Notice of Request for Clearance of a New Information Collection:
Omnibus Household Survey Program
Federal Register Notice
February 12, 2007
Volume 72, Number 28
[Docket No. BTS-2005-22232]
AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Research and
Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A)
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the
intention of the BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget's
(OMB's) approval for a new information collection related to the use of
and satisfaction with the nation's transportation system.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 13, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You can mail or hand-deliver comments to the U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT), Dockets Management System (DMS). You may
submit your comments by mail or in person to the Docket Clerk, Docket
No. BTS-2005-22232, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Comments should
identify the docket number; paper comments should be submitted in
duplicate. The DMS is open for examination and copying, at the above
address, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal
holidays.
If you wish to receive confirmation of receipt of your
written comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard
with the following statement: ``Comments on Docket BTS-2005-22232.''
The Docket Clerk will date stamp the postcard prior to returning it to
you via the U.S. mail. Please note that due to delays in the delivery
of U.S. mail to Federal offices in Washington, DC, we recommend that
persons consider an alternative method (the Internet, fax, or
professional delivery service) to submit comments to the docket and
ensure their timely receipt at U.S. DOT. You may fax your comments to
the DMS at (202) 493-2251.
If you wish to file comments using the Internet, you may use the
DOT DMS Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. Please follow the online
instructions for submitting an electronic comment. You can also review
comments on-line at the DMS Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. The
electronic docket is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
Please follow the instructions online for more information and help. An
electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem and
suitable communications software from the Government Printing Office
Electronic Bulletin Board Service at telephone number 202-512-1661.
Internet users may reach the Federal Register's home page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html and the Government Printing Office's
database at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Please note that anyone is able to electronically search all
comments received into our docket management system by the name of the
individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment if submitted
on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; pages 19475-19570)
or you may review the Privacy Act Statement at http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. June Taylor Jones, (202) 366-4743,
Passenger Travel Program Manager, BTS, RITA, Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office
hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Omnibus Household Survey Program.
Background: In 2005, Congress passed, and the President signed, the
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU; Pub. L. 109-59). SAFETEA-LU contained a
number of legislative mandates including providing data, statistics and
analyses to transportation decision-makers. The Research and Innovative
Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (RITA/
BTS) was tasked to accomplish this legislative mandate under 49 U.S.C.
111(c)(1). RITA/BTS plans to use the Omnibus Household Survey (OHS) to:
• Assess the public's evaluation of the nation's
transportation system in light of the DOT's strategic goals (safety,
reduced congestion, global connectivity, environmental stewardship and
security, preparedness and response),
• Provide a vehicle for the operating administrations within
the DOT as well as other governmental agencies, to survey the public
about current transportation issues, and
• Provide national estimates of transportation mode usage.
Each version of the OHS will focus on some subset of topics taken
from the list below. Topics may vary from survey to survey since
covering all topics in one questionnaire would make the respondent
burden unacceptable:
Frequency of mode use in the month prior to the survey month:
Commercial air, Privately-owned vehicle, Taxi, Light rail, Commuter
rail, Public bus, Intercity Rail (Amtrak), Other modes such as
biking and walking.
Confidence in the safety of the following modes of
transportation: Commercial air, Privately-owned vehicle, Taxi, Light
rail, Commuter rail, Water transportation (taxis, ferries, ships),
Public bus, Intercity Rail (Amtrak), Other modes such as biking/
walking/ferries.
Confidence in the security procedures for the following modes of
transportation: Commercial air, Charter/general aviation, Privately-
owned vehicle, Taxi, Light rail, Commuter rail, Water transportation
(taxis, ferries, ships), Public bus, Intercity Rail (Amtrak).
Assessment of/satisfaction with security procedures for the
following modes of transportation: Commercial air, Charter/general
aviation, Privately-owned vehicle, Taxi, Light rail, Commuter rail,
Water transportation (taxis, ferries, ships), Public bus, Intercity
Rail (Amtrak).
Processing through security at: Commercial airports, Train
stations, Waterway entry points for ferries, water taxis, cruises.
Knowledge of/confidence in the Registered Traveler Program:
Knowledge of Registered Traveler Program, Have used Registered
Traveler Program, Confidence in Registered Traveler Program.
Knowledge of current check-in procedures at: Commercial
airports, Train stations, Waterway entry points for ferries, water
taxis, cruises.
Knowledge of/confidence in the Alien Flight Student Program and
TSA Vetting Programs.
Experiences with transit delays related to suspicious/unattended
baggage.
Willingness/tolerance of transportation security risk management
procedures.
In formation on journey to work
Transportation used (single mode/multiple mode)
Time required for one-way trip
Number of days traveled
Assessment of congestion
Methods for dealing with congestion
Telecommuting information, Commuting costs
Availability of transportation subsidies.
Impact of congestion on commute.
Impact of fuel costs on transportation use/travel behavior.
Impact of on-line shopping on passenger and freight travel.
Respondents: The population for the OHS Program is the non-
institutionalized population, aged 18 and older, who live in the United
States. The sampling frame will be a list-assisted random digit dialing
(RDD) sample of U.S. residential telephone numbers. The sampling frame
will be constructed to produce samples proportional to population
density, resulting in nationally representative samples of residential
telephone numbers. Individual survey respondents within selected
households will be chosen at random.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: The burden per respondent is
estimated to be an average of 15 minutes based on calculations from
previous data collections.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: The total annual burden is estimated
to be 250 hours (that is 15 minutes times 1000 respondents equals
15,000 minutes or 250 hours).
Frequency: This survey is currently scheduled to be conducted
yearly but may be conducted as much as 3 times per year based on data
needs of agencies using the OHS for data collection.
Public Comments Invited: Interested parties are invited to send
comments regarding any aspect of this information collection,
including, but not limited to: (1) The necessity and utility of the
information collection for the proper performance of the functions of
the DOT; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the collected information; and (4)
ways to minimize the collection burden without reducing the quality of
the collected information. Comments submitted in response to this
notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB's
clearance of this information collection.
Authority: Sections 1801(e) and 5601 of the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(P.L. 109-59; 2005) and 49 CFR 1.46.
Issued in Washington, DC on the 6th day of February, 2007.
William Bannister,
Acting Deputy Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Research
and Innovative Technology Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-2336 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-HY-P
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