II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 190 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 26, 2011 Mrs. Hutchison introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend title 23, United States Code, to prohibit the imposition of new tolls on the Federal-aid system, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Freedom from Tolls Act of 2011.

2.

Imposition of new tolls on Federal-aid system

(a)

In general

Section 129 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (d)

Exception for existing highway segments

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), none of the funds made available to carry out this title shall be used to approve or otherwise authorize the imposition of any toll on any segment of highway located on the Federal-aid system— (A)the construction of which has been completed as of the date of enactment of this subsection; (B)that, as of the date of enactment of this subsection, is not tolled; (C)that was constructed with Federal assistance provided under this title; and (D)that is in actual operation as of the date of enactment of this subsection. (2)

Exceptions

(A)

Number of toll lanes

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any segment of highway on the Federal-aid system described in that paragraph that, as of the date on which a toll is imposed on the segment, will have the same number of non-toll lanes as were in existence prior to that date. (B)

High-occupancy vehicle lanes

A high-occupancy vehicle lane that is converted to a toll lane shall not be subject to this subsection, and shall not be considered to be a non-toll lane for purposes of determining whether a highway will have fewer non-toll lanes than prior to the date of imposition of the toll, if— (i)high-occupancy vehicles occupied by the number of passengers specified by the entity operating the toll lane may use the toll lane without paying a toll, unless otherwise specified by the appropriate county, town, municipal or other local government entity, or public toll road or transit authority; or (ii)each high-occupancy vehicle lane that was converted to a toll lane was constructed as a temporary lane to be replaced by a toll lane under a plan approved by the appropriate county, town, municipal or other local government entity, or public toll road or transit authority. . (b)

Interstate system reconstruction and rehabilitation pilot program

Section 1216(b)(2) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (23 U.S.C. 129 note; 112 Stat. 212) is amended by striking 3 facilities and inserting 2 facilities.