1) July 7 -- The Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation (DOT), proposes changes and clarifications to the National Transit Database (NTD) reporting requirements. Comments are due by September 6, 2022.
The National Transit Database (NTD) was established by Congress to be the Nation's primary source for information and statistics on the transit systems of the United States. Recipients and beneficiaries of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants under either the Urbanized Area Formula Program (49 U.S.C. 5307) or Rural Area Formula Program (49 U.S.C. 5311) are required by law to report to the NTD. FTA grantees that own, operate, or manage public transportation capital assets are required to provide more limited reports to the NTD regarding Transit Asset Management.
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5334(k), FTA is seeking public comment on five proposed NTD reporting changes and clarifications. These proposals are based on changes to Federal transportation law made by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58) and based on input from the transit industry. Subjects:
New Sample-Based Monthly Data (WE-20)
General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS)
Collecting Geospatial Data for Demand Response Modes
Emergency Contact Information
Vehicle Fuel Type
National Transit Database:
https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-14502
2) July 19 -- National Transit Database (NTD) extension through January 2026
The Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation, invites comments by September 19, 2022 on the extension of the National Transit Database (NTD) through January 2026.
Background:49 U.S.C. 5335 requires the Secretary of Transportation to maintain a reporting system, using a uniform system of accounts, to collect financial, operating, geographic service area coverage, and asset condition information from the nation's public transportation systems. Congress created the NTD to be the repository of transit data for the nation to support public transportation service planning. FTA has established the NTD to meet these requirements and has collected data for over 35 years. The NTD is comprised of several modules, Rural, Urban Annual, Monthly, and Safety Event Reporting. FTA continues to seek ways to reduce the burden of NTD reporting.
The existing information collection request (ICR) is currently scheduled to expire on January 31, 2023. This ICR incorporates the information collection activities associated with changes FTA is proposing to the NTD reporting requirements which include geographic service area coverage, transit worker assaults, and bus collision fatalities data as required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58). The estimated burden from these changes is reflected in this notice's burden estimate. This notice serves to inform the public that a renewal of the ICR under the Paperwork Reduction Act with changes will be requested. FTA is soliciting comments to proposed changes to NTD reporting requirements in a separate Federal Register Notice.
National Transit Database:
https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd
Previous submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201911-2132-002 Click IC List for data collection instruments, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-15381
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806