LegiStorm

Summary:
Highlights

GAO reviewed the Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) new rule on major capital investment projects. GAO found that the final rule sets a new regulatory framework for FTA's evaluation and rating of major transit capital investments seeking funding under the discretionary "New Starts" and "Small Starts" programs; and FTA complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.





View Decision
B-324334 January 30, 2013 The Honorable Jay RockefellerChairmanThe HonorableRanking MemberCommittee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationUnited States Senate The Honorable Bill ShusterChairmanThe Honorable Nick J. Rahall IIRanking MemberCommittee on Transportation and InfrastructureHouse of Representatives Subject: Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration: Major Capital Investment Projects Pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule promulgated by the Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), entitled “Major Capital Investment Projects” (RIN: 2132-AB02). We received the rule on January 16, 2013. It was published in the Federal Register as a final rule on January 9, 2013, with a stated effective date of April 9, 2013. 78 Fed. Reg. 1992. The final rule sets a new regulatory framework for FTA’s evaluation and rating of major transit capital investments seeking funding under the discretionary “New Starts” and “Small Starts” programs. The New Starts and Small Starts programs are FTA’s primary capital funding programs for new or extended fixed guideway and corridor-based bus systems across the country, including rapid rail, light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit, and ferries. Enclosed is our assessment of FTA’s compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review of the procedural steps taken indicates that FTA complied with the applicable requirements. If you have any questions about this report or wish to contact GAO officials responsible for the evaluation work relating to the subject matter of the rule, please contact Shirley A. Jones, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8156. signed Robert J. CramerManaging Associate General Counsel Enclosure cc: Holly VandervortParalegal SpecialistFederal Transit AdministrationDepartment of Transportation ENCLOSURE REPORT UNDER 5 U.S.C. § 801(a)(2)(A) ON A MAJOR RULEISSUED BY THEDepartment of TRANSPORTATION,FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATIONENTITLED"Major Capital Investment Projects"(RIN: 2132-AB02) (i) Cost-benefit analysis FTA analyzed the costs and benefits of this final rule. FTA estimates that the monetized costs of this rule to be $0.6 million at both the 3 percent and 7 percent discount rates. FTA estimates the benefits of this rule to be $3.7 million at a 3 percent discount rate and $3.2 million at a 7 percent discount rate resulting in a positive net impact for the rule of $3.1 million at a 3 percent discount rate and $2.6 million at a 7 percent discount rate. FTA also estimates that the changes in transfer payments under this rule will be $2.2 billion under a 3 percent discount rate and $1.8 billion under a 7 percent discount rate. FTA recognized that additional benefits could arise due to the potential for accelerated project delivery resulting from process streamlining and simplified forecasting techniques. (ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 603-605, 607, and 609 FTA determined that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. (iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. §§ 1532-1535 FTA determined that this final rule will not result in the expenditure by state, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, of $100 million or more in any one year. (iv) Other relevant information or requirements under acts and executive orders Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq. On June 3, 2010, FTA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that included a series of questions about the current regulation and three of the criteria used to assess project justification. 75 Fed. Reg. 31,383. On January 25, 2012, FTA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. 77 Fed. Reg. 3848. FTA received approximately 103 comment submissions from organizations and individuals that included approximately 1,000 individual comments. FTA responded to the comments in this final rule. Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. §§ 3501-3520 FTA has been collecting project evaluation information from project sponsors under the existing Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection instrument entitled “49 CFR Part 611 Major Capital Investment Projects” (OMB Number 2132-0561). FTA estimates that this rule will reduce annual paperwork burden hours by 5,650 hours and reduce paperwork costs by $423,750. Statutory authorization for the rule FTA promulgated this final rule under the authority of sections 5309(g)(6) and 5334(a)(11) of title 49, United States Code. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321–4347 FTA determined that this final rule will not have any potentially significant effect on the quality of the environment. Executive Order No. 12,866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) FTA determined that this final rule is economically significant under the Order. Executive Order No. 13,132 (Federalism) FTA determined that this final rule will not have substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between the federal government and the states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.



Downloads





Full Report (4 pages)