§70204. Multi-State freight corridor planning

(a) Consent to Multi-State Freight Mobility Compacts.-Congress recognizes the right of States, cities, regional planning organizations, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and local public authorities (including public port authorities) that are regionally linked with an interest in a specific nationally or regionally significant multi-State freight corridor to enter into multi-State compacts to promote the improved mobility of goods, including-

(1) identifying projects along the corridor that benefit multiple States;

(2) assembling rights-of-way; and

(3) performing capital improvements.

(b) Financing.-A multi-State freight compact established by entities under subsection (a) may provide that, in order to carry out the compact, the relevant States or other entities may-

(1) accept contributions from a unit of State or local government;

(2) use any Federal or State funds made available for freight mobility infrastructure planning or construction, including applying for grants;

(3) subject to such terms and conditions as the States consider to be advisable-

(A) borrow money on a short-term basis; and

(B) issue-

(i) notes for borrowing under subparagraph (A); and

(ii) bonds; and

(4) obtain financing by other means permitted under applicable Federal or State law.

(c) Advisory Committees.-

(1) In general.-A multi-State freight compact under this section may establish a multi-State freight corridor advisory committee, which shall include representatives of State departments of transportation and other public and private sector entities with an interest in freight mobility, such as-

(A) ports;

(B) freight railroads;

(C) shippers;

(D) carriers;

(E) freight-related associations;

(F) third-party logistics providers;

(G) the freight industry workforce;

(H) environmental organizations;

(I) community organizations; and

(J) units of local government.

(2) Activities.-An advisory committee established under paragraph (1) may-

(A) advise the parties to the applicable multi-State freight compact with respect to freight-related priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs that impact multi-State-

(i) freight mobility; and

(ii) supply chains;

(B) serve as a forum for States, Indian Tribes, and other public entities to discuss decisions affecting freight mobility;

(C) communicate and coordinate multi-State freight priorities with other organizations;

(D) promote the sharing of information between the private and public sectors with respect to freight issues; and

(E) provide information for consideration in the development of State freight plans under section 70202.

(d) Grants.-

(1) Establishment.-The Secretary of Transportation (referred to in this section as the "Secretary") shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide grants to multi-State freight compacts, or States seeking to form a multi-State freight compact, that seek to improve a route or corridor that is a part of the National Multimodal Freight Network established under section 70103.

(2) New compacts.-

(A) In general.-To incentivize the establishment of multi-State freight compacts, the Secretary may award a grant for operations costs in an amount of not more than $2,000,000 to-

(i) a multi-State freight compact established under subsection (a) during the 2-year period beginning on the date of establishment of the multi-State freight compact; or

(ii) States seeking to form a multi-State freight compact described in that subsection.

(B) Eligibility.-

(i) New multi-state freight compacts.-A multi-State freight compact shall be eligible for a grant under this paragraph only during the initial 2 years of operation of the compact.

(ii) States seeking to form a compact.-States seeking to form a multi-State freight compact shall be eligible for a grant under this paragraph during-

(I) the 2-year period beginning on the date on which an application for a grant under this paragraph with respect to the proposed compact is submitted to the Secretary; or

(II) if the compact is formed before the date on which a grant under this paragraph is awarded in accordance with subclause (I), the initial 2 years of operation of the compact.

(C) Requirements.-To be eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph, a multi-State freight compact or the applicable States seeking to form a multi-State freight compact shall-

(i) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require;

(ii) provide a non-Federal match equal to not less than 25 percent of the operating costs of the multi-State freight compact; and

(iii) commit to establishing a multi-State freight corridor advisory committee under subsection (c)(1) during the initial 2-year period of operation of the compact.

(3) Existing compacts.-

(A) In general.-The Secretary may award a grant to multi-State freight compacts that are not eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (2) for operations costs in an amount of not more than $1,000,000.

(B) Requirements.-To be eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph, a multi-State freight compact shall-

(i) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require;

(ii) provide a non-Federal match of not less than 50 percent of the operating costs of the compact; and

(iii) demonstrate that the compact has established a multi-State freight corridor advisory committee under subsection (c)(1).

(4) Authorization of appropriations.-There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this subsection.

(Added Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title I, §21106(a)(2), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 659 .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 70204 was renumbered section 70206 of this title.