Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection

Topics:  Federal Highway Administration

Juli Huynh (Federal Register)
May 16, 2011

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 94 (Monday, May 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28299-28300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11976]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2011-0035]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments 
for a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and 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 for a new 
information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day 
public comment period on this information collection on August 19, 
2010. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by June 15, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments within 30 days to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT Desk Officer. 
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 burden; (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. All comments should include the 
Docket number FHWA-2011-0135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Contrino, 202-366-5060, or 
Erica Interrante, 202-366-5048, Office of Transportation Policy 
Studies, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: The Next Generation of Travel Focus Groups.
    Background: The awareness and use of new technologies, 
communication and travel options, as well as social norms will 
influence transportation needs of the future. As the Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) considers the future outlook of an improved 
National Highway System, the transportation behaviors, perspectives and 
needs of the younger traveler cohort (ages 16-29) is a topic of study 
the agency is pursuing to better evaluate future planning and policy 
options.
    The Next Generation of Travel study, being performed through the 
agency's Office of Transportation Policy Studies, will examine existing 
and future travel patterns, as well as how new vehicle and 
transportation-related technologies affect generations and the future 
of personal travel.
    Certain generational implications on transportation that FHWA will 
be exploring include the following: mode choice, trip type and rates, 
travel time and distances, vehicle ownership and characteristics, 
vehicle occupancy, vehicle availability, travel costs, personal income, 
worker status, home and work location, life cycle, internet usage and 
telecommuting.
    FHWA will be conducting a series of focus groups with individuals 
in the U.S. to gain additional understanding into the travel 
activities, choices and views of transportation by the traveling 
public. The focus groups will provide important information about the 
next several generations of travelers, playing a critical role in 
informing the outcomes of the data analysis, the accuracy of the 
traveler profiles, and other new or emerging norms and perspectives not 
identified in previous work. The information collected will also be 
used to identify new and emerging travel behavior, perspectives and 
social norms not covered through statistical analysis. This is the 
first time that FHWA will be conducting a study on this topic.
    Respondents: Approximately 20 focus groups made up of 8-10 
participants each from U.S. households will be held in different 
regions across the country. The focus groups will include

[[Page 28300]]

participants from all the age cohorts; however, at least half of the 
focus groups will be made up of participants 16-29 years of age. The 
estimated total number of respondents is 200.
    Frequency: The series of focus groups will be conducted once. No 
individual will participate in the focus groups more than once. The 
focus groups will be conducted during calendar year 2011.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: The estimated average burden 
per respondent is 60 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimated total annual 
burden for the focus group series is 200 hours.

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

    Issued On: May 3, 2011.
Juli Huynh
Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. 2011-11976 Filed 5-13-11; 8:45 am]
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