[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 49, Volume 5] [Revised as of October 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 49CFR601.3] [Page 1040-1041] TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION PART 601--ORGANIZATION, FUNCTIONS, AND PROCEDURES--Table of Contents Subpart A--General Sec. 601.3 General responsibilities. The general responsibilities of each of the offices which comprise the headquarters organization of FTA are: (a) Office of the Associate Administrator for Administration. Directed by an Associate Administrator for Administration, this office provides general administrative support services for FTA, including financial management, personnel administration, audit, procurement, logistical and management information systems. (b) Office of Chief Counsel. Directed by a Chief Counsel, this office provides legal advice and services to the Administrator and other FTA officials; coordinates with and provides support to the General Counsel of DOT on matters involving urban mass transportation; and, provides liaison between FTA and the Department of Labor regarding the administration of section 13(c) of Federal Mass Transit Act of 1964, as amended (``the Act''). (c) Office of Public Affairs. Directed by a Director of Public Affairs, this office advises and assists the Administrator in the area of public relations and in the dissemination to the public and the news media of information about FTA programs, projects and activities. (d) Office of the Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development. Directed by an Associate Administrator for Policy and Development, this office advises and assists the Administrator in the development and evaluation of policies and plans for implementing the functions and programs authorized by the Act; coordinates FTA activities with those of other agencies; and manages and administers the University Research Program under section 11 of the Act (49 U.S.C. 1607(c)). This office has three organizational components: The Office of Policy Development; the Office of Program Evaluation; and the Office of Policy Research. (e) Office of the Associate Administrator for Transit Assistance. Directed by an Associate Administrator for Transit Assistance, this office reviews and processes all applications for urban mass transportation capital and operating assistance grants and loans under sections 3, 4, 5, 16 and 17 of the Act (49 U.S.C. 1602, 1603, 1604, 1612 and 1613); reviews and processes applications for Federal assistance to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) under the Transportation Act of 1972 and the National Capital Area Transit Act of 1972; directs the evaluation and analysis of proposed annual programs and individual programs and individual projects; and approves and recommends for approval annual programs and individual projects. This office has three operating components which direct and coordinate post- approval grant activities: the Office of Grant Assistance, the Office of Program Support, and the Office of Program Analysis. (f) Office of the Associate Administrator for Transportation Planning. Directed by an Associate Administrator for Transportation Planning, this office assists the Administrator in directing, coordinating and controlling FTA's transportation planning assistance and reviews planning activities both in relation to FTA-supported State and local actions and planning policy interaction within the Department of Transportation and with other Federal agencies; and administers grants to States and local public bodies under section 9 of the Act (49 U.S.C. 1607a). This office has two organizational components: the Office of Planning Assistance and the Office of Planning Methodology and Technical Support. (g) Office of the Associate Administrator for Transportation Management and [[Page 1041]] Demonstrations. Directed by an Associate Administrator for Transportation Management and Demonstrations, this office assists the Administrator in directing, conducting and controlling research and demonstration activities, including information dissemination, to foster the development of methods for improving transit management and operations from the perspectives of the operator and the user; administers grant and procurement contracts to demonstrate facilities, methods and techniques under section 6(a) of the Act (49 U.S.C. 1605), and managerial training fellowship grants under section 10 of the Act (49 U.S.C. 1607b). This office has two organizational components: the Office of Transit Management and the Office of Service and Methods Demonstrations. (h) Office of the Associate Administrator for Technology Development and Deployment. Directed by an Associate Administrator for Technology Development and Deployment, this office is responsible for developing and administering a program of research, development, testing, evaluation, operational demonstration, product qualification, standardization, analysis, and information exchange concerning new products intended for use in transportation systems assisted by FTA. The office is also responsible for FTA's safety and system assurance function and for advising the Administrator on matters relating to technology. This office administers research, development and demonstration projects under section 6(a) of the Act (49 U.S.C. 1605). (i) Office of Civil Rights. Directed by a Director of Civil Rights, this office advises and assists the Administrator and other FTA officials in implementing compliance with applicable laws and directives pertaining to civil rights and equal employment opportunity, both within FTA and in the conduct of urban mass transportation projects and programs.