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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95908-95910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28280]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[DOT-OST-2024-0133]

Request for Information on US DOT's Transportation Community 
Explorer (TC Explorer) Tool and Index Methodology

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), Department of Transportation 
(DOT).

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation is issuing this request for 
information (RFI) to solicit feedback on DOT's updated Transportation 
Community Explorer (TC Explorer) Tool and Index methodology developed 
to assist communities in their project selection process and grant 
development.

DATES: Responses to this RFI should be received by December 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number above and 
submitted by one of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
    Instructions: For detailed instructions on submitting comments, see 
the Public Participation heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this document. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided.
    Privacy Act: Except as provided below, all comments received into 
the docket will be made public in their entirety. The comments will be 
searchable by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You should not include information in 
your comment that you do not want to be made public. For information on 
DOT's compliance with the Privacy Act, please visit https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, please 
contact Kristin Wood, 774-293-2726.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The TC Explorer is data driven tool that allows communities to 
better identify transportation investments that can benefit 
communities, including rural and Tribal communities, across a variety 
of factors. When done right, transportation policy can transform 
economies, connect people to opportunities, and empower underserved 
communities to build generational wealth for the future.
    In January 2022, DOT developed its first tool to measure how 
communities were experiencing transportation related disadvantage; 
then, in April 2023, the Department launched an updated version of the 
tool titled the DOT Equitable Transportation Community Explorer (ETC 
Explorer v1.1), which included an updated format and methodology. The 
Department is currently seeking to make updates that improve the 
usefulness and accuracy of the tool, particularly for rural and tribal 
communities, and rename the tool as the Transportation Community (TC) 
Explorer.
    Over the last year and a half, DOT received feedback on the TC 
Explorer

[[Page 95909]]

through various RFIs, public meetings and other venues. All comments 
and recommendations were considered in the proposed update of the tool 
(TC Explorer). The proposed updates fall into six categories:
    1. Updated Methodologies:
    a. DOT consolidated the current tool's five components of 
disadvantage into three:
    i. Transportation Insecurity--When people are unable to get to 
where they need to go to meet the needs of their daily life regularly, 
reliably, affordably, and safely. Sub-components comprising 
Transportation Insecurity are cost burden, vehicle access 
vulnerability, destination access vulnerability and traffic fatality 
burden.
    ii. Place-Based Burden--The disadvantage inherent in a location and 
experienced by all residents of the location. Sub-components comprising 
Place-Based Burden are extreme weather hazard, proximity to 
infrastructure, air pollution, and surface pollution.
    iii. Population-Based Vulnerability--The disadvantage experienced 
by a population due to demographic and socioeconomic traits that make 
them particularly vulnerable. Sub-components comprising Population-
Based Vulnerability are communication, employment, income, housing, and 
health vulnerabilities.
    b. DOT modified the normalization method used to process raw 
indicator data for inclusion in disadvantage scores to better account 
for the effects of outliers in the data.
    c. DOT has made significant updates to the transportation 
insecurity methodology. These updates are reflected in both the TC 
Explorer National and States results, as well as in the Transportation 
Insecurity Analysis Tool (TIAT).
    d. DOT has updated its Climate methodology using the Climate and 
Transportation Vulnerabilities Methodology from the Fifth National 
Climate Assessment.
    2. Updated Data:
    a. The tool has been updated with the most recent data available. 
(* note: When the updated tool is formally released this winter, it 
will contain the 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimate 
data, if available.)
    b. Roads data has been divided into two categories, for freeways 
and expressways and for high-traffic roads as reported by the Federal 
Highway Administration (FHWA) Highway Performance Management System.
    c. Data sets that contain data for all 50 states have been used.
    d. Some data sets have been replaced to better represent/measure 
how a community is experiencing transportation disadvantage. Some 
examples of those are--
    i. Income Inequality.
    ii. Housing Condition.
    iii. Access Burden.
    iv. Climate.
    3. Updated Display: DOT seeks to improve the interface display to 
increase the user interface with the new version of the TC Explorer. 
Updates to the display include:
    a. State and County Selectors are provided.
    b. Statistics related to residents and tracts appears at the top 
right of the tool.
    c. Tabs appear at the bottom right of the tool include: Overall 
Disadvantage, Transportation Insecurity, Place-Based Burden, 
Population-Based Insecurity and Raw Data.
    d. Instead of bar charts, scores for each component and sub-
component are provided on a dial. The scores still represent a project 
area's disadvantage rating in relation to all other census tracts.
    e. The Raw Data tab replaces the current version's pop-up 
databoxes. It displays the salient raw indicator data for the selected 
project area.
    4. Updated Display Layers: DOT seeks to improve the organization of 
layers to improve usability by consolidating multiple layers of a 
similar theme into one layer. For example, in the current tool users 
click on seven layers to see the intercity bus network. In the proposed 
updates, users will only need to click on one layer titled ``intercity 
bus''.
    5. Removing the ``Add Your Data'' Tab: DOT found through the 
comments and interface with users that this feature was not used and 
further caused confusion for non-GIS users. The data is available for 
download and can be integrated on a user's platform to integrate with 
localized data if needed.
    6. Updated Transportation Insecurity Analysis Tool (TIAT): 
Comprehensive updates have been made to the tool's functionality and 
display. As mentioned earlier, DOT's transportation insecurity 
methodology has been updated, which is reflected in the TIAT.
    The TC Explorer and TIAT mapping tools, index methodologies, and 
datasets are available at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af.

