Sec. 41002. National multimodal freight policy
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Chapter 54 of subtitle III of title 49, United States Code, as added by section 41001, is amended by adding after section 5401 the following: It is the policy of the United States— to support investment to maintain and improve the condition and performance of the national multimodal freight network; to ensure that the United States maximizes its competitiveness in the global economy by increasing the overall productivity and connectivity of the national freight system; and to pursue the goals described in subsection (b).
The national multimodal freight policy has the following goals: To enhance the economic competitiveness of the United States by investing in infrastructure improvements and implementing operational improvements on the freight network of the United States that achieve 1 or more of the following: Strengthen the contribution of the national freight network to the economic competitiveness of the United States. Reduce congestion and relieve bottlenecks in the freight transportation system.
Reduce the cost of freight transportation. Improve the reliability of freight transportation. Increase productivity, particularly for domestic industries and businesses that create jobs. To improve the safety, security, efficiency, and resiliency of freight transportation in rural and urban areas. To improve the condition of the national freight network. To use advanced technology to improve the safety and efficiency of the national freight network. To incorporate concepts of performance, innovation, competition, and accountability into the operation and maintenance of the national freight network.
To improve the efficiency and productivity of the national freight network. To pursue these goals in a manner that is not burdensome to State and local governments. The United States may achieve the goals described in subsection
(b)by— providing funding to maintain and improve freight infrastructure facilities; implementing appropriate safety, environmental, energy and other transportation policies; utilizing advanced technology and innovation; promoting workforce development; and using performance management activities. The Under Secretary for Policy, who shall be responsible for the oversight and implementation of the national multimodal freight policy, shall— assist with the coordination of modal freight planning; ensure consistent, expedited review of multimodal freight projects; review the project planning and approval processes at each modal administration to identify modeling and metric inconsistencies, approvals, and terminology differences that could hamper multimodal project approval; identify interagency data sharing opportunities to promote freight planning and coordination; identify multimodal efforts and connections; designate the lead agency for multimodal freight projects; develop recommendations for State incentives for multimodal planning efforts, which may include— reducing the State cost share; or expediting the review of agreements for multimodal or freight specific projects; explore opportunities within existing legal authorities to reduce project delays by issuing categorical exclusions or allowing self-certifications of right-of-way acquisitions for freight projects; and submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that identifies required reports, statutory requirements, and other limitations on efficient freight project delivery that could be streamlined or consolidated. .