Summary of Comments

Statewide and Nonmetropolitan

Transportation Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning

(OMB Control No. 2132-0529)

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS

FINAL RULE PUBLISHED MAY 27, 2016 – Vol. 81 No. 103

The FHWA and FTA received a total of 162 comment letters that were submitted to the docket. Fifty-one of these comment letters were received from MPOs, 36 from States, 27 from advocacy organizations, 18 from regional planning organizations, 16 from associations representing public transportation agencies, 9 from operators of public transportation, 2 from the public, 2 from local governments, and 1 from a Tribal government. Collectively, these comment letters contained a total of approximately 989 individual comments.

In addition, a total of 38 comment letters were submitted to the docket proposing to implement changes to planning and environmental linkages resulting from section 1310 of MAP–21. Fourteen of the comment letters were received from States, 9 from MPOs, 5 from advocacy groups, 4 from the public, 3 from associations representing public transportation agencies, 2 from operators of public transportation, 1 from a regional planning organization, and 1 from a State environmental resource agency. Cumulatively, these comment letters contained over 100 individual comments. After reviewing the comments received in response to the two NPRMs, FHWA and FTA decided to consolidate the Planning rule and the ‘‘Additional Authorities or Planning and Environmental Linkages’’ rule into a single final rule. The FHWA and FTA believe that a consolidated final rule will help stakeholders understand the range of options for integrating planning and environmental review, including the pre-existing regulations for integrating planning and environmental review in sections 450.212 and 450.318, and the new section 168 authorities adopted in the final rule.

The FHWA and FTA carefully considered the comments received from the stakeholders. The comments and summaries of analyses and determinations are included in the May 27, 2016 publication of the Final Rule and can be found on page 34064.