FHWA Requests OMB Approval for New Information Collection Under Paperwork Reduction Act
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Plain-English Summary
The FHWA has forwarded a request for a new information collection to the Office of Management and Budget. This notice satisfies the Paperwork Reduction Act requirement to inform the public of the pending collection. No specific data collection details are provided in the notice. The publication date is August 27, 2026.
Current Status
This is a notice published in the Federal Register as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act.
What This Means
The notice signals that the FHWA intends to start gathering new data, but the collection cannot proceed until OMB reviews and approves it. By publishing the notice, the agency complies with statutory transparency obligations and opens the process to any required public comment period. The abstract indicates the primary purpose is procedural—informing stakeholders that the request has been sent to OMB. No operational changes occur until OMB issues its approval. The notice itself does not impose new reporting requirements on the public at this stage.
Who Is Affected
Entities that regularly interact with the FHWA—such as state transportation departments, highway construction firms, and consultants—may eventually be required to provide the new information. Federal and state agencies that coordinate on highway projects could also be asked to supply data. The public is not directly affected until the collection is approved and specific reporting instructions are issued.
Background
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 mandates agencies to obtain OMB clearance before collecting information from the public. The FHWA’s request reflects a routine step in updating or adding data collection needed for highway program management. The notice follows the agency’s internal decision to seek OMB approval, indicating that a new reporting requirement is being considered. This action aligns with ongoing efforts to modernize data collection for transportation infrastructure oversight.
Arguments For
Proponents argue that the new information collection will improve the FHWA’s ability to monitor highway conditions and allocate resources efficiently. Collecting up‑to‑date data supports evidence‑based decision making and compliance with federal transportation statutes.
Arguments Against
The abstract does not suggest any controversy; no specific concerns or costs are identified, indicating minimal opposition at this stage.
Economic Considerations
Because no cost estimate is provided, any economic impact analysis is speculative. If approved, the collection could impose administrative burdens on state DOTs and private firms, potentially increasing compliance costs. However, improved data may lead to more effective funding allocations, which could offset some expenses. The net economic effect remains uncertain pending details of the data requested.
Sections beyond the plain-English summary are AI-synthesized analysis based on the sourced Federal Register filing, read, edited where needed, and approved by a human editor before publication. Full methodology: Editorial & Methodology.
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