Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new information collection. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 165 (Thursday, August 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 165 (Thursday, August 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55427-55429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17530]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2026-0925]


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 has forwarded the information collection request 
described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
to approve a new information collection. We are required to publish 
this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by September 28, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
0925 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: Matthew Corrigan, (202) 493-3365, 
Office of Infrastructure Research and Development, Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation, 6300 Georgetown Pike, 
McLean, VA 22101. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We published a Federal Register Notice with 
a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on April 
14, 2026, at 2026-07407 (91 FR 20561). The notice received two (2) 
comments. The comments and FHWA's responses are below:

Comments From Texas Dept. of Transportation (TxDOT)

    TxDOT supports FHWA's goals in advancing digital project delivery 
and data integration across the transportation sector and finds that 
the proposed collection aligns with national and state efforts to 
modernize infrastructure delivery and transition to digital 
environments. In response, TxDOT offered the following comments:
    1. Necessity of the Information Collection: TxDOT supports the 
proposed information collection and believes it is necessary as FHWA 
advances digital project delivery, intelligent construction, and 
Building Information Modeling (BIM) for infrastructure. Understanding 
the current state of practices across state Departments of 
Transportation is essential to inform federal guidance, identify 
scalable best practices, and prioritize future research. Without 
structured, nationwide data collection, FHWA would lack the foundation

[[Page 55428]]

needed to support consistent implementation and advancement of these 
emerging technologies across agencies.
    FHWA response: We thank TxDOT for its support and for affirming the 
importance of this data collection. While the survey serves a targeted 
research purpose, the data collected will provide a foundational 
understanding of current practices across State DOTs and aligns with 
broader national efforts to advance digital project delivery, 
intelligent construction, BIM for infrastructure, and other national 
U.S.DOT priorities.
    2. Accuracy of Estimated Burdens: TxDOT finds the estimated burden 
of approximately 30 minutes per response to be generally reasonable for 
a single respondent. However, for a comprehensive and coordinated 
agency response, input may be required from multiple internal 
divisions. As a result, the total effort required for TxDOT to prepare 
a consolidated response could take significantly more time.
    FHWA response: We thank TxDOT for this feedback. The survey cover 
page has been modified to include the following statement:
    Estimated time to complete: Approximately 30 minutes. The survey is 
designed to be completed collaboratively and submitted by a designated 
agency coordinator. While an individual subject matter expert may be 
able to complete portions of the survey in approximately 30 minutes, 
agencies are encouraged to engage personnel from Materials, 
Construction, Pavement Management, Asset Management, Information 
Technology, and other relevant offices to develop a coordinated 
response. The total effort required to prepare a consolidated agency 
response may therefore vary by agency.
    3. Enhancing the Quality, Usefulness, and Clarity of Information 
Collected: TxDOT recommends that FHWA: (1) Clearly define key terms 
such as digital project delivery, intelligent construction, and BIM to 
ensure consistent interpretation across state responses; and (2) 
Structure questions to distinguish between existing operational 
practices and emerging, pilot, or aspirational activities. These 
refinements could improve the comparability and overall usefulness of 
the information collected.
    FHWA response: We thank TxDOT for this feedback. Definitions of key 
terminology relevant to this specific research study have been added to 
the survey where appropriate. These definitions reflect those put forth 
for the purposes of this study and are intended to promote consistent 
interpretation across responding agencies. Other than definitions 
already codified in statute or regulation, it is not FHWA's intent to 
develop or create a national set of definitions surrounding all aspects 
of digital delivery within the context of this data collection. The 
resulting research may facilitate further national dialogue and 
potential development of consensus definitions.
    4. Minimizing Collection Burdens: TxDOT suggests that FHWA consider 
implementing the following measures to reduce respondent burden: (1) 
Use a web-based questionnaire platform, (2) Provide the ability to 
upload existing documentation (e.g., workflows, policies, or guidance 
documents), and (3) Allow for collaborative submission capabilities so 
multiple subject-matter experts can contribute to a single unified 
response. These approaches should improve efficiency while maintaining 
the quality of responses.
    FHWA response: We thank TxDOT for these suggestions. The data 
collection will primarily utilize a web-based platform and 
documentation collection for the survey to facilitate collaborative 
responses and improve efficiency. Acknowledging the desire for 
collaborative submissions of multiple subject matter experts, we will 
also provide respondents with an optional fillable PDF form that can be 
used to assist with alternative collaborative response procedures. Both 
formats will be provided to accommodate the preference of the 
responding agency. A question has been added to the data collection 
enabling responding agencies to share existing resources such as 
workflows, policies, and guidance documents.

Comments Submitted From ``WhoPoo App''

    ``Where is the wildlife corridor in Virginia that Wild Virginia got 
$20,000 for? Please place a culvert under the highway around Hampton 
Roads for turtle migration. There is already construction there so it 
should be no problem.''
    FHWA response: The comment is not applicable to the information 
collection proposed in the Federal Register notice.
    Title: Bridging the Data Gap in Pavement Management and Quality 
Assurance.
    Background: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is 
researching the current state of practice for digital project delivery, 
specifically regarding pavement and materials testing and electronic 
quality assurance (QA) data within State transportation agencies.
    While many industries leverage artificial intelligence, machine 
learning, and robust data analytics to improve decision-making, the 
highway construction field is seeing an increased need to link 
disparate data sources. This integration supports various applications, 
including design models, intelligent construction, e-ticketing, 
materials testing, digital as-builts, pavement management systems 
(PMS), and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Infrastructure.
    Agencies are transitioning toward BIM as the successor to standard 
plan sets. However, because agencies utilize tools from multiple 
vendors, interoperability is critical. Seamless data transfer across 
BIM platforms requires a standardized data schema; without it, agencies 
risk data loss during translation between applications.
    While QA data has long been a staple of highway construction, the 
ability to analyze and leverage these assets throughout a project's 
lifecycle is less mature. Many agencies want to maximize their 
electronic data but face challenges in integration. Currently, while 
agencies are proficient in producing data via test equipment, they 
often lack the standardized workflows necessary to analyze and 
integrate that data into broader systems.
    The goals of this research are to:
    1. Assess the beneficial uses and limitations of electronic quality 
assurance data.
    2. Evaluate its implications for use in digital as-builts, Advanced 
Digital Construction Management Systems (ADCMS), and lifecycle asset 
management.
    3. Identify gaps and the requirements for a data schema.
    FHWA will develop and distribute a survey instrument seeking 
information regarding:
    <bullet> The extent of collection, processing, storage, and 
analysis of pavement and materials QA data across design, construction, 
and asset management.
    <bullet> The availability and integration of geospatial 
information.
    <bullet> Currently implemented commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and 
in-house technologies and databases.
    <bullet> Existing data exchange standards or processes supporting 
digital QA data.
    <bullet> Challenges associated with data-related practices and 
manipulation ``touch points.''
    <bullet> Specific data use cases and desired practices not yet 
implemented.
    Respondents: 3 FHWA Federal Lands Highway Divisions, 52 
Transportation Agencies (including 50 U.S. States, the District of 
Columbia, and Puerto Rico), and American Association of State

[[Page 55429]]

Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Committee on Materials 
and Pavements.
    Frequency: Once.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes per response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 28 hours total. The total 
hours = 1,680 minutes = 30 minutes x 56 responses.
    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: August 25, 2026.
Jazmyne Lewis,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-17530 Filed 8-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P


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