80_FR_36159 80 FR 36039 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice of Request for Approval of a New Information Collection

80 FR 36039 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice of Request for Approval of a New Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 120 (June 23, 2015)

Page Range36039-36040
FR Document2015-15371

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of a new information collection that is summarized below.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 120 (Tuesday, June 23, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 120 (Tuesday, June 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36039-36040]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15371]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2015-0013]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice of Request for 
Approval of a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Request for Approval of a New Information Collection.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to 
request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of a new 
information collection that is summarized below.

DATES: Please submit comments by August 24, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
2015-0013 by any of the following methods:
    Web site: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 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.
    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: Michael Nesbitt 
(michael.nesbitt@dot.gov), 202-366-1179, Office of Infrastructure, 
Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 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: National Transportation Performance Management (TPM) 
Implementation Review, TPM Toolbox, and TPM State-of-Practice 
Questionnaires.
    Type of request: New information collection requirement.
    Background: Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-
21) transformed the Federal-aid highway program by establishing new 
requirements for transportation performance management to ensure the 
most efficient investment of Federal transportation funds. 
Transportation performance management increases the accountability and 
transparency of the Federal-aid highway program and provides for a 
framework to support improved investment decision making through a 
focus on performance outcomes for key national transportation goals. 
State transportation agencies (STAs) will be expected to use the 
information and data generated as a result of the new regulations to 
make better informed transportation planning and programming decisions. 
The new performance aspects of the Federal-aid program will allow FHWA 
to better communicate a national performance story and to more reliably 
assess the impacts of Federal funding investments.
    Overview: Under the ``National Transportation Performance 
Management (TPM) Implementation Review, TPM State-of-Practice 
Questionnaires, and TPM Toolbox '' information collection request, the 
FHWA will collect information on the current state of the practice, 
data, methods, and systems used by state, metropolitan, regional, 
local, and/or tribal transportation entities to support their TPM 
processes in accordance with MAP-21 Sec. Sec.  1106, 1112-1113, 1201-
1203; 23 U.S.C. 119, 134-135, and 148-150. This information will also 
be used to develop and deliver existing and future Federal Highway 
Programs through successful partnerships, value-added stewardship, and 
risk-based oversight. Underpinning this effort will be a robust focus 
on improving FHWA and its partners' capacity to implement performance 
provisions. The information collected from these activities will 
translate into having a better skilled workforce, effective supporting 
systems, and clearly articulated programs that are optimally positioned 
and equipped to deliver the FHWA's mission. In general, the components 
of the ``National TPM Implementation Review, TPM State-of-Practice 
Questionnaires, and TPM Toolbox'' will involve questions related to:
    1. TPM and MAP-21 related implementation efforts, programs, and 
activities,
    2. Needs for guidance and policy concerning MAP-21's TPM related 
provisions;
    3. TPM capacity building needs;
    4. Effectiveness implementing performance based planning and 
programming and TPM processes.
    The most consequential activity covered by the ICR is the 
``National TPM Implementation Review,'' which will be conducted twice. 
The first National TPM Implementation Review is scheduled to be 
administered in the spring of 2016 and will establish a baseline to 
assess:
    1. FHWA and its partners progress implementing MAP-21 performance 
provisions and related TPM best practices; and
    2. The effectiveness of performance-based planning and programming 
processes and transportation performance management.
    The second National TPM Implementation Review will be conducted 
several years later and will be used to assess FHWA and its partners' 
progress addressing any gaps or issues identified during the first 
review.
    The findings from the first review will be used in a pair of 
statutory reports to Congress due in 2017 on the effectiveness of 
performance-based planning and programming processes and transportation 
performance management (23 U.S.C. 119, 134(l)(2)-135(h)(2)). The 
findings from the second review will be used in a subsequent follow-up 
report. It is important to note that this is not a compliance review. 
The overall focus of the National TPM Implementation Review is on the 
TPM and performance-based planning processes used by STAs and 
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), not the outcomes of those 
processes. Due to the sensitivity of the collected information, FHWA 
will only report aggregated information to the general public and in 
its report to Congress. However, information from individual reviews 
will be made readily available to the respective respondent (i.e., STA, 
MPOs, etc), FHWA staff for internal uses, and a limited number of FHWA 
partners and associations who sign nondisclosure agreements.

