting by mail or hand delivery) of your
comments, including any attachments, to the docket following the
instructions given above under ADDRESSES. Please note, if you are
submitting comments electronically as a PDF (Adobe) file, we ask that
the documents submitted be scanned using an Optical Character
Recognition (OCR) process, thus allowing the Agency to search and copy
certain portions of your submissions.
How do I submit confidential business information?
Any submissions containing Confidential Information must be
delivered to DOT in the following manner:
<bullet> Submitted in a sealed envelope marked ``confidential
treatment requested;''
<bullet> Document(s) or information that the submitter would like
withheld from the public docket should be marked ``PROPIN'' for
``proprietary information;''
<bullet> Accompanied by an index listing the document(s) or
information that the submitter would like the Departments to withhold.
The index should include information such as numbers used to identify
the relevant document(s) or information, document title and
description, and relevant page numbers and/or section numbers within a
document; and
<bullet> Submitted with a statement explaining the submitter's
grounds for objecting to disclosing the information to the public.
DOT will treat such marked submissions as confidential consistent
with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and not include them in the
public docket. DOT also requests that submitters of Confidential
Information include a non-confidential version (either redacted or
summarized) of those confidential submissions in the public docket. If
the submitter cannot provide a non-confidential version of its
submission, DOT requests that the submitter post a notice in the docket
stating that it has provided DOT with Confidential Information. Should
a submitter fail to docket either a nonconfidential version of its
submission or to post a notice that Confidential Information has been
provided, we will note the receipt of the submission on the docket,
with the submitter's organization or name (to the degree permitted by
law) and the date of submission.
Will the Agency consider late comments?
DOT will consider all comments received before the close of
business on the comment closing date indicated above under DATES. To
the extent practicable, DOT will also consider comments received after
that date.
How can I read the comments submitted by other people?
You may read the comments received by contacting the Dockets office
at the address provided in the ADDRESSES section. The hours of the
Docket office are indicated in the ADDRESSES section. You may also see
the comments on the internet, identified by the docket number at the
heading of this notice, at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Please note, this RFI is a planning document and will serve as
such. The RFI should not be construed as policy, a solicitation for
applications, or an obligation on the part of the government.
Signed in Washington, DC, on November 26, 2024.
Christopher Coes,
Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, Department of
Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2024-28280 Filed 12-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
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