Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning

Electronic Access and Filing

This document may be viewed online through the Federal eRulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov using the docket number listed above. The website is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded by accessing the Office of the Federal Register's website at: www.federalregister.gov.

Background

FHWA had initiated a rulemaking titled “Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning,” under Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 2125-AF98, to update the regulations pertaining to FHWA's transportation planning requirements in title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, part 450. This rulemaking project was listed on FHWA's Unified Agenda, however no notice of proposed rulemaking was published in the Federal Register .

Consistent with President Trump's commitment to ending unlawful, unnecessary, and onerous regulations, FHWA is reviewing its existing regulations and ongoing regulatory activities for alignment with law and Administration priorities. FHWA is withdrawing this rulemaking activity ( printed page 23439) because further rulemaking action does not align with Agency needs, priorities, and objectives. FHWA continues to consider the best means of addressing some or all of the issues surrounding its transportation planning regulations and the scope of any Agency actions FHWA concludes may be necessary to address these issues.

In addition, all Agencies participate in the semi-annual Unified Agenda, which provides a summary description of the rulemaking actions that each Agency is considering or reviewing. Agencies' agendas are posted on the public website of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and portions are published in the Federal Register in the spring and fall of each year. The Unified Agenda is often used as a tool to solicit interest and participation from stakeholders. Termination of this rulemaking will allow FHWA to better align its entries on the Department's Unified Agenda with the Agency's needs, priorities, and objectives.

Accordingly, for these independently sufficient reasons, FHWA is terminating the rulemaking associated with RIN 2125-AF98. By terminating the rulemaking, FHWA is indicating that it no longer considers this rulemaking to be pending. Should the FHWA decide at a future date to initiate the same or similar rulemaking, FHWA will initiate a new rulemaking under a new RIN, consistent with the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, title 5, United States Code, 553.