[[Page 36040]]

    In addition to the more formal National TPM Implementation Review, 
FHWA will conduct yearly informal voluntary TPM State-of-Practice 
questionnaires related to TPM policy and guidance, technical 
assistance, and capacity needs. These voluntary information collection 
actions will occur 1 to 2 times per year. The information will be 
collected from state, metropolitan, regional, local, and/or tribal 
transportation agencies via internet-based questionnaires or web 
applications and used to help FHWA:
     Strategically plan to meet ever growing demand for TPM 
technical assistance needs;
     Develop and refine TPM policy and guidance based on 
stakeholder feedback;
     Channel resources to meet capacity development and 
training needs; and
     Identify and prioritize TPM research needs.
    Lastly, as part of FHWA's ongoing technical assistance efforts, a 
TPM Toolbox is being created to help FHWA's partners self-assess and 
benchmark their TPM implementation progress, capabilities, and gaps. 
The TPM Toolbox also helps FHWA streamline the integration and 
administration of all the efforts described above. To maximize the 
effectiveness and efficiency of the TPM Toolbox, FHWA will collect 
business contact and organizational demographic (size of organization, 
location, etc.) information along with the responses submitted as part 
of the TPM Toolbox's self-assessment applications.
    Respondents: The 975 respondents estimate is based on soliciting 
input from all 52 state transportation agencies, 409 MPOS, and a 
sampling of transit agencies, RPOs, and other transportation entities.
    Frequency: Each State, MPO, RPO, and a sampling of transit agencies 
will be solicited to provide information up to 4 times per year. This 
is dependent on whether information is being collected on the National 
Transportation Performance Management Implementation Review and the 
frequency of state-of-practice questionnaires.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: Up to 2 hours per response 
or 8 hours per year for all responses (4 questionnaires per year times 
up to 2 hours per questionnaire).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The total annual burden for 
all respondents is estimated to be 7,800 burden hours per year (8 
burden hours per respondent times 975 respondents). The annual number 
of burden hours (professional and clerical staff) per respondent to 
answer questions on the current state of the practice, data, methods, 
and systems used by state, metropolitan, regional, local, and/or tribal 
transportation entities to support their required TPM processes is 
estimated to be up to 8 (4 questionnaires per year times up to 2 hours 
per questionnaire). This annual burden per respondent consists of the 
staff time of each respondent. The burden was determined as follows:

Professional Staff Time:

    1.5 hour/respondent x 975 respondents x 4 questionnaires per year = 
5850 hours

Clerical staff time:

    0.5 hours/respondent x 975 respondents x 4 questionnaires per year 
= 1,950 hours
    The total annual associated salary cost to respondents is estimated 
to be $257,400 based on an average salary of $38 per hour 
(approximately $79,000 per year) for professional staff and $18 per 
hour (approximately $37,000 year) for clerical staff.

Professional staff cost for preparation of work programs:

    5,850 hours x $38 per hour = $222,300

Clerical staff time:

    1,950 hours x $18 per hour = $35,100

Total annual costs:

