Notification of FY 95 Reviews

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FHWA/FTA Docket No. 95-9]

Notification of FY 95 Reviews

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit

Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On April 28, 1994, the FHWA and the FTA Administrators jointly

issued guidance to their respective regional administrators on the

implementation of the Federal certification of the metropolitan

planning process in transportation management area (TMA) planning

areas. This notice announces the schedule of FY 1995 reviews as known

at this time. The FHWA and the FTA are planning approximately 45

certification and 12 enhanced planning (EPR) reviews for FY 1995.

Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the individual

planning processes to be reviewed.

DATES: Comments on metropolitan planning processes under review must be

received within sixty (60) days of the scheduled site review in order

to be considered during the certification review process. Where reviews

have already been completed prior to the publication of this notice,

parties interested in commenting on these metropolitan planning

processes should immediately contact Sheldon Edner (see following

paragraph for phone number, address, and further instructions). Where

dates are to be announced, a supplemental notice announcing these dates

will be issued when the specific dates are confirmed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For FHWA: Mr. Sheldon Edner, Planning

[[Page 26471]] Operations Branch (HEP-21), (202) 366-4066 (metropolitan

planning) or Mr. Reid Alsop, FHWA Office of the Chief Counsel (HCC-31),

(202) 366-1371. For the FTA: Ms. Deborah Burns, Resource Management

Division (TGM-21), (202) 366-1637 or Mr. Scott Biehl, FTA Office of the

Chief Counsel (TCC-40), (202) 366-4063. Office hours for the FHWA are

from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., and for the FTA are from 8:30 a.m.

to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

ADDRESSES: Submit written, signed comments to Docket Number 95-9,

Federal Highway Administration, Room 4232, HCC-10, 400 Seventh Street,

SW., Washington, DC 20590. All comments received will be available for

examination at this address during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday. Those desiring notification of receipt of

comments must enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sections 1024, 1025, and 3012 of the

Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) (Pub. L. 102-

240, 105 Stat. 1914, 1955, 1962, and 2098) amended 23 U.S.C. 134 and

135 and section 8 of the Federal Transit Act (now codified at 49 U.S.C.

5303, 5304, and 5305) to require a continuing, comprehensive, and

coordinated transportation planning process in metropolitan areas and

States. The FHWA and the FTA metropolitan planning regulations

implementing these requirements were published on October 28, 1993 (58

FR 58040). The statutes and the planning regulations cited require the

FHWA and the FTA to periodically certify that the planning process in

metropolitan planning areas designated as transportation management

areas complies with the provisions of the ISTEA and its implementing

regulations.

General

Public Involvement in Certification Process

The FHWA and the FTA are soliciting public comment on the planning

processes of the FY 1995 certification review sites identified below.

The agencies are particularly interested in input regarding the

strengths and weaknesses of the planning process in light of the

requirements identified in 23 CFR 450 Subpart C. Additionally, the

views of local officials and the public are welcomed regarding the use

of the planning process in transportation investment decisions.

Schedule of FY 1995 Certification Reviews

The following schedule is subject to revision. Changes will be

announced in the Federal Register. Parties interested in providing

comments on the metropolitan transportation planning processes in the

identified areas should submit them directly to FHWA/FTA Docket No. 95-

9 identified above, clearly identifying the metropolitan area that the

comments address. Alternatively, interested parties may choose to

provide comments through the individual procedures adopted for each

metropolitan area. Information concerning the citizen input process to

be utilized for each review may be obtained from the appropriate FHWA

division or FTA region office.

Except where the certification review was completed prior to the

publication of this notice, comments on metropolitan planning processes

under review must be received within 60 days after the scheduled review

in order to be considered during the certification review process. The

FHWA and the FTA will make every effort to review comments received

after this period and address them in their findings as long as final

action has not been taken on the certification review. To ensure

consideration of comments, commenters should submit their written

comments as soon as possible.

Where a review was completed prior to publication of this notice,

interested parties wishing to make comments on a particular

certification must contact Sheldon Edner within two weeks of the date

of publication of this notice. Where dates for a planned certification

review have not been established, please contact the appropriate FHWA

Division or FTA region office for the dates. The FHWA and the FTA will

publish a second notice of scheduled fiscal year 1996 review dates as

the remaining review schedules are finalized.

The site visits are intended to provide an opportunity for the FHWA

and FTA review team to solicit information from the metropolitan

planning organizations (MPO), State DOTs and transit agencies regarding

the implementation of the planning process. In addition, the team will

solicit input from the public and local officials. Each relevant MPO is

being asked to provide public notice, through its regular public notice

processes, of the review and the opportunity to provide public input to

the review team. Public officials should contact the appropriate MPO to

identify processes set up to solicit local government input.

The results of the certification reviews will be made public

through the regular MPO public information process at a time to be set

by each MPO policy board.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Region/State/TMA Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Region \1/2\

Connecticut:

New Haven-Meriden....................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Hartford-Springfield (MA)............... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 7-9 ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Massachusetts:

Boston (EPR* Week of May 15, 1995)...... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Lawrence-Haverhill...................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Springfield............................. ....... ....... ....... 10-11 ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

New Hampshire:

Lawrence-Haverhill...................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

New York:

Buffalo-Niagra Falls.................... ....... ....... ....... ....... 15-17 ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

New York (EPR Week of September 11,

1995).................................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Puerto Rico: San Juan....................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 1-5 ....... ....... ....... .......

