1.This Act may be cited as Jason’s Law
.
2.
(a)In
cooperation with appropriate State, regional, and local governments, the
Secretary of Transportation (referred to in this Act as the
Secretary) shall implement a pilot program to address the shortage
of long-term parking for commercial motor vehicles on the National Highway
System.
(b)
(1)The Secretary shall allocate funds made available to
carry out this section among States, metropolitan planning organizations, and
local governments.
(2)To
be eligible for an allocation under this section, a State (as defined in
section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code), metropolitan planning
organization, or local government shall submit to the Secretary an application
at such time and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
(3)
(A)Funds allocated under this subsection shall be used by
the recipient for projects described in an application approved by the
Secretary.
(B)A project carried out using funds allocated under this
subsection—
(i)shall serve the
National Highway System; and
(ii)may
include—
(I)construction of
safety rest areas (as defined in section 120(c) of title 23, United States
Code) that include parking for commercial motor vehicles;
(II)construction of
commercial motor vehicle parking facilities adjacent to commercial truck stops
and travel plazas;
(III)the opening of
existing facilities to commercial motor vehicle parking, including inspection
and weigh stations and park-and-ride facilities;
(IV)promotion of the
availability of publicly or privately provided commercial motor vehicle parking
on the National Highway System using intelligent transportation systems and
other means;
(V)construction of
turnouts along the National Highway System for commercial motor
vehicles;
(VI)making capital
improvements to public commercial motor vehicle parking facilities that, as of
the date of enactment of this Act, are closed on a seasonal basis; and
(VII)improvement of
the geometric design of interchanges on the National Highway System to improve
access to commercial motor vehicle parking facilities.
(4)In
allocating funds made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall
give priority to applicants that—
(A)demonstrate a
severe shortage of commercial motor vehicle parking capacity in the corridor to
be addressed;
(B)have consulted
with affected State and local governments, community groups, private providers
of commercial motor vehicle parking, and motorist and trucking organizations;
and
(C)demonstrate that
the proposed projects are likely to have positive effects on highway safety,
traffic congestion, or air quality.
(c)Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the
pilot program.
(d)
(1)There is authorized to be appropriated from the Highway
Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) to carry out this section
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2015.
(2)Funds authorized under this subsection shall be
available for obligation in the same manner as if the funds were apportioned
under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, except that—
(A)the funds shall
not be transferable and shall remain available until expended; and
(B)the Federal share
of the cost of a project under this section shall be determined in accordance
with subsections (b) and (c) of sections 120 of that title.
(e)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, projects
funded under this section shall be treated as projects on a Federal-aid system
under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code.