Sec. 3512. America’s marine highway program
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/bill/117/hr/4350/eh/section-3512·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Section 55601 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: The Secretary of Transportation shall— establish a marine highway program to be known as America’s marine highway program; designate marine highway routes under subsection (c); designate marine highway transportation projects under subsection (d); and subject to the availability of appropriations, provide assistance under subsection (e). In carrying out the marine highway program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary may— coordinate with ports, State departments of transportation, localities, other public agencies, and the private sector on the development of landside facilities and infrastructure to support marine highway transportation; develop performance measures for such marine highway program; collect and disseminate data for the designation and delineation of marine highway transportation routes under subsection (c); and conduct research on solutions to impediments to marine highway transportation projects designated under subsection (d).
Routes designated under subsection
(c)and projects designated under subsection
(d)shall— provide a coordinated and capable alternative to landside transportation; mitigate or relieve landside congestion; or promote marine highway transportation. The Secretary shall designate marine highway transportation routes that meet the criteria established in subsection
(b)as extensions of the surface transportation system. The Secretary may designate a project that meets the criteria established in subsection
(b)to be a marine highway transportation project if the Secretary determines that such project uses vessels documented under chapter 121 and— develops, expands or promotes— marine highway transportation services; shipper utilization of marine highway transportation; or port and landside infrastructure for which assistance is not available under section 54301; or implements strategies developed under section 55603. The Secretary may make grants, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements, to implement projects or components of a project designated under subsection (d). To receive a grant or enter into a contract or cooperative agreement under the program, an applicant shall— submit an application to the Secretary in such form and manner, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary may require; and demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary that— the project is financially viable; the funds or other assistance received will be spent or used efficiently and effectively; and a market exists for the services of the proposed project, as evidenced by contracts or written statements of intent from potential customers. An applicant shall provide at least 20 percent of the project costs from non-Federal sources. In awarding grants or entering in contracts or cooperative agreements under this subsection, the Secretary shall give a preference to those projects or components that present the most financially viable transportation services and require the lowest percentage Federal share of the costs. . Chapter 556 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 55602 the following: The Secretary, in consultation with Federal entities, State and local governments, and the private sector, may develop strategies to encourage the use of marine highways transportation for transportation of passengers and cargo. In developing the strategies described in subsection (a), the Secretary may— assess the extent to which States and local governments include marine highway transportation and other marine transportation solutions in transportation planning; encourage State departments of transportation to develop strategies, where appropriate, to incorporate marine highway transportation, ferries, and other marine transportation solutions for regional and interstate transport of freight and passengers in transportation planning; and encourage groups of States and multi-State transportation entities to determine how marine highways can address congestion, bottlenecks, and other interstate transportation challenges. . The analysis for chapter 556 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— by striking the item relating to section 55601 and inserting the following: 55601. America’s marine highway program. ; and by inserting after the item relating to section 55602 the following: 55603. Multistate, State, and regional transportation planning. .