[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 129 (Thursday, July 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40582-40585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14502]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[Docket No. FTA-2022-0018]


National Transit Database Reporting Changes and Clarifications

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation 
(DOT).

ACTION: Notice; Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides information on proposed changes and 
clarifications to the National Transit Database (NTD) reporting 
requirements. Some of the proposed NTD changes would take effect 
beginning in NTD report year (RY) 2023 or 2024, which corresponds to an 
agency's fiscal year, while others would take effect in calendar year 
(CY) 2023.

DATES: Comments are due by September 6, 2022. The Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) will consider late comments to the extent 
practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may file comments identified by docket number FTA-2022-
0018 by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    <bullet> Mail: Send comments to Docket Management Facility; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    <bullet> Fax: Fax comments to Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, at (202) 493-2251.
    Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Transit 
Administration) and Docket Number (FTA-2022-0018) for this notice, at 
the beginning of your comments. If sent by mail, submit two copies of 
your comments.
    Electronic Access and Filing: This document and all comments 
received may be viewed online through the Federal eRulemaking portal at 
http://www.regulations.gov or at the street address listed above. 
Electronic submission, retrieval help, and guidelines are available on 
the Federal eRulemaking portal website. The website is available 24 
hours each day, 365 days a year. Please follow the instructions. An 
electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from the Office 
of the Federal Register's home page at https://www.federalregister.gov.
    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. You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Coleman, National Transit 
Database Program Manager, FTA Office of Budget and Policy, (202) 366-
5333, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9de9f5f2f0fceeb3fef2f1f8f0fcf3ddf9f2e9b3faf2eb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="80f4e8efede1f3aee3efece5ede1eec0e4eff4aee7eff6">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

A. Background and Overview
B. New Sample-Based Monthly Data (WE-20)
C. General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS)
D. Collecting Geospatial Data for Demand Response Modes
E. Emergency Contact Information
F. Vehicle Fuel Type

A. Background and Overview

    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. These proposed changes are not related to safety and security 
(S&S) reporting, as FTA is proposing S&S changes in a separate Federal 
Register notice. The information below describes anticipated reporting 
impacts from each proposed change or clarification, as well as the 
proposed effective date of each change. FTA seeks comments on the 
proposed changes and clarifications described below. All impacts or 
changes described below are proposed and subject to finalization in a 
future notice.

B. New Sample-Based Monthly Data (WE-20)

    During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, FTA found that it did not have 
timely data on transit ridership or transit service levels that was 
sufficient to inform decision-makers at the Federal, State, and local 
levels during a rapidly changing crisis situation. To better understand 
changes in the transit industry on a timely basis, FTA proposes to 
collect additional data from a sample set of modal reports from across 
the universe of full, reduced, tribal, and rural reporters on a new WE-
20 Form. The goal of the sample is to obtain a representative 
nationwide snapshot of transit ridership and transit service levels. 
The sampling methodology would use a stratified random sampling based 
on region, mode, and other factors. FTA would then make sampling 
adjustments as needed based on unavailable modes, reporters without 
weekly data access, or other factors. Sampling may not be purely random 
to ensure the accuracy of the nationwide estimate of ridership and 
service levels. Therefore, NTD reporters with the largest service 
levels nationally or regionally may be more likely to be selected 
multiple times to ensure the accuracy of the nationwide estimate.
    For the sampled modes, FTA proposes to collect four data points 
once each month:
    <bullet> Weekday 5-day unlinked passenger trip (UPT) total for the 
reference week;
    <bullet> Weekday 5-day vehicle revenue miles (VRM) total for the 
reference week;

[[Page 40583]]