    Subtotal Direct Salaries $257,400
    Overhead/fringe benefits at 33%: $84,942
    Total annual respondent cost: $342,342
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the U.S. DOT's performance, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the U.S. DOT's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
information collection; (3) ways 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: June 15, 2015.
 Michael Howell,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-15371 Filed 6-22-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 120 / Tuesday, June 23, 2015 / Notices 36039 resources under Section 106 of the Infrastructure, Federal Highway articulated programs that are optimally National Historic Preservation Act. Administration, Department of positioned and equipped to deliver the Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 771. Transportation, 1200 New Jersey FHWA’s mission. In general, the Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. components of the ‘‘National TPM (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Implementation Review, TPM State-of- Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning Monday through Friday, except Federal Practice Questionnaires, and TPM and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 holidays. Toolbox’’ will involve questions related regarding intergovernmental consultation on SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: to: Federal programs and activities apply to this Title: National Transportation 1. TPM and MAP–21 related program.) Performance Management (TPM) implementation efforts, programs, and Implementation Review, TPM Toolbox, activities, Issued by: Dated: June 17, 2015. and TPM State-of-Practice 2. Needs for guidance and policy Questionnaires. concerning MAP–21’s TPM related Edward Sundra, Type of request: New information provisions; Director of Program Development, Federal 3. TPM capacity building needs; Highway Administration, Richmond, collection requirement. 4. Effectiveness implementing Virginia. Background: Moving Ahead for performance based planning and [FR Doc. 2015–15419 Filed 6–22–15; 8:45 am] Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP– programming and TPM processes. BILLING CODE 4910–22–P 21) transformed the Federal-aid The most consequential activity highway program by establishing new covered by the ICR is the ‘‘National requirements for transportation TPM Implementation Review,’’ which DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION performance management to ensure the will be conducted twice. The first most efficient investment of Federal National TPM Implementation Review Federal Highway Administration transportation funds. Transportation is scheduled to be administered in the [Docket No. FHWA–2015–0013] performance management increases the spring of 2016 and will establish a accountability and transparency of the baseline to assess: Agency Information Collection Federal-aid highway program and 1. FHWA and its partners progress Activities; Notice of Request for provides for a framework to support implementing MAP–21 performance Approval of a New Information improved investment decision making provisions and related TPM best Collection through a focus on performance practices; and outcomes for key national transportation 2. The effectiveness of performance- AGENCY: Federal Highway goals. State transportation agencies based planning and programming Administration (FHWA), DOT. (STAs) will be expected to use the processes and transportation ACTION: Notice of Request for Approval information and data generated as a performance management. of a New Information Collection. result of the new regulations to make The second National TPM better informed transportation planning Implementation Review will be SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public and programming decisions. The new conducted several years later and will comments about our intention to request performance aspects of the Federal-aid be used to assess FHWA and its the Office of Management and Budget’s program will allow FHWA to better partners’ progress addressing any gaps (OMB) approval of a new information communicate a national performance or issues identified during the first collection that is summarized below. story and to more reliably assess the review. DATES: Please submit comments by impacts of Federal funding investments. The findings from the first review will August 24, 2015. Overview: Under the ‘‘National be used in a pair of statutory reports to ADDRESSES: You may submit comments Transportation Performance Congress due in 2017 on the identified by DOT Docket ID Number Management (TPM) Implementation effectiveness of performance-based 2015–0013 by any of the following Review, TPM State-of-Practice planning and programming processes methods: Questionnaires, and TPM Toolbox ’’ and transportation performance Web site: For access to the docket to information collection request, the management (23 U.S.C. 119, 134(l)(2)– read background documents or FHWA will collect information on the 135(h)(2)). The findings from the second comments received, go to the Federal current state of the practice, data, review will be used in a subsequent eRulemaking Portal: http:// methods, and systems used by state, follow-up report. It is important to note www.regulations.gov. Follow the online metropolitan, regional, local, and/or that this is not a compliance review. The instructions for submitting comments. tribal transportation entities to support overall focus of the National TPM Fax: 1–202–493–2251. their TPM processes in accordance with Implementation Review is on the TPM Mail: Docket Management Facility, MAP–21 §§ 1106, 1112–1113, 1201– and performance-based planning U.S. Department of Transportation, 1203; 23 U.S.C. 119, 134–135, and 148– processes used by STAs and West Building Ground Floor, Room 150. This information will also be used Metropolitan Planning Organizations W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., to develop and deliver existing and (MPOs), not the outcomes of those Washington, DC 20590. future Federal Highway Programs processes. Due to the sensitivity of the Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. through successful partnerships, value- collected information, FHWA will only Department of Transportation, West added stewardship, and risk-based report aggregated information to the Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES oversight. Underpinning this effort will general public and in its report to 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., be a robust focus on improving FHWA Congress. However, information from Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and its partners’ capacity to implement individual reviews will be made readily and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, performance provisions. The available to the respective respondent except Federal holidays. information collected from these (i.e., STA, MPOs, etc), FHWA staff for FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: activities will translate into having a internal uses, and a limited number of Michael Nesbitt (michael.nesbitt@ better skilled workforce, effective FHWA partners and associations who dot.gov), 202–366–1179, Office of supporting systems, and clearly sign nondisclosure agreements. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:39 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM 23JNN1

