Department of Transportation Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda

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The regulatory agenda is a semiannual summary of all current and projected rulemakings, reviews of existing regulations, and completed actions of the Department. The agenda provides the public with information about the Department of Transportation's regulatory activity. It is expected that this information will enable the public to be more aware of and allow it to more effectively participate in the Department's regulatory activity. The public is also invited to submit comments on any aspect of this agenda.

Improvement of our regulations is a prime goal of the Department of Transportation (Department or DOT). There should be no more regulations than necessary, and those that are issued should be simpler, more comprehensible, and less burdensome. Regulations should not be issued without appropriate involvement of the public; once issued, they should be periodically reviewed and revised, as needed, to assure that they continue to meet the needs for which they originally were designed. To view additional information about the Department of Transportation's regulatory activities online, go to http://regs.dot.gov.

Obama administration shifting transportation priorities to include livibility, environment — Autoblog Green

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The idea is that limited transportation funds will be spent on projects that improve "livability issues such as economic development opportunities and environmental benefits," instead of just low cost and time saved. Think of it as a holistic approach to moving people around. What this means in practice going forward is not exactly clear, but the U.S. Federal Transit Administration will "immediately rescind budget restrictions issued by the Bush Administration in March of 2005 that focused primarily on how much a project shortened commute times in comparison to its cost."

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Web Seminar Focuses on Creating Transportation Options for Older Adults

The National Center on Senior Transportation and the American Society on Aging developed "Mobility Equals Independence," a special pair of free one-hour Web seminars. These seminars will help providers, planners and elder advocates throughout the country gain insight into transportation issues facing older adults and assist them as they create a vision for change.

This hour long Web seminar, recorded in Fall 2008, opens with an overview of mobility issues facing older adults and the role that coordinated transportation plays in providing a range of transportation options by Mary A. Leary, senior director of Easter Seals Project ACTION, the National Center on Senior Transportation, and other Transportation Initiatives. The Honorable Josefina G. Carbonell, longest serving Assistant Secretary of Aging and over 30-year leader in community-based long term care services, and the Honorable James S. Simpson, who has served as Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, Commissioner of the New York State Metropolitan Transit Authority, and who has a long history of supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in public service, are featured speakers.

They discuss current federal government initiatives aimed at meeting the growing need for older adult transportation while advancing better coordination for more effective service. Their remarks are followed by comments from Sandy Markwood, chief executive officer of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, who discusses "A Blueprint for Action". Markwood's presentation is based on findings of "The Maturing of America" study, a comprehensive report on communities’ aging readiness. American Public Transportation Association President William Millar wraps up the Web seminar with comments on the challenges and successes transit agencies have experienced as they work to make public transportation attractive, accessible, convenient, affordable, and a pleasant riding experience. Each presenter outlines a call for local actions to enhance senior mobility.

FTA: FY 2009 Annual List of Certifications and Assurances for Grants/Cooperative Agreements

SUMMARY: Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5323(n), FTA is authorized to consolidate the certifications and assurances required by Federal law or regulations for its programs into a single document. FTA is also required by 49 U.S.C. 5323(n) to publish a list of those certifications and assurances annually. Appendix A of this Notice contains the comprehensive compilation of FTA's Certifications and Assurances for Federal Fiscal Year (Federal FY) 2009 applicable to the various Federal assistance programs that FTA will administer during that Federal FY. FTA's Certifications and Assurances for Federal FY 2009 reflect Federal statutory, regulatory, and programmatic changes that have now become effective. Effective Date: These FTA Certifications and Assurances are effective on October 1, 2008, the first day of Federal FY 2009.

GAO: Foresight Issues Challenge DOT on Technology Trends

Trends for certain vulnerable road-user groups point to heightened safety challenges in the years ahead, and DOT is taking some steps to address these. By 2025, the annual number of road fatalities for older drivers may be double what it was in 2005. The main reason for the projected increase is that the first members of the baby boom generation will reach their 65th birthday in 2011, and the number and percentage of Americans older than 65 will steadily increase for several years. In response to this trend, DOT is examining various issues relevant to older drivers (see Band and Perel 2007).

Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian safety is a key focus worldwide. Data indicate that, annually: in the European Union about 8,000 pedestrians and cyclists are killed and about 300,000 injured; in North America approximately 5,000 pedestrians are killed and 85,000 injured; in Japan approximately 3,300 pedestrians and cyclists are killed and 27,000 seriously injured; and in South Korea around 3,600 pedestrians are killed and 90,000 injured. The U.S. participated in the International Harmonized Research Activities (IHRA) Pedestrian Safety Working Group (IHRA-PS-WG) as it began to investigate and analyze the latest pedestrian accident data from IHRA member countries in 2001 and continued on to prepare harmonized pedestrian-passenger vehicle test procedures. Following this, separate adult and child head form tests were presented to the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) at the end of 2002. Initial leg form tests were proposed in 2004. Since then, the U.S. has been working with representatives from WP.29 and IHRA to refine these testing procedures for inclusion in the GTR. This GTR is expected to improve pedestrian safety by requiring vehicle hoods and bumpers to absorb energy more efficiently when impacted in a 40 kilometer per hour (km/h) vehicle-to-pedestrian impact. These incidents account for more than 75 percent of the pedestrian-injured accidents (AIS 1+) reported by IHRA/PS. The GTR consists of two sets of performance criteria applying to: (a) The hood top and fenders; and (b) the front bumper. Test procedures have been developed using sub-system impacts for adult and child head protection and adult leg protection. In anticipation of the vote to establish a GTR for pedestrian safety, NHTSA is requesting comment from all interested parties.

State Teams Selected for NHTSA Older Driver Safety Project

The National Center for Senior Transportation (NCST) selected six state teams to participate in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)/Federal Transit Administration (FTA) project to establish and implement statewide older driver safety plans. The teams are from:

• Florida,
• Georgia,
• Minnesota,
• Nebraska,
• North Carolina, and
• Tennessee.

The states will each receive $5,000 to assist in plan implementation, and two states will be awarded an additional $6,000 each to further their efforts.

Each team consists of state government agencies and organizations that represent aging; driver licensing; law enforcement; highway safety; public health; and the state’s department of transportation, both roadways and transit. The goal of such a coalition is to produce a comprehensive and unified approach to senior transportation. The teams will gather in Dallas, Texas on September 16 and 17, and each team will work collaboratively to develop an action plan for their state to improve older driver safety and connections with alternative forms of transportation. While much of the meeting time will be spent in plan development, participants will be given the opportunity to dialogue with team members from other states in order to share information and promising practices in improving the transportation mobility of older adults.

Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities; Accessibility of Over the Road Buses

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, this notice announces the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary, (DOT) intention to request an extension of the information collection request (ICR) OMB No. 2100-0019, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Information Collection Requirements for the ADA Rule for Over-the-Road Buses. DOT invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the Department's request for the renewal Paperwork Reduction Act approval of the information requirements in Subpart H of 49 CFR Part 37, concerning over-the-road buses. The current request approved by OMB expires on August 31, 2008. DATES: Written comments should be submitted by October 27, 2008.

A Resident’s Guide for Creating Safe and Walkable Communities

Specific Requirements: In fiscal year 2007, The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) input, developed A Resident’s Guide for Creating Safe and Walkable Communities (Resident’s Guide), designed to be used by anyone who is looking for ways to improve the walkability of their neighborhood, whether they are just beginning to learn about walking safety or are already part of an established community safety group. The guide addresses all three E’s (education, enforcement and engineering) in its suggestions for problem identification, treatments and solutions. The purpose of the resultant Cooperative Agreement is to partner with a national organization that will partner with local governments or communities to award and manage up to 12 mini-grants that will pilot test the Resident’s Guide. Selected communities will assess its usefulness and completeness of the content, and identify necessary improvements or modifications to the content.

Program Guidance for MPO and State Planning and Research Program Grants: Final Circular

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has placed in the docket and on its Web site final guidance in the form of a circular on Metropolitan Planning and State Planning and Research Program Grants. The final circular revises and combines into one document the contents of previous Circular 8100.1B for the Metropolitan Planning Program (MPP) and previous Circular 8200.1 the State Planning and Research Program (SPRP). The final circular also provides information on Consolidated Planning Grants (CPG) between FTA and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Pedestrian Safety Guide for Communities

Funding Opportunity Number: DTNH22-08-R-00177 Current Closing Date for Applications: Aug 22, 2008 Expected Number of Awards: 1 Estimated Total Program Funding: $100,000 Award Ceiling: $100,000 Specific Requirements: In fiscal year 2007, The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) input, developed The Pedestrian Safety Guide for Communities (PSGC), designed to be used by anyone who is looking for ways to improve the walkability of their neighborhood, whether they are just beginning to learn about walking safety or are already part of an established community safety group. The guide addresses all three E’s (education, enforcement and engineering) in its suggestions for problem identification, treatments and solutions. The purpose of the resultant Cooperative Agreement is to partner with a National Organization/Agency to award and manage up to 12 mini-grants to pilot test the PSGC. Selected communities will assess its usefulness and completeness of the content, and identify necessary improvements or modifications to the content.