    <bullet> Weekend 2-day unlinked passenger trip (UPT) total for 
either the weekend preceding or following the reference week; and
    <bullet> Weekend 2-day vehicle revenue miles (VRM) total for either 
the weekend preceding or following the reference week.
    Under this proposal, these data will be due three business days 
after the last day of the reference week. In general, FTA is proposing 
to designate the second full week of the month as the ``reference 
week,'' unless the reference week contains a Federal holiday. FTA will 
inform reporters for the selected modes of the precise dates of the 
reference week at least three months in advance and will list the 
precise dates of the reference week on the form. For example, the 
reference week for July 2023 would cover July 10-16, and data for that 
week would be due three business days later--by the end of the day on 
July 19. FTA will also give three months advance notice about whether 
FTA will require agencies to report UPT and VRM data for the weekend 
preceding or the weekend following the reference week.
    FTA proposes to require a sampled subset of approximately 400 NTD 
reporters to report these data for at least one mode. FTA proposes that 
sampled reporters remain constant for a period of three consecutive 
calendar years after the effective date of the reporting requirement. 
The reporting requirement effective date is proposed to be 
approximately three months following the publication of the final 
notice. For instance, if FTA publishes the final notice in February 
2023, FTA estimates the reporting requirement would take effect around 
May 2023. At this time, reporters would be asked to submit a week of 
data for May 2023, as well as for the prior months in calendar year 
2023 on a one-time basis (January 2023-April 2023). Subsequently, 
reporters would be required to submit a week of data for May 2023 and 
each month following. FTA would update the sampled group in 2026. FTA 
proposes to identify which NTD reporters are part of the sample with at 
least three months' notice.
    FTA proposes that the reporting standard for the data on the WE-20 
Form will be ``best available data.'' Best available data will depend 
on the facts and circumstances and the extent of data available to each 
agency. The data could be preliminary or minimally validated (e.g., 
non-zero). Furthermore, FTA understands that these data reports might 
not be as complete as the agency's regular monthly NTD data reports and 
might not be audited. These weekly data would not be used to ensure 
alignment of annual report data totals as is currently done with 
monthly data. These data for the reference week will not replace the 
regular monthly report on the MR-20 form for full reporters.

C. General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS)

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law amended 49 U.S.C. 5335(a) to 
require FTA to collect ``geographic service area coverage'' data 
through the NTD. Transit agencies across the country have made 
significant progress in recent years to record and publish geographic 
transit data in a consistent manner. Specifically, FTA estimates that 
35% of NTD reporters have adopted the General Transit Feed 
Specification (GTFS) standard. The GTFS specification significantly 
increases the utility of transit service data, enabling current and 
accurate snapshots of transit service that support mobile applications 
such as mapping and routing services.
    To implement this data collection requirement, and in light of the 
existing widespread GTFS adoption, FTA proposes to require annual 
submissions of static GTFS data to the NTD. In this notice, GTFS 
standards refer to the May 9, 2022 version of GTFS, which are published 
here: https://gtfs.org/reference/static#field-definitions. At present, 
NTD reporters voluntarily submit web links to GTFS datasets for the 
National Transit Map (NTM). More information about the NTM can be found 
here: https://www.bts.gov/national-transit-map/about.
    FTA is proposing this requirement to enable consistent submissions 
of geographic service area coverage data. FTA believes that GTFS is the 
best way to collect geographic service area coverage data for fixed-
route service because it is already widely used and meets specific, 
practical needs in communicating service information in a standardized 
format. GTFS defines a common format for public transportation 
schedules and associated geographic information. The standardized 
specifications ensure data consistency and minimum requirements are met 
and allows data from across the United States to be aggregated, used, 
and analyzed in a consistent manner.

