[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 326 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 326
To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish national purposes
and goals for Federal surface transportation activities and programs
and create a national surface transportation plan.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 10, 2011
Mr. Rockefeller (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Coomerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish national purposes
and goals for Federal surface transportation activities and programs
and create a national surface transportation plan.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Surface Transportation
Policy and Planning Act of 2011''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION POLICY AND
PLAN.
(a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 304 through 309 as sections
307 through 312;
(2) by redesignating sections 303 and 303a as sections 305
and 306, respectively; and
(3) by inserting after section 302, the following:
``303. National surface transportation policy
``(a) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to develop a
comprehensive national surface transportation system that advances the
national interest and defense, interstate and foreign commerce, the
efficient and safe interstate mobility of people and goods, and the
protection of the environment. The system shall be built, maintained,
managed, and operated as a partnership between the Federal, State, and
local governments and the private sector and shall be coordinated with
the overall transportation system of the United States, including the
Nation's air, rail, pipeline, and water transportation systems. The
Secretary of Transportation shall be responsible for carrying out this
policy and for defining the Federal government's role in the system.
``(b) Objectives.--The objectives of the policy shall be to
facilitate and advance--
``(1) the efficient connectivity of persons and goods
within and between nations, regions, states, and metropolitan
areas;
``(2) the safety and health of the public;
``(3) the security of the Nation and the public;
``(4) environmental protection and enhancement, including
the reduction of carbon-related emissions;
``(5) energy conservation and security, including reducing
transportation-related energy use;
``(6) international and interstate freight movement, trade
enhancement, job creation, and economic development;
``(7) responsible land use and sustainable development;
``(8) the preservation and adequate performance of system-
critical transportation assets, as defined by the Secretary;
``(9) reasonable access to the national surface
transportation system for all system users, including rural
communities;
``(10) sustainable, balanced, and adequate financing of the
national surface transportation system; and
``(11) innovation in transportation services,
infrastructure, and technology.
``(c) Goals.--
``(1) In general.--The goals of the policy shall be--
``(A) to reduce national per capita motor vehicle
miles traveled on an annual basis;
``(B) to reduce national motor vehicle-related
fatalities by 50 percent by 2030;
``(C) to reduce national surface transportation-
generated carbon dioxide levels by 40 percent by 2030;
``(D) to reduce national surface transportation
delays per capita on an annual basis;
``(E) to increase the percentage of system-critical
surface transportation assets, as defined by the
Secretary, that are in a state of good repair by 20
percent by 2030;
``(F) to increase the total usage of public
transportation, intercity passenger rail services, and
non-motorized transportation on an annual basis;
``(G) to increase the proportion of national
freight transportation provided by non-highway or
multimodal services by 10 percent by 2020;
``(H) to reduce passenger and freight
transportation delays and congestion at international
points of entry on an annual basis;
``(I) to ensure adequate transportation of domestic
energy supplies; and
``(J) to maintain or the reduce the percentage of
gross domestic product consumed by transportation
costs.
``(2) Baselines.--Within 1 year after the date of enactment
of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act
of 2011, the Secretary shall develop baselines for the goals
and shall determine appropriate methods of data collection to
measure the attainment of the goals.
``(d) Requirements.--The Secretary, consistent with the plan
developed under section 304 and notwithstanding any other provision of
law in effect as of the date of enactment of the National Surface
Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2011, shall--
``(1) develop appropriate performance criteria and data
collections systems for each Federal surface transportation
program in order to evaluate:
``(A) whether such programs are consistent with the
policy, objectives, and goals established by this
section; and
``(B) how effective such programs are in
contributing to the achievement of the policy,
objectives, and goals established by this section;
``(2) using the criteria developed under paragraph (1),
annually evaluate each such program and provide the results to
the public;
``(3) based on the evaluation performed under paragraph
(2), make any necessary changes or improvements to such
programs to ensure such consistency and effectiveness;
``(4) align the availability and award of Federal surface
transportation funding to meet the policy, objectives, goals,
and performance criteria established by this section,
consistent with the evaluation performed under paragraph (2);
``(5) carry out this section in a manner that is consistent
with sections 302, 5503, 10101, and 13101 of this title and
section 101 of title 23 to the extent that such sections do not
conflict with the policy, objectives, and goals established by
this section;
``(6) review, update, and reissue all relevant surface
transportation planning requirements to ensure that such
requirements require that regional, State, and local surface
transportation planning efforts funded with Federal funds are
consistent with the policy, objectives, and goals established
by this section; and
``(7) require recipients of Federal surface transportation
funds to annually report on the use of such funds, including a
description of--
``(A) which projects and priorities were funded
with such funds;
``(B) the rationale and method employed for
apportioning such funds to the projects and priorities;
and
``(C) how the obligation of such funds is
consistent with or advances the policy, objectives, and
goals established by this section.
