I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1795 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 6, 2011 Mr. DeFazio (for himself, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Filner, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Boswell, Mr. Cummings, Ms. Richardson, Mr. Quigley, and Mr. Lipinski) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To promote increased public transportation use, to promote increased use of alternative fuels in providing public transportation, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Providing Gas Price Relief Through Public Transportation Act of 2011.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)In 2008, during a year of record-high gas prices, people in the United States took more than 10,500,000,000 trips using public transportation, the highest level in 50 years. (2)Public transportation use in the United States is up 31 percent since 1995, a figure that is more than double the growth rate of the Nation’s population and is substantially greater than the growth rate for vehicle miles traveled on the Nation’s highways for that same period. (3)High gas prices in 2011 are expected to drive the demand for transit services even higher, with some estimates showing that $5-per-gallon gas could result in a nearly 15 percent jump in transit ridership. (4)Based on the price of gas in March 2011, riding public transportation saves households an average of $825 per month, or nearly $10,000 per year. (5)Despite increasing demand for transit services, widespread cuts in State and local funding have caused 59 percent of public transit systems in the United States to raise fares or cut service since January 2009. (6)Although under existing laws Federal employees in the National Capital Region receive transit benefits, transit benefits should be available to all Federal employees in the United States so that the Federal Government sets a leading example of greater public transportation use. (7)Public transportation stakeholders should engage and involve local communities in the education and promotion of the importance of utilizing public transportation. (8)Increasing public transportation use is a national priority.

3.

Grants to improve public transportation services

(a)

Authorizations of appropriations

(1)

Urbanized area formula grants

In addition to amounts allocated under section 5338(b)(2)(B) of title 49, United States Code, to carry out section 5307 of such title, there is authorized to be appropriated $750,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to carry out such section. Such funds shall be apportioned not later than 7 days after the date on which the funds are appropriated, in accordance with section 5336 (other than subsections (i)(1) and (j)) of such section but may not be combined or commingled with any other funds apportioned under such section 5336. (2)

Formula grants for other than urbanized areas

In addition to amounts allocated under section 5338(b)(2)(G) of title 49, United States Code, to carry out section 5311 of such title, there is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to carry out such section 5311. Such funds shall be apportioned not later than 7 days after the date on which the funds are appropriated, in accordance with such section 5311 but may not be combined or commingled with any other funds apportioned under such section 5311. (b)

Use of funds

Notwithstanding sections 5307 and 5311 of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary of Transportation may make grants under such sections from amounts appropriated under subsection (a) only for one or more of the following: (1)If the recipient of the grant is reducing, or certifies to the Secretary within the time the Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient will reduce one or more fares the recipient charges for public transportation, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, those operating costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide the public transportation, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, that the recipient is no longer able to pay from the revenues derived from such fare or fares as a result of such reduction. (2)To avoid increases in fares for public transportation, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, or decreases in current public transportation service, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, that would otherwise result from an increase in costs to the public transportation or intercity bus agency for transportation-related fuel or meeting additional transportation-related equipment or facility maintenance needs, if the recipient of the grant certifies to the Secretary within the time the Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient will not increase the fares that the recipient charges for public transportation, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, or, will not decrease the public transportation service, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, that the recipient provides. (3)If the recipient of the grant is expanding, or certifies to the Secretary within the time the Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient will expand public transportation service, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, those operating and capital costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide the public transportation service, or in the case of subsection (f) of such section 5311, intercity bus service, that the recipient incurs as a result of the expansion of such service. (4)If the recipient of the grant is acquiring, or certifies to the Secretary within the time the Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient will acquire, clean fuel or alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities for the purpose of improving fuel efficiency, the costs of acquiring the equipment or facilities. (5)If the recipient of the grant is establishing or expanding, or certifies to the Secretary within the time the Secretary prescribes that, during the term of the grant, the recipient will establish or expand commuter matching services to provide commuters with information and assistance about alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use, those administrative costs in establishing or expanding such services. (c)

Federal share

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal share of the costs for which a grant is made under this section shall be 100 percent. (d)

Period of availability

Funds appropriated under this section shall remain available for a period of 2 fiscal years.

4.

Increased Federal share for clean air act compliance

Notwithstanding section 5323(i)(1) of title 49, United States Code, a grant for a project to be assisted under chapter 53 of such title during fiscal years 2011 and 2012 that involves acquiring clean fuel or alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities for the purposes of complying with or maintaining compliance with the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) shall be for 100 percent of the net project cost of the equipment or facility attributable to compliance with that Act unless the grant recipient requests a lower grant percentage.

5.

