The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has published a federal registry notice that describes the eligibility of pedestrian and bicycle improvements for FTA funding. The notice also proposes a formal policy on the catchment area for pedestrians and bicyclists in relationship to public transportation stops and stations (a radius around a public transportation stop or station within which FTA will consider pedestrian and bicycle improvements to have a de facto functional relationship to public transportation).
The following is an excerpt from the aforementioned federal registry notice:
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has challenged the U.S. Department of Transportation to improve the livability of our nation's communities: "President [Obama] has made livable communities a key aspect of his agenda. How a community is designed—including the layout of the roads, transit systems and walkways—has a huge impact on its residents.'' Funding bicycle and pedestrian facilities that provide access to public transportation is an important way for FTA to foster livable communities.
A livable community is "a community where if people don't want an automobile, they don't have to have one; a community where you can walk to work, your doctor's appointment, pharmacy or grocery store. Or you could take light rail, a bus, or ride a bike.'' According to Secretary LaHood, "livable communities are mixed-use neighborhoods with highly-connected streets promoting mobility for all users, whether they are children walking or biking to school or commuters riding transit or driving motor vehicles. Benefits include improved traffic flow, shorter trip lengths, safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists, lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, increased trip-chaining, and independence for those who prefer not to or are unable to drive. In addition, investing in a "complete street'' concept stimulates private-sector economic activity by increasing the viability of street-level retail small businesses and professional services, creating housing opportunities and extending the usefulness of school and transit facilities.'' To illustrate the Secretary's point, more than half of older adults who described an inhospitable environment outside their homes would walk, bicycle, or take public transportation more if their streets were improved.
Click here to read the full text of the FTA's federal registry notice.
The FTA seeks comment from all interested parties. After consideration of the comments, FTA will issue a second Federal Register notice responding to comments and noting any changes made to the policy statement as a result of comments received.
Dates: Comments must be received by January 12, 2010. Late-filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable.
Addresses: You may submit comments identified by the docket number (FTA– 2009–0052) by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
U.S. Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: 202-493–2251.
Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Transit Administration), and Docket number (FTA–2009–0052) for this notice at the beginning of your comments. All comments received will be posted, without change and including any personal information provided, to http://www.regulations.gov where they will be available to internet users. Please see the Privacy Act for more information.
You should submit two copies of your comments if you submit them by mail. If you wish to receive confirmation that FTA received your comments, you must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. Due to security procedures in effect since October 2001 regarding mail deliveries, mail received through the U.S. Postal Service may be subject to delays. Parties submitting comments should consider using an express mail firm to ensure the prompt filing of any submissions not filed electronically or by hand.
For access to the DOT docket to read materials relating to this notice, please go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time.
