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 ( printed 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:

• The extent of collection, processing, storage, and analysis of pavement and materials QA data across design, construction, and asset management.
• The availability and integration of geospatial information.
• Currently implemented commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and in-house technologies and databases.
• Existing data exchange standards or processes supporting digital QA data.
• Challenges associated with data-related practices and manipulation “touch points.”
• 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 ( printed 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 × 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.)

91 FR 55427