Current as of: January 2009 (a) Development and Revitalization of Public Transportation
Systems. - It is in the interest of the United States, including
its economic interest, to foster the development and revitalization
of public transportation systems that -
(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) General Findings. - Congress finds that -
(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) Rapid Urbanization and Continuing Population Dispersal. -
Rapid urbanization and continuing dispersal of the population and
activities in urban areas have made the ability of all citizens to
move quickly and at a reasonable cost an urgent problem of the
Government.
(d) Elderly Individuals and Individuals With Disabilities. - It
is the policy of the Government that elderly individuals and
individuals with disabilities have the same right as other
individuals to use public transportation service and facilities.
Special efforts shall be made in planning and designing public
transportation service and facilities to ensure that public
transportation can be used by elderly individuals and individuals
with disabilities. All programs of the Government assisting public
transportation shall carry out this policy.
(e) Preserving the Environment. - It is the policy of the
Government that special effort shall be made to preserve the
natural beauty of the countryside, public park and recreation
lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and important historical and
cultural assets when planning, designing, and carrying out a public
transportation capital project with assistance from the Government.
(f) General Purposes. - The purposes of this chapter are -
(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.Legislative History Prev ________________________________________________________________________
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