TPEA Supporting Statement 2017 v4

The Transportation Planning Excellence Awards (TPEA) Program

(2125-0615)

Supporting Statement

Introduction: The Transportation Planning Excellence Awards (TPEA) Program is a biennial awards program that is managed and developed by the FHWA and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to recognize outstanding planning initiatives across the country.

Part A. Justification.

1. Circumstances that make collection of information necessary:

For the TPEA Program, the information collection supports FHWA’s vision, mission, and strategic goals by recognizing outstanding initiatives across the country to develop, plan and implement innovative transportation planning practices. The information about the projects selected may be shared as a noteworthy practice for others. The categories for submission include:

Public and Educational Planning, Training, and Outreach; Emergency and Safety Planning; Planning and Environmental Linkages for Livability, Sustainability, and Public Health: Transportation, Land-Use, Freight, and Operations Planning Linkages; Rural, Small, Regional, and Tribal Community Planning; Modeling and Technology Applications; and Asset Management. Transportation stakeholders desire information and noteworthy practices from other regions, states, authorities and agencies that can provide techniques and efficient solutions that will result in an improved transportation system.

2. How, by whom, and for what purpose is the information used:

For the TPEA Program, the FHWA, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the American Planning Association sponsor the awards program. Each submittal is evaluated using criteria that are designed to address a number of areas that represent good transportation planning. Anyone may submit a nomination; however, eligible nominations must be for a project, process, group, or individual involved in a project or process that has used FHWA and/or FTA funding sources to make an outstanding contribution to the field of transportation planning. Winning entries are selected by an independent panel of judges representing diverse backgrounds and expertise. Information about the awards recipients and the submittal is made available on the Transportation Planning Excellence Awards Program web site, in a published report, and in newsletters and articles.

The purpose of the TPEA Program is to recognize outstanding initiatives across the country in the field of transportation planning that plan and implement innovative transportation planning practices. Recognition is given to projects that go beyond the standard practices and incorporate truly innovative and extraordinary efforts. Those innovative transportation planning practices include qualities such as public participation that is authentic and broadly inclusive, collaboration among jurisdictions, and plans that are truly comprehensive and well-integrated, leading to efficient project implementation that expands choice, mobility, and access. The TPEA Program is open to all transportation professionals for plans, process, projects, or people that have demonstrated outstanding work that would benefit others in the field.

The initiatives that are recognized serve are exemplary for other transportation stakeholders to improve the coordination, cooperation and consultation of the transportation planning process. By sharing these outstanding initiatives throughout the transportation planning community, agencies support one another to raise the standard of transportation across the board. This Program exemplifies the FHWA and FTA commitment to share and promote innovative planning and implementation tools that are proven and implemented. The TPEA Program categories for submission include Public and Educational Planning, Training, and Outreach; Emergency and Safety Planning; Planning and Environmental Linkages for Livability, Sustainability, and Public Health: Transportation, Land-Use, Freight, and Operations Planning Linkages; Rural, Small, Regional, and Tribal Community Planning; Modeling and Technology Applications; and Asset Management.

3. Extent of automated information collection:

For the TPEA Program, the on-line submission form is a tool for the submitters to nominate a process or group or individual. The form is designed to be completed in approximately 90 minutes. This on-line submission form limits the length of responses by indicating the number of words that can be used for a response to each question to ensure that responses are concise and clear. All information is submitted electronically and supporting documentation is optional.

4. Efforts to identify duplication:

The biennial TPEA Program facilitates the submittal of current practices. The TPEA Program is the an awards program which is open to all transportation stakeholders for plans, process’, projects or people that have demonstrated outstanding work that would benefit others in the field. FHWA and FTA work together to sponsor this single program for transportation planning excellence.

5. Efforts to minimize the burden on small businesses:

No special equipment is required to apply. Submittal of entries can be completed electronically.

6. Impact of less frequent collection of information:

The biennial TPEA Program facilitates the submittal of current, innovative practices. If the program were less frequent, FHWA and FTA might miss opportunities to highlight significant planning process, project or people.

7. Special circumstances:

No Special circumstances are required.

8. Compliance with 5 CFR 1320.8:

Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13, January 21, 2016.

9. Payments or gifts to respondents:

There will not be any payments or gifts to respondents.

10. Assurance of confidentiality:

FHWA will not provide assurance of confidentiality.

11. Justification for collection of sensitive information:

The information collected is not sensitive in nature.

12. Estimate of burden hours for information requested:

The FHWA anticipates that approximately 50 TPEA award nomination applications will be submitted biennially for an average of 75 annual burden hours.

90 minutes to complete

50 respondents

75 burden hours annually

Note: In order to properly submit the biennial burden hours into ROCIS, FHWA has to add the hours of collection years 1 & 3 and divide them by 3.

50 Respondents X 2 = 100 Respondents / 3 = 33 Respondents annually.

75 hours X 2 = 150 hours / 3 = 50 annually hours

13. Estimate of total annual costs to respondents:

There will not be any cost to the respondents.

14. Estimate of cost to the Federal government:

The anticipated cost to the Federal government for the TPEA is $20,970.56. This figure is based on a GS-14 hourly staff salary of $50.41 and 416 hours (2,080 * 20% Staff Time) every other year to review, process, and manage the TPEA Program.

Total Federal government cost is $71,129.

15. Explanation of program changes or adjustments:

Since our last collection we have had additional experience regarding the number of applications that can be expected, as well as additional data regarding the time necessary to complete the application. This additional data and experience has shown that we can expect more applications than previously anticipated and applicants need more time per application.

16. Publication of results of data collection:

For the TPEA Program, the results will be published on the TPEA web site; in a published report approximately six months after recipients are recognized and in various newsletters; and possibly locally by the recipients.

17. Approval for not displaying the expiration date of OMB approval:

FHWA expects to display the expiration date of OMB approval on the TPEA application.

18. Exceptions to certification statement:

There will not be any exceptions to the certification statement.