ARRA OST 30-Day Notice

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary of Transportation

NOTICE: Letter of public notification of the Supplemental Discretionary Grants for a National Surface Transportation System; information collection activity

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation (“OST”)

This request is being submitted to OMB via an Emergency Information Collection Request.

SUMMARY: On February 17, 2009, the President of the United States signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Recovery Act”) to, among other purposes, (1) preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery, and (2) invest in transportation infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits. The Recovery Act appropriated $1.5 billion of discretionary grant funds to be awarded by the Department of Transportation (the “Department”) for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure. The Department is referring to these grants as “Grants for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery” or “TIGER Grants.” The funds provided by TIGER Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a region.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The TIGER Grants program manager via e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Supplemental Discretionary Grants for a National Surface Transportation System, or TIGER Grants.

Affected Public: State and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities and other political subdivisions of State or local governments.

Frequency: The Department expects that this information collection will only occur once; however, in the event that the solicitation does not result in the award and obligation of all available funds, the Department may decide to publish an additional solicitation.

Estimated Average Burden Per Response: 100 hours.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 50,000.

Abstract: On February 17, 2009, the President of the United States signed the Recovery Act to, among other purposes, (1) preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery, and (2) invest in transportation infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits. The Recovery Act appropriated $1.5 billion of discretionary grant funds to be awarded by the Department for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure. The funds provided by TIGER Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a region. On or about the date hereof, the Department published a solicitation for applications for TIGER Grants. The solicitation announces the availability of funding for TIGER Grants, project selection criteria, application requirements and the deadline for submitting applications.

Issued in Washington, D.C., on

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