Mandatory Requirement

    FTA is proposing to make GTFS reporting a mandatory requirement. 
Under this proposal, NTD reporters with fixed route modes must create 
and maintain a public domain GTFS dataset that reflects their fixed 
route service. These NTD reporters must also maintain a web link from 
which the GTFS dataset can be collected. Specifically, FTA proposes 
that agencies create and host one or more web links containing their 
GTFS data. Each web link must link to a compressed (.zip or `zip') 
archive containing at least one copy of each of the required text files 
listed below under GTFS Data Requirements, covering all fixed route 
modes. If an agency demonstrates hosting a web link is not possible, 
FTA will accept GTFS zip archive file submission by email. This 
requirement would not apply to capital asset-only reporters.
    FTA is proposing to implement this reporting requirement in two 
parts. First, FTA is proposing that in RY 2023, applicable NTD 
reporters will be required to establish and submit a web-hosted GTFS 
dataset for their fixed route service. The dataset may have multiple 
links, such as one per mode. All links must be persistent (i.e., 
static), machine readable, and not password protected. FTA expects this 
to be a one-time requirement. Once an agency publishes the data, it can 
be maintained in that form at the persistent web link for subsequent 
reporting years.
    Second, beginning in RY 2024, FTA is proposing that applicable NTD 
reporters certify annually via the D-10 certification form that their 
previously submitted web links are up to date. All fixed route service 
changes must be reflected in the previous weblink with the GTFS 
dataset. Specifically, if there are changes to fixed routes, the 
reporter must update the GTFS dataset at the previously submitted web 
link. FTA does not expect this to be a large administrative burden 
because fixed route service changes are infrequent.
    FTA is proposing that if a reporter cannot publish a GTFS dataset, 
they must email their NTD analyst and explain why hosting a web link is 
not possible. FTA is proposing that reporters that are unable to host a 
web link to a GTFS dataset must submit their geographic service area 
coverage data via alternative means, e.g., email. FTA expects the 
majority of agencies will be able to web-host GTFS datasets via web 
links that are persistent, machine readable, and not password 
protected.
    FTA is proposing that this new requirement apply to full reporters, 
reduced reporters, tribal reporters, and rural reporters, but not 
capital asset-only reporters. This requirement would apply only to 
reporters that operate a fixed route mode. FTA is proposing that in 
cases where an NTD reporter reports on behalf of multiple reporters 
(such as a State for multiple rural reporters), the State will be 
required to submit at least one unique link or compressed file per 
unique NTD reporting ID (NTDID). If the

[[Page 40584]]

NTDID has multiple GTFS links for multiple modes, the reporter may 
submit these multiple links.

GTFS Data Requirements

    GTFS ensures data consistency by establishing minimum requirements. 
Specifically, GTFS requires that an overarching compressed file 
contain, at a minimum, seven underlying text files: (a) Agency; (b) 
Stops; (c) Routes; (d) Trips; (e) Stop Times; (f) Calendar or Calendar 
Dates.txt; and (g) Feed Info.txt. An eighth file, Shapes.txt, is an 
optional file, but it is recommended to make the files more useful for 
geospatial mapping purposes. Additionally, within each file, some 
fields are noted as ``optional.'' Optional fields are recommended in 
the file(s) mentioned above since they improve the usefulness of the 
datasets for data users.
    Detailed information about the fields required for each of these 
files is published here: https://gtfs.org/reference/static#field-definitions.

Development Assistance

    For transit systems that currently operate fixed route modes, but 
lack existing web-hosted GTFS datasets, FTA will provide technical 
assistance. Existing available technical assistance includes:
    <bullet<ls-thn-eq> Free technical assistance instructions through 
the National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) website: https://www.nationalrtap.org/Technology-Tools/GTFS-Builder; and
    <bullet<ls-thn-eq> Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National 
Transit Map Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.bts.gov/national-transit-map/frequently-asked-questions. Reporters may also consider 
partnering with a local college or university for technical assistance 
in establishing a GTFS feed. Additionally, FTA is proposing that NTD 
reporters can request a one-year waiver of this requirement with 
documentation that they are seeking technical assistance for 
establishing GTFS data, such as a plan with dates and milestones 
demonstrating how the reporter will comply with the GTFS requirement.

Compliance

    FTA is proposing to monitor compliance in two ways. First, FTA 
proposes to periodically check that web links are viable and current, 
reflecting fixed route service stops, routes, and schedules. Second, on 
an annual basis, FTA proposes to ask reporters to confirm the accuracy 
of their GTFS feeds as part of their annual kick-off task. The kick-off 
is the NTD's system task which confirms information to create the 
relevant reporting forms for the new fiscal year.

