II
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 638
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 16, 2005
Mrs. Murray (for herself, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Boxer, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Corzine, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Snowe, and Mr. Stevens) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
A BILL
To extend the authorization for the ferry boat discretionary program, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Ferry Transportation Enhancement
Act
.
Authorization of funding for construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities
Funding
Section 1064(c) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (23 U.S.C. 129 note) is amended to read as follows:
Funding
In general
There shall be available, out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), to the Secretary for obligation at the discretion of the Secretary $150,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2009. Sums made available to carry out this section shall remain available until expended.
Allocation of funds
The Secretary shall give priority in the allocation of funds under this section to those ferry systems, and public entities responsible for developing facilities for ferries, that carry the greatest number of passengers and vehicles, carry the greatest number of passengers in passenger-only service, or provide critical access to areas that are not well-served by other modes of surface transportation.
.
Eligibility of ferry maintenance facilities for Federal funding
Maintenance facilities
Section 129(c) of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by inserting and maintenance
after
terminal
; and
in paragraph (3), by
inserting or maintenance
after terminal
each
place it appears.
Conforming amendments
Section 1064 of the
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (23 U.S.C. 129
note) is amended by inserting and maintenance
after terminal
each place it appears.
Eligibility of ferries for clean fuels program
Section 5308 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
in clauses (i) and (iii) of
subsection (a)(3)(A) and in subsection (e), by inserting or
ferries
after buses
each place it appears;
in subsection (e), by
inserting or ferry
after bus
each place it
appears;
in the heading for subsection
(e)(2), by inserting or
ferries
after buses
; and
in the heading for subsection
(e)(3), by inserting or
ferry
after bus
.
Ferry Joint Program Office
Establishment
The Secretary of
Transportation shall establish a Ferry Joint Program Office (in this section,
referred to as the Office
) to coordinate Federal programs
affecting ferry boat and ferry facility construction, maintenance, and
operations and to promote ferry service as a component of the Nation’s
transportation system. The Ferry Joint Program Office shall coordinate ferry
and ferry-related programs within the Department of Transportation (including
the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the
Maritime Administration, and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics) and with
the Department of Homeland Security and other Federal and State agencies, as
appropriate.
Functions
The functions of the Office shall include—
ensuring resource accountability;
coordinating policy relating to ferry transportation among the various agencies of the Department of Transportation and other departments of the United States Government;
providing strategic leadership for ferry research, development, testing, and deployment; and
promoting ferry transportation as a means to reduce social, economic, and environmental costs associated with traffic congestion.
National ferry data base
In general
The Secretary of Transportation shall maintain a national ferry database, which shall contain current information regarding ferry systems, routes, vessels, passengers and vehicles carried, funding sources, and any other information that the Secretary determines to be useful. The Secretary shall utilize data from the study conducted under section 1207(c) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (23 U.S.C. 129 note), and make modifications to that data, as appropriate.
Updated database
The Secretary shall produce the first updated version of the national ferry database not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and shall update such database every 2 years after such date.
Public accessibility
The Secretary shall ensure that the national ferry database is easily accessible to the public.
National Ferry Transportation Institute
Establishment
Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall award
grants to an institution of higher education to establish a National Ferry
Transportation Institute (referred to in this section as the
Institute
).
Administration
The Secretary shall develop and administer the Institute in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, State transportation departments, public ferry transportation authorities, private ferry operators, ferry boat builders, ferry employees, and other institutions of higher education and research institutes.
Functions
The Institute shall—
conduct research and recommend development activities on methods of improving ferry transportation programs in the United States, including methods of reducing wake and providing alternative propulsion;
develop and conduct training programs for ferry system employees, Federal Government employees, and other individuals, as appropriate, on recent developments, techniques, and procedures pertaining to the construction and operation of ferries;
encourage and assist collaborative efforts by public and private entities to preserve, improve, and expand the use of ferries as a mode of transportation; and
preserve, utilize, and display historical information about the use of ferries in the United States and in foreign countries.
Location
In selecting the location for the Institute, the Secretary shall consider—
the importance of public and private ferries to the region’s transportation system, including both regional travel and long-range travel and service to isolated communities;
the historical importance of ferry transportation to the region;
the history and diversity of the region’s maritime community, including ferry construction and repair and other shipbuilding activities;
the anticipated growth of ferry service and ferry boat building in the region;
the availability of public-private collaboration in the region; and
the presence of nationally recognized research universities in the region.
Funding
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2009, to carry out the provisions of this section. The Secretary may authorize the acceptance and expenditure of funding provided to the Institute by public and private entities.
Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress describing the activities of the Institute and the progress in carrying out this section.