``(e) Authority.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law in effect as of the date of enactment of the National
Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2011, the
Secretary may, through a process of public notice and comment
and with reasonable prior notice to the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of
Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
preceding any significant change, consistent with the public
interest, amend the goals under subsection (c) or develop
additional goals to effectively meet the policy and objectives
set forth in this section.
``(2) The Secretary may also make recommendations to those
Committees for reorganizing the Department of Transportation,
as necessary and consistent with the requirements of section
304(b)(6), in order to achieve the policy, objectives, and
goals established by this section.
``304. National surface transportation performance plan
``(a) Development.--Within 2 years after the date of enactment of
the National Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2011,
the Secretary of Transportation shall develop and implement a National
Surface Transportation Performance Plan to achieve the policy,
objectives, and goals set forth in section 303.
``(b) Contents.--The plan shall include--
``(1) an assessment of the current performance of the
national surface transportation system and an analysis of the
system's ability to achieve the policy, objectives, and goals
set forth in section 303;
``(2) an analysis of emerging and long-term projected
trends that will impact the performance, needs, and uses of the
national surface transportation system;
``(3) a description of the major impediments to effectively
meeting the policy, objectives, and goals set forth in section
303 and recommended actions to address such impediments;
``(4) a comprehensive strategy and investment plan to meet
the policy, objectives, and goals set forth in section 303;
``(5) initiatives to improve transportation modeling,
research, data collection, and analysis; and
``(6) a plan for any reorganization of the Department of
Transportation or its agencies necessary to meet the policy,
objectives, and goals set forth in section 303.
``(c) Consultation.--In developing the plan required by subsection
(a), the Secretary shall--
``(1) consult with local, State, and tribal governments,
public and private transportation providers and carriers, non-
profit organizations representing transportation employees,
appropriate foreign governments, and other interested parties;
and
``(2) provide public notice and hearings and solicit public
comments on the plan.
``(d) Submittal.--The Secretary shall submit the completed plan to
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the
House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure.
``(e) Progress Reports.--The Secretary shall submit biennial
progress reports on the implementation of the plan beginning 2 years
after the date of submittal of the plan under subsection (d) to the
Committees. The progress report shall--
``(1) describe progress made toward fully implementing the
plan and achieving the policies, objectives, and goals
established under section 303;
``(2) describe challenges and obstacles to full
implementation;
``(3) describe updates to the plan necessary to reflect
changed circumstances or new developments; and
``(4) make policy and legislative recommendations the
Secretary believes are necessary and appropriate to fully
implement the plan.
``(f) Data.--The Secretary shall have the authority to conduct
studies, gather information, and require the production of data
necessary to develop or update this plan, consistent with Federal
privacy standards.
``(g) Funding.--The Secretary may use such sums as may be necessary
from any funds provided to the Department of Transportation for surface
transportation programs for the purpose of completing and updating the
plan and developing and issuing the progress reports pursuant to this
section.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 302a of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``10101 and 13101'' and inserting ``303,
10101, and 13101''.
(2) Section 308, as redesignated, of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``sections 301--304'' and
inserting ``sections 301 through 307''.
(3) The table of contents for chapter 3 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating the items relating to sections
303 through 309 as relating to sections 305 through
312; and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section
302 the following:
``303. National surface transportation policy
``304. National surface transportation performance plan''.
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