Phasing

    FTA expects reporting burdens to vary depending on existing agency 
data processes. NTD reporters are likely in three different phases of 
offering GTFS data feeds. First, some NTD reporters already submit GTFS 
data feeds voluntarily to the NTD. Second, some reporters have GTFS 
feeds but have not submitted these feeds to the NTD. Third, some 
reporters do not yet have GTFS feeds.
    FTA anticipates the greatest challenges will be for those reporters 
who do not have GTFS feeds yet, or States who currently report data on 
their behalf (e.g., States for rural reporters). FTA has identified 
some technical assistance resources to assist in the development of 
GTFS feeds (listed above). FTA proposes that reporters will not have to 
submit new GTFS data or required updates to the NTD until RY 2023. FTA 
welcomes comments requesting technical assistance or describing 
specific barriers or issues related to developing or submitting GTFS 
data.
    Upon publication, all GTFS data submitted to the NTD will enter the 
public domain.

D. Collecting Geospatial Data for Demand Response Modes

    FTA proposes that beginning in RY 2023 certain demand response 
modes must report geospatial data to the NTD. FTA will begin collecting 
these data to implement the new requirement that FTA collect geographic 
service area coverage data. FTA is proposing that this new requirement 
apply to full, reduced, tribal, and rural reporters, but not capital 
asset-only reporters. FTA is proposing to collect geospatial data for 
non-fixed routes using a new NTD form. FTA is proposing to collect 
these data annually through the questions shown below:
    (1) Do you serve residents in another State besides your State?
    (2) Select the Counties that you serve, either in whole or in part, 
where you pick up residents for a new trip origination.
    (3) Select Census `Places' served in these counties; indicate 
whether these Places (e.g., Township) are served, and whether these 
Places are partially or wholly served.
    (4) Is your demand response service intended to meet the Americans 
with Disabilities Act (ADA) complementary paratransit requirements for 
a fixed route system?
    (5) If yes to #4, is your service area limited to the ADA 
complementary paratransit distance for:
    a. Your own NTD Reporter ID; or
    b. Select all those that are not your NTD Reporter ID.
    (6) Within your service area, do you have different passenger 
eligibility requirements or different terms and conditions of service?
    (7) How many days per week do you operate?
    (8) For each day of the week, what are your hours of operation, and 
is your service open to:
    (a) Only those persons found eligible for complementary paratransit 
under the ADA through your local eligibility process?
    (b) Another specific segment of the population defined by age or 
disability?
    (c) The general population?
    (9) What is the minimum advanced reservation time for your service? 
Select days or hours.
    (10) What is the fare charged?
    FTA is proposing to begin asking these questions on a new form 
beginning in RY 2023.

E. Emergency Contact Information

    At present, the NTD requires that each organization submit 
organizational contact information on the P-10 form. The P-10 collects 
details such as organization name, address, and website. FTA proposes 
that beginning in RY 2023, FTA will also collect the organization's 
emergency contact information on the P-10 form. This emergency contact 
does not have to be the same person as someone with an existing NTD 
system role. FTA proposes to use this emergency contact information to 
facilitate communication between FTA and the reporter during 
emergencies. Maintaining a current emergency point of contact (POC) 
will allow FTA to quickly send updated relevant information to the 
right contact and ensure communication before, during, and after the 
emergency event.
    FTA proposes that the emergency contact be someone affiliated with 
emergency preparedness or response functions. This includes an 
emergency liaison officer, a facility or building emergency response 
team member, or a person with similar job functions. This person must 
be the individual at an agency that is the FTA POC in the event of an 
emergency. The agency will be asked to certify the accuracy of this 
information on their annual kick-off task.

F. Vehicle Fuel Type

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides historic investments 
towards

[[Page 40585]]

converting the Nation's transit fleet to zero-emission and low-emission 
vehicles. Currently, FTA collects vehicle fuel type only from full and 
reduced reporters on the A-30 form. Tribal, rural, and capital asset-
only reporters do not report fuel type on the A-30 form. In order to 
track implementation of zero-emission and low-emission vehicles funded 
by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, FTA is proposing to add a 
question to the A-30 form for rural, tribal, and capital asset-only 
reporters about fuel type. FTA proposes to apply this change beginning 
in RY 2023.

Nuria I. Fernandez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2022-14502 Filed 7-6-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P


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