[[Page 26472]]

Region 3

District of Columbia: DC (EPR Week of

December 12, 1994)......................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Maryland: Baltimore......................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 27-29 ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Pennsylvania:

Philadelphia (EPR Week of January 17,

1995).................................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Scranton/Wilkes Barre................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 24-26 ....... ....... ....... .......

Virginia: Hampton Roads..................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 19-21 ....... ....... .......

Region 4

Alabama:

Birmingham.............................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X

Mobile.................................. ....... ....... 12-16 ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Montgomery.............................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 14-19 .......

Florida:

Fort Myers.............................. ....... ....... ....... ....... 27-3-3 ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Melbourne............................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 17-21 ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Miami (EPR March 20-23, 1995)........... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Pensacola............................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 5-9 ....... ....... .......

Georgia:

Atlanta................................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 18-22

Augusta................................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 19-23 ....... ....... .......

Columbus................................ ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 27-31 ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Kentucky: Lexington......................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X .......

Mississippi: Jackson........................ ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 24-28 ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

North Carolina:

Charlotte............................... ....... ....... ....... ....... 13-17 ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Durham.................................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 10-14 ....... .......

South Carolina

Charleston.............................. ....... ....... ....... 23-27 ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Greenville.............................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 11-15

Tennessee: Memphis.......................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 22-25 ....... ....... ....... .......

Region 5

Illinois: Rockford.......................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 23-25 ....... ....... .......

Indiana:

Fort Wayne.............................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X

South Bend.............................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X .......

Michigan:

Detroit................................. ....... X ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Flint................................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Ohio:

Canton.................................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Cleveland (EPR Week of August 7, 1995).. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Columbus................................ ....... ....... ....... X ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Toledo.................................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X ....... ....... ....... .......

Youngstown.............................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X

Wisconsin: Milwaukee........................ ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X ....... ....... ....... .......

Region 6

Arkansas: Little Rock....................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 10-13 .......

Louisiana: Shreveport....................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 7-10 .......

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City..................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... X ....... ....... ....... .......

Texas:

Austin.................................. ....... ....... ....... X ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

23/26Dallas (EPR Week of June 12, 1995). ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Houston................................. ....... ....... ....... ....... 27-3 ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Region 7

Iowa: Davenport............................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 2-4 ....... ....... ....... .......

Missouri: St. Louis (EPR September, 1995)... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Region 8

Colorado: Denver............................ ....... ....... ....... 31-2 ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Utah: Salt Lake............................. ....... ....... ....... ....... X ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

[[Page 26473]]

Region 9

California:

Fresno.................................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 14-15 ....... ....... .......

Los Angeles............................. ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 12-14

Stockton................................ ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 13-14 ....... .......

Hawaii: Honolulu (EPR January 9-12, 1995) ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Region 10

Oregon: Portland............................ ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 19-21 ....... ....... .......

Washington:

Seattle (EPR Week of May 8-12, 1995).... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......

Vancouver............................... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... 19-21 ....... ....... .......

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: ``X'' indicates month of certification review; dates are specified where they are scheduled.

*Enhanced Planning Reviews (EPR) generally are scheduled for approximately 3-4 days during a given week.

Guidance and Responsibility

The FHWA and the FTA published guidance on the certification of

planning processes (59 FR 42873). The guidance indicated that the

primary responsibility for the certification process rested with the

respective regional offices of the FHWA and the FTA. The preparatory

work and analysis would be conducted by the appropriate division office

of the FHWA or regional office of FTA, as a prelude to a site visit by

representatives of both agencies to the metropolitan planning area to

be certified. During the site visit, the FHWA and FTA representatives

would, in addition to meeting with representatives of the MPO, State

DOTs, and transit agencies serving the metropolitan planning area, also

provide an opportunity to meet with citizens and elected local

officials of the principal local governments in the area. The purpose

of these meetings is to afford the officials and citizens an

opportunity to provide input to the certification decision in terms of

the performance of the planning process.

As indicated above, the MPO and/or State DOT or transit operator

may make arrangements for these meetings through their normal

procedures. Other alternatives are acceptable based on arrangements

between the Federal agencies and the appropriate transportation

planning agencies. Officials and citizens wishing to obtain information

regarding the process of providing input should contact the MPO for the

metropolitan planning areas identified above. Alternatively, the

Transportation Planner or Planning and Research Engineer for the

appropriate Division office of the FHWA also can provide this

information. Each FHWA Division office is located in or near the

capitol of each State.

Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48; Pub. L. 102-240, Sections

1024, 1025 and 3012; 105 Stat. 1914, 1955, 1962, and 2098.

Issued on: May 10, 1995.

Gordon J. Linton,

Administrator, Federal Transit Administration.

Rodney E. Slater,

Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.

[FR Doc. 95-12164 Filed 5-16-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-22-P