Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for Approval of a New Information Collection

Judith Kane
Federal Highway Administration
December 29, 2010

[Federal Register: December 29, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 249)]
[Notices]               
[Page 82135-82136]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29de10-153]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2010-0171]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for 
Approval of a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

[[Page 82136]]


ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to 
request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of a new 
information collection that is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal 
Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by February 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
2010-0171 by any of the following methods:
    Web Site: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of Transportation, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allen Greenberg at 
allen.greenberg@dot.gov or (202) 366-2425, Office of Operations, 
Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE. Washington, DC 20590, Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program initial stage 
research on the topic of Dynamic Ridesharing.
    Background: The Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program was 
established to conduct longer term, higher risk research that will 
result in potentially dramatic breakthroughs for improving the 
durability, efficiency, environmental performance, productivity, and 
safety of highway and intermodal transportation systems. To facilitate 
identification and assessment of higher-risk, breakthrough research 
topics, the Program conducts literature reviews, event scanning, and 
targeted convening. As part of an assessment of potential high-risk, 
breakthrough research on dynamic ridesharing, the EAR Program is 
conducting this collection of information on behavioral preferences 
using focus groups.
    As a response to the opening of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes 
in the Washington, D.C., metro area in the mid-1970s, a unique 
commuting phenomenon developed: ``slugging.'' This type of single-trip 
dynamic carpooling evolved from drivers and passengers coming together 
to fulfill each party's needs (i.e., allowing drivers to meet HOV 
requirements and thus use the express travel lanes and riders to enjoy 
a free, fast trip to work). Academic and entrepreneurial types alike 
are looking at ways to facilitate dynamic ridesharing through 
technological means. Some suggestions for enhancing dynamic ridesharing 
include website forums that connect drivers with riders and Smartphone 
applications that would allow drivers and riders to register and 
connect with each other. These efforts build off of the success of 
three meeting-place based dynamic ridesharing systems that exist in 
Houston, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. These three systems have no 
formal leadership or management; rather they have evolved to fulfill a 
need for carpools created by the presence of HOV lanes. These naturally 
occurring dynamic ridesharing systems operate by having drivers and 
riders meet at central, easily accessible locations such as park and 
ride lots where they create instantaneous carpools based on desired 
destinations. The lines are highly successful and have existed for a 
long time (30+ years in the case of DC), and they are a critical 
component to these robust dynamic ridesharing systems which serve 
thousands of commuters each weekday. Despite their success and 
interesting nature, they have been severely understudied by academics 
and transportation professionals. Focus group participants will be 
recruited based on a number of criteria. The primary factor is whether 
participants have utilized dynamic carpooling, then the frequency of 
their use and finally whether they work for the federal government or 
private sector. Participants would not be representing their place of 
work, and they would be asked to participate as members of the public 
on their own time outside of work hours.
    Respondents: The Focus Group will send approximately 108 
participants on a three-city tour (Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; 
and Houston, TX) to study the informal, dynamic carpooling systems in 
each city. The government expects the contractor to recruit slugging/
casual carpooling participants in each city.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: There will be approximately 
9 focus groups (3 in each city); with each group consisting of 12 
participants with a time commitment of 1.5 hours each person. The 
screening for potential participants will take approximately 5 minutes 
per person. There will be approximately 108 participants.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The annual burden for the 
Focus Group would be between 162 hours. The annual burden for screening 
participants will be 9 hours.
    Annual Total = 171 hours.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of 
the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that 
the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic 
technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. 
The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request 
for OMB's clearance of this information collection.

    Authority:  The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued On: December 22, 2010.
Judith Kane,
Acting Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. 2010-32723 Filed 12-28-10; 8:45 am]
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