36040 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 120 / Tuesday, June 23, 2015 / Notices In addition to the more formal respondent to answer questions on the Issued On: June 15, 2015. National TPM Implementation Review, current state of the practice, data, Michael Howell, FHWA will conduct yearly informal methods, and systems used by state, Information Collection Officer. voluntary TPM State-of-Practice metropolitan, regional, local, and/or [FR Doc. 2015–15371 Filed 6–22–15; 8:45 am] questionnaires related to TPM policy tribal transportation entities to support BILLING CODE 4910–22–P and guidance, technical assistance, and their required TPM processes is capacity needs. These voluntary estimated to be up to 8 (4 questionnaires information collection actions will per year times up to 2 hours per DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION occur 1 to 2 times per year. The questionnaire). This annual burden per information will be collected from state, respondent consists of the staff time of Maritime Administration metropolitan, regional, local, and/or each respondent. The burden was tribal transportation agencies via determined as follows: [Docket No. MARAD–2015–0076] internet-based questionnaires or web applications and used to help FHWA: Professional Staff Time: Requested Administrative Waiver of • Strategically plan to meet ever the Coastwise Trade Laws: Vessel 1.5 hour/respondent × 975 VELA ANDATO; Invitation for Public growing demand for TPM technical respondents × 4 questionnaires per year Comments assistance needs; = 5850 hours • Develop and refine TPM policy and AGENCY: Maritime Administration, guidance based on stakeholder Clerical staff time: Department of Transportation. feedback; 0.5 hours/respondent × 975 ACTION: Notice. • Channel resources to meet capacity respondents × 4 questionnaires per year development and training needs; and SUMMARY: As authorized by 46 U.S.C. • Identify and prioritize TPM = 1,950 hours The total annual associated salary cost 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, research needs. as represented by the Maritime Lastly, as part of FHWA’s ongoing to respondents is estimated to be $257,400 based on an average salary of Administration (MARAD), is authorized technical assistance efforts, a TPM $38 per hour (approximately $79,000 to grant waivers of the U.S.-build Toolbox is being created to help per year) for professional staff and $18 requirement of the coastwise laws under FHWA’s partners self-assess and per hour (approximately $37,000 year) certain circumstances. A request for benchmark their TPM implementation for clerical staff. such a waiver has been received by progress, capabilities, and gaps. The MARAD. The vessel, and a brief TPM Toolbox also helps FHWA Professional staff cost for preparation of description of the proposed service, is streamline the integration and work programs: listed below. administration of all the efforts described above. To maximize the 5,850 hours × $38 per hour = DATES: Submit comments on or before effectiveness and efficiency of the TPM $222,300 July 23, 2015. Toolbox, FHWA will collect business ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to Clerical staff time: contact and organizational demographic docket number MARAD–2015–0076. (size of organization, location, etc.) 1,950 hours × $18 per hour = $35,100 Written comments may be submitted by information along with the responses hand or by mail to the Docket Clerk, Total annual costs: U.S. Department of Transportation, submitted as part of the TPM Toolbox’s self-assessment applications. Subtotal Direct Salaries $257,400 Docket Operations, M–30, West Respondents: The 975 respondents Overhead/fringe benefits at 33%: Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, estimate is based on soliciting input $84,942 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., from all 52 state transportation agencies, Washington, DC 20590. You may also Total annual respondent cost: 409 MPOS, and a sampling of transit send comments electronically via the $342,342 agencies, RPOs, and other transportation Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. entities. Public Comments Invited: You are All comments will become part of this Frequency: Each State, MPO, RPO, asked to comment on any aspect of this docket and will be available for and a sampling of transit agencies will information collection, including: (1) inspection and copying at the above be solicited to provide information up to Whether the proposed collection of address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., 4 times per year. This is dependent on information is necessary for the U.S. E.T., Monday through Friday, except whether information is being collected DOT’s performance, including whether federal holidays. An electronic version on the National Transportation the information will have practical of this document and all documents Performance Management utility; (2) the accuracy of the U.S. entered into this docket is available on Implementation Review and the DOT’s estimate of the burden of the the World Wide Web at http:// frequency of state-of-practice proposed information collection; (3) www.regulations.gov. questionnaires. ways to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Estimated Average Burden per and (4) ways that the burden could be Linda Williams, U.S. Department of Response: Up to 2 hours per response or minimized, including the use of Transportation, Maritime 8 hours per year for all responses (4 electronic technology, without reducing Administration, 1200 New Jersey questionnaires per year times up to 2 the quality of the collected information. Avenue SE., Room W23–453, mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES hours per questionnaire). Estimated Total Annual Burden The agency will summarize and/or Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202– Hours: The total annual burden for all include your comments in the request 366–0903, Email Linda.Williams@ respondents is estimated to be 7,800 for OMB’s clearance of this information dot.gov. burden hours per year (8 burden hours collection. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: per respondent times 975 respondents). Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act As described by the applicant the The annual number of burden hours of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended; intended service of the vessel VELA (professional and clerical staff) per and 49 CFR 1.48. ANDATO is: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:39 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00109 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM 23JNN1


Document Created: 2018-02-22 11:15:24
Document Modified: 2018-02-22 11:15:24
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of Request for Approval of a New Information Collection.
DatesPlease submit comments by August 24, 2015.
ContactMichael Nesbitt ([email protected]), 202-366-1179, Office of Infrastructure, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 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.
FR Citation80 FR 36039 
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