§5301. Policies, findings, and purposes
(a)
(1) maximize the safe, secure, and efficient mobility of individuals;
(2) minimize environmental impacts; and
(3) minimize transportation-related fuel consumption and reliance on foreign oil.
(b)
(1) more than two-thirds of the population of the United States is located in rapidly expanding urbanized areas that generally cross the boundary lines of local jurisdictions and often extend into at least 2 States;
(2) the welfare and vitality of urban areas, the satisfactory movement of people and goods within those areas, and the effectiveness of programs aided by the United States Government are jeopardized by deteriorating or inadequate urban transportation service and facilities, the intensification of traffic congestion, and the lack of coordinated, comprehensive, and continuing development planning;
(3) transportation is the lifeblood of an urbanized society, and the health and welfare of an urbanized society depend on providing efficient, economical, and convenient transportation in and between urban areas;
(4) for many years the public transportation industry capably and profitably satisfied the transportation needs of the urban areas of the United States but in the early 1970's continuing even minimal public transportation service in urban areas was threatened because maintaining that transportation service was financially burdensome;
(5) ending that transportation, or the continued increase in its cost to the user, is undesirable and may affect seriously and adversely the welfare of a substantial number of lower income individuals;
(6) some urban areas were developing preliminary plans for, or carrying out, projects in the early 1970's to revitalize their public transportation operations;
(7) significant public transportation improvements are necessary to achieve national goals for improved air quality, energy conservation, international competitiveness, and mobility for elderly individuals, individuals with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged individuals in urban and rural areas of the United States;
(8) financial assistance by the Government to develop efficient and coordinated public transportation systems is essential to solve the urban transportation problems referred to in clause (2) of this subsection; and
(9) immediate substantial assistance by the Government is needed to enable public transportation systems to continue providing vital transportation service.
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(1) to assist in developing improved public transportation equipment, facilities, techniques, and methods with the cooperation of both public transportation companies and private companies engaged in public transportation;
(2) to encourage the planning and establishment of areawide public transportation systems needed for economical and desirable urban development with the cooperation of both public transportation companies and private companies engaged in public transportation;
(3) to assist States and local governments and their authorities in financing areawide public transportation systems that are to be operated by public transportation companies or private companies engaged in public transportation as decided by local needs;
(4) to provide financial assistance to State and local governments and their authorities to help carry out national goals related to mobility for elderly individuals, individuals with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged individuals; and
(5) to establish a partnership that allows a community, with financial assistance from the Government, to satisfy its public transportation requirements.
(
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 5301(a) | 49 App.:1607(a) (1st sentence). | July 9, 1964,
|
| 5301(b) | 49 App.:1601(a). | July 9, 1964,
|
| 49 App.:1601b. | Nov. 26, 1974,
|
|
| 5301(c) | 49 App.:1601a (1st sentence). | Oct. 15, 1970,
|
| 5301(d) | 49 App.:1612(a). | July 9, 1964,
|
| 5301(e) | 49 App.:1610(a) (1st sentence). | July 9, 1964,
|
| 5301(f) | 49 App.:1601(b). | |
| 49 App.:1601a (last sentence). |
In subsection (b)(1), the words "the predominant part" in 49 App.:1601(a)(1) and "lives in urban areas" in 49 App.:1601b(1) are omitted because of the restatement. The words "metropolitan and other" in 49 App.:1601(a)(1) are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (b)(2), the words "housing, urban renewal, highway, and other", "being", "the . . . provision of", and "transportation and other" in 49 App.:1601(a)(2) are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (b)(4), the words "the early 1970's" are substituted for "recent years" in 49 App.:1601b(4), and the words "minimal mass transportation service" are substituted for "this essential public service", for clarity.
In subsection (b)(5), the word "particularly" in 49 App.:1601b(5) is omitted as surplus.
In subsection (b)(6), the words "were . . . in the early 1970's" are substituted for "now" in 49 App.:1601b(6) for clarity. The words "engaged in", "actually", and "comprehensive" in 49 App.:1601b(6) are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (b)(9), the word "many" in 49 App.:1601(b)(7) is omitted as surplus.
In subsection (c), the text of 49 App.:1601a (1st sentence words after semicolon) is omitted as executed.
In subsections (d) and (e), the words "hereby declared to be" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (d), the words "to ensure that mass transportation can be used by elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities" are substituted for "in the planning and design of mass transportation facilities and services so that the availability to elderly persons and persons with disabilities of mass transportation which they can effectively utilize will be assured" to eliminate unnecessary words. The words "the field of" and "(including the programs under this chapter) . . . contain provisions" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (e), the words "carrying out" are substituted for "construction of", and the word "capital" is added, for consistency in the revised chapter. The reference to section 5310 of the revised title is added for clarity because a loan or grant made under section 5310 is deemed to have been made under section 5309.
In subsection (f)(5), the words "local" and "to exercise the initiative necessary" are omitted as surplus.
Amendments
2005-Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b)(1).
Subsecs. (b)(4), (6) to (9), (d).
Subsec. (e).
Subsec. (f)(1).
Subsec. (f)(2).
Subsec. (f)(3).
Subsec. (f)(5).
Contracting Out Study
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) the Transportation Research Board, in conducting the study, consider the number of grant recipients that have contracted out services, the size of the population served by such grant recipients, the basis for decisions regarding contracting out, and the extent to which contracting out was affected by the integration and coordination of resources of transit agencies and other Federal agencies and programs; and
"(2) the panel conducting the study shall include representatives of transit agencies, employees of transit agencies, private contractors, academic and policy analysts, and other interested persons.
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
Commute-to-Work Benefits
"(a)
"(1) current Federal policy places commuter transit benefits at a disadvantage compared to drive-to-work benefits;
"(2) this Federal policy is inconsistent with important national policy objectives, including the need to conserve energy, reduce reliance on energy imports, lessen congestion, and clean our Nation's air;
"(3) commuter transit benefits should be part of a comprehensive solution to national transportation and air pollution problems;
"(4) current Federal law allows employers to provide only up to $21 per month in employee benefits for transit or van pools;
"(5) the current 'cliff provision', which treats an entire commuter transit benefit as taxable income if it exceeds $21 per month, unduly penalizes the most effective employer efforts to change commuter behavior;
"(6) employer-provided commuter transit incentives offer many public benefits, including increased access of low-income persons to good jobs, inexpensive reduction of roadway and parking congestion, and cost-effective incentives for timely arrival at work; and
"(7) legislation to provide equitable treatment of employer-provided commuter transit benefits has been introduced with bipartisan support in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
"(b)