1.This Act may be cited as the
Fast Starts Act of 2009
.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)Communities around the United States have
expended time and resources to utilize the Small Starts program under section
5309(e) of title 49, United States Code, for streetcar projects.
(2)A delay in authorizing grants under the
Small Starts program has created a backlog of streetcar projects requiring
attention outside of that program.
(3)Streetcar projects
create jobs during both their construction and operation throughout the
corridor in which the projects are developed.
3.Grants for
certain streetcar projects
(a)The Secretary of
Transportation is authorized to make grants to States and local governmental
authorities to assist the financing of streetcar projects in accordance with
this section.
(b)To be eligible for a grant under subsection (a), the
State or local governmental authority applying for a grant shall submit to the
Secretary, not later than March 1, 2010, an application certifying that the
streetcar project to be assisted by such grant—
(1)is supported by an
acceptable degree of local financial commitment;
(2)has met the
environmental requirements necessary to begin construction; and
(3)is a project with
respect to which construction can begin not later than March 1, 2012.
(c)
(1)The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) with
respect to a streetcar project only if the Secretary finds that the project
is—
(A)based on the
results of planning and alternatives analysis;
(B)justified based on
a review of its effect on local economic development, land use, travel
patterns, and greenhouse gas reduction potential; and
(C)supported by an
acceptable degree of local financial commitment.
(2)Planning and
alternativesIn evaluating a
project under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall analyze and consider the
results of planning and alternatives analysis for the project. For purposes of
this paragraph, the Secretary shall compare the project to a no build analysis
to consider project outcomes.
(3)For purposes of
making the finding under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall
determine—
(A)the degree to
which the project will have a positive effect on local economic
development;
(B)the reduction in per capita auto travel
demand that will result from the completed project, including related
development, travel pattern, and land use changes; and
(C)the reduction in
per capita greenhouse gas emissions that will result from the completed
project, including related development, travel pattern, and land use
changes.
(4)Local financial
commitmentFor purposes of paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary shall
require that each proposed local source of capital and operating financing is
stable, reliable, and available within the timetable of the project.
(d)With respect to a streetcar project for which a grant
is made under subsection (a), the sum of the amounts of grants made under
subsection (a) to assist such project may not exceed $60,000,000.
(e)Relationship to
other fundingA streetcar
project for which a grant is made under subsection (a) is not prohibited from
receiving assistance under any other Federal program.
(f)The Federal share of the cost of a streetcar project, or
portion of a streetcar project, for which a grant is made under subsection (a)
shall be 100 percent.
(g)Streetcar
project definedIn this section, the term streetcar
project means a new fixed guideway capital project that is electricity
and rail based.
(h)In this section, the definitions contained in
sections 5302 and 5309 of title 49, United States Code, apply.
(i)Authorization of
appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(j)Amounts made available to carry out this section shall
remain available until expended.