Transportation fringe benefits

(a)

In general

Requirement that agencies offer transit pass transportation fringe benefits to their employees nationwide.— (1)

In general

Section 3049(a)(1) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (5 U.S.C. 7905 note; 119 Stat. 1711) is amended— (A)by striking Effective and all that follows through each covered agency and inserting Each agency; and (B)by inserting at a location in an urbanized area of the United States that is served by fixed route public transportation before shall be offered. (2)

Conforming amendments

Section 3049(a) of such Act (5 U.S.C. 7905 note; 119 Stat. 1711) is amended— (A)in paragraph (3)— (i)by striking subparagraph (A); and (ii)by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively; and (B)in paragraph (4) by striking a covered agency and inserting an agency. (b)

Benefits described

Section 3049(a)(2) of such Act (5 U.S.C. 7905 note; 119 Stat. 1711) is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: , except that the maximum level of such benefits shall be the maximum amount which may be excluded from gross income for qualified parking as in effect for a month under section 132(f)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.. (c)

Guidance

Section 3049(a) of such Act (5 U.S.C. 7905 note; 119 Stat. 1711) is amended by adding at the end the following: (5)

Guidance

(A)

Issuance

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue guidance on nationwide implementation of the transit pass transportation fringe benefits program under this subsection. (B)

Uniform application

(i)

In general

The guidance to be issued under subparagraph (A) shall contain a uniform application for use by all Federal employees applying for benefits from an agency under the program. (ii)

Required information

As part of such an application, an employee shall provide, at a minimum, the employee’s home and work addresses, a breakdown of the employee’s commuting costs, and a certification of the employee’s eligibility for benefits under the program. (iii)

Warning against false statements

Such an application shall contain a warning against making false statements in the application. (C)

Independent verification requirements

The guidance to be issued under subparagraph (A) shall contain independent verification requirements to ensure that, with respect to an employee of an agency— (i)the eligibility of the employee for benefits under the program is verified by an official of the agency; (ii)employee commuting costs are verified by an official of the agency; and (iii)records of the agency are checked to ensure that the employee is not receiving parking benefits from the agency. (D)

Program implementation requirements

The guidance to be issued under subparagraph (A) shall contain program implementation requirements applicable to each agency to ensure that— (i)benefits provided by the agency under the program are adjusted in cases of employee travel, leave, or change of address; (ii)removal from the program is included in the procedures of the agency relating to an employee separating from employment with the agency; and (iii)benefits provided by the agency under the program are made available using an electronic format (rather than using paper fare media) where such a format is available for use. (E)

Enforcement and penalties

The guidance to be issued under subparagraph (A) shall contain a uniform administrative policy on enforcement and penalties. Such policy shall be implemented by each agency to ensure compliance with program requirements, to prevent fraud and abuse, and, as appropriate, to penalize employees who have abused or misused the benefits provided under the program. (F)

Periodic reviews

The guidance to be issued under subparagraph (A) shall require each agency, not later than September 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and every 3 years thereafter, to develop and submit to the Secretary a review of the agency’s implementation of the program. Each such review shall contain, at a minimum, the following: (i)An assessment of the agency’s implementation of the guidance, including a summary of the audits and investigations, if any, of the program conducted by the Inspector General of the agency. (ii)Information on the total number of employees of the agency that are participating in the program. (iii)Information on the total number of single occupancy vehicles removed from the roadway network as a result of participation by employees of the agency in the program. (iv)Information on energy savings and emissions reductions, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, resulting from reductions in single occupancy vehicle use by employees of the agency that are participating in the program. (v)Information on reduced congestion and improved air quality resulting from reductions in single occupancy vehicle use by employees of the agency that are participating in the program. (vi)Recommendations to increase program participation and thereby reduce single occupancy vehicle use by Federal employees nationwide. (6)

Reporting requirements

Not later than September 30 of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report on nationwide implementation of the transit pass transportation fringe benefits program under this subsection, including a summary of the information submitted by agencies pursuant to paragraph (5)(F). . (d)

Effective date

Except as otherwise specifically provided, the amendments made by this section shall become effective on the first day of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act.

6.

Capital cost of contracting vanpool pilot program

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary of Transportation shall establish and implement a pilot program to carry out vanpool demonstration projects in not more than 3 urbanized areas and not more than 2 other than urbanized areas. (b)

Pilot program

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding section 5323(i) of title 49, United States Code, for each project selected for participation in the pilot program, the Secretary shall allow the non-Federal share provided by a recipient of assistance for a capital project under chapter 53 of such title to include the amounts described in paragraph (2). (2)

Conditions on acquisition of vans

The amounts referred to in paragraph (1) are any amounts expended by a private provider of public transportation by vanpool for the acquisition of vans to be used by such private provider in the recipient’s service area, excluding any amounts the provider may have received in Federal, State, or local government assistance for such acquisition, if the private provider enters into a legally binding agreement with the recipient that requires the private provider to use all revenues it receives in providing public transportation in such service area, in excess of its operating costs, for the purpose of acquiring vans to be used by the private provider in such service area. (c)

Program term

The Secretary may approve an application for a vanpool demonstration project for fiscal years 2011 through 2012. (d)

Report to Congress

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report containing an assessment of the costs, benefits, and efficiencies of the vanpool demonstration projects.