II. Key Questions for Input

    Through this request for information, DOT seeks input, information, 
and individual recommendations on DOT's proposed updates to the TC 
Explorer from a broad array of stakeholders in the public sector, 
including state, Tribal, and local governments, and territorial areas, 
and in the private sector, including advocacy, businesses, not-for-
profit, academic, and philanthropic organizations, as well as from any 
other interested parties. DOT will use responses to this RFI to 
consider both the current proposed and additional updates to the TC 
Explorer. After DOT has updated the tool with any appropriate 
modifications, the tool will supersede the current version of the TC 
Explorer tool. Respondents to this RFI do not need to address every 
question, but DOT welcomes input in the following areas:
    1. Methodology: Please refer to DOT's website for more information 
regarding the tool's updated methodology available at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af/page/Data-and-Methodology-Download/. Please provide comments and specific 
recommendations for improving the methodology.
    2. Datasets: Data in this version of the tool provides measures in 
the areas of Transportation Insecurity, Place-Based Burden, and 
Population-Based Vulnerability available at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af.
    A. What recommendations for additional datasets would enhance and 
improve upon the set of indicators currently used? In any comments 
submitted, please include--
    i. Why and how the data recommendations would improve upon the 
current set of data and/or indicators used in the tool.
    ii. Full information regarding data sources (including URL, and 
source government agency and/or organization);
    iii. Intended measure--what does the dataset and/or indicator 
measure (for example, pollution exposure or emissions, health 
conditions, transportation access, etc.)?
    B. Scope--does the recommended data and/or indicator include data 
from all 50 states and territories? If not, please provide comments as 
to how to address the issue.
    C. A summary of the quality (i.e., completeness, accuracy, 
consistency, and reliability) of the data for use in the tool; and
    D. Geographic resolution of the data (i.e., census block, census 
block group, census tract, zip code, county, etc.).
    E. Is this data set publicly available?
    3. Map Usability and Accessibility. The US DOT Transportation 
Community Explorer map available at

[[Page 95910]]

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/836cf87c91344bb991a1b149873f27af provides an online geospatial platform 
that gives the user the capability to identify the communities 
identified as disadvantaged. DOT is soliciting information regarding 
usability and accessibility of the updated geospatial platform as 
follows:
    i. What modifications can improve the usability, accessibility, or 
design of the mapping functions that display the data and results?
    ii. Are there specific features or functions that will enhance the 
usability of the interactive map by community members and 
organizations, government staff, and other stakeholders?
    iii. Are there additional resources DOT should consider developing 
to help users understand the data included in the tool and how to use 
it in project selection decisions and grant applications?
    4. Additional Feedback:
    i. Does the tool's name reflect its purpose?
    ii. DOT seeks any additional feedback on the updated TC Explorer 
tool.
    Please note: This version of the Transportation Community Explorer 
map has been developed for illustrative purposes to demonstrate the 
proposed index methodology. It is subject to change following the 
public comment period.

III. Public Participation

How do I prepare and submit comments?

    To ensure that your comments are filed correctly, please include 
the docket number provided in (xx) in your comments. Please submit one 
copy (two copies if submitting by mail or hand delivery) of your 
comments, including any attachments, to the docket following the 
instructions given above under ADDRESSES. Please note, if you are 
submitting comments electronically as a PDF (Adobe) file, we ask that 
the documents submitted be scanned using an Optical Character 
Recognition (OCR) process, thus allowing the Agency to search and copy 
certain portions of your submissions.

How do I submit confidential business information?

    Any submissions containing Confidential Information must be 
delivered to DOT in the following manner:
     Submitted in a sealed envelope marked ``confidential 
treatment requested;''
     Document(s) or information that the submitter would like 
withheld from the public docket should be marked ``PROPIN'' for 
``proprietary information;''
     Accompanied by an index listing the document(s) or 
information that the submitter would like the Departments to withhold. 
The index should include information such as numbers used to identify 
the relevant document(s) or information, document title and 
description, and relevant page numbers and/or section numbers within a 
document; and
     Submitted with a statement explaining the submitter's 
grounds for objecting to disclosing the information to the public.
    DOT will treat such marked submissions as confidential consistent 
with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and not include them in the 
public docket. DOT also requests that submitters of Confidential 
Information include a non-confidential version (either redacted or 
summarized) of those confidential submissions in the public docket. If 
the submitter cannot provide a non-confidential version of its 
submission, DOT requests that the submitter post a notice in the docket 
stating that it has provided DOT with Confidential Information. Should 
a submitter fail to docket either a nonconfidential version of its 
submission or to post a notice that Confidential Information has been 
provided, we will note the receipt of the submission on the docket, 
with the submitter's organization or name (to the degree permitted by 
law) and the date of submission.

Will the Agency consider late comments?

    DOT will consider all comments received before the close of 
business on the comment closing date indicated above under DATES. To 
the extent practicable, DOT will also consider comments received after 
that date.

How can I read the comments submitted by other people?

    You may read the comments received by contacting the Dockets office 
at the address provided in the ADDRESSES section. The hours of the 
Docket office are indicated in the ADDRESSES section. You may also see 
the comments on the internet, identified by the docket number at the 
heading of this notice, at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Please note, this RFI is a planning document and will serve as 
such. The RFI should not be construed as policy, a solicitation for 
applications, or an obligation on the part of the government.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on November 26, 2024.
Christopher Coes,
Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, Department of 
Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2024-28280 Filed 12-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
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