§ 5301. Policies and purposes

(a)Declaration of Policy.— It is in the interest of the United States, including the economic interest of the United States, to foster the development and revitalization of public transportation systems with the cooperation of both public transportation companies and private companies engaged in public transportation.

(b)General Purposes.— The purposes of this chapter are to—

(1) provide funding to support public transportation;

(2) improve the development and delivery of capital projects;

(3) establish standards for the state of good repair of public transportation infrastructure and vehicles;

(4) promote continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive planning that improves the performance of the transportation network;

(5) establish a technical assistance program to assist recipients under this chapter to more effectively and efficiently provide public transportation service;

(6) continue Federal support for public transportation providers to deliver high quality service to all users, including individuals with disabilities, seniors, and individuals who depend on public transportation;

(7) support research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects dedicated to assisting in the delivery of efficient and effective public transportation service; and

(8) promote the development of the public transportation workforce.

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(d), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 785; Pub. L. 109–59, title III, §§ 3002(b)(4), 3003, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1545; Pub. L. 112–141, div. B, § 20003, July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 622.)

Historical And Revision

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
5301(a)	49 App.:1607(a) (1st sentence).	July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 8(a) (1st sentence); added Nov. 6, 1978, Pub. L. 95–599, § 305(b), 92 Stat. 2743; Apr. 2, 1987, Pub. L. 100–17, § 310, 101 Stat. 227; restated Dec. 18, 1991, Pub. L. 102–240, § 3012, 105 Stat. 2098.
5301(b)	49 App.:1601(a).	July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, § 2, 78 Stat. 302; Dec. 18, 1991, Pub. L. 102–240, § 3005, 105 Stat. 2088.
	49 App.:1601b.	Nov. 26, 1974, Pub. L. 93–503, § 2, 88 Stat. 1566.
5301(c)	49 App.:1601a (1st sentence).	Oct. 15, 1970, Pub. L. 91–453, § 1, 84 Stat. 962.
5301(d)	49 App.:1612(a).	July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 16(a); added Oct. 15, 1970, Pub. L. 91–453, § 8, 84 Stat. 967; Dec. 18, 1991, Pub. L. 102–240, § 3021(1), 105 Stat. 2110.
5301(e)	49 App.:1610(a) (1st sentence).	July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, § 14(a) (1st sentence), 78 Stat. 308; Sept. 8, 1966, Pub. L. 89–562, § 2(a)(1), 80 Stat. 715; restated Oct. 15, 1970, Pub. L. 91–453, § 6, 84 Stat. 966.
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

Amendments

2012—Pub. L. 112–141 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to policies, findings, and purposes.

2005—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–59, § 3003(a), amended heading and text of subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “It is in the interest of the United States to encourage and promote the development of transportation systems that embrace various modes of transportation and efficiently maximize mobility of individuals and goods in and through urbanized areas and minimize transportation-related fuel consumption and air pollution.”

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–59, § 3003(b), substituted “two-thirds” for “70 percent” and “urbanized areas” for “urban areas”.

Subsecs. (b)(4), (6) to (9), (d). Pub. L. 109–59, § 3002(b)(4), substituted “public transportation” for “mass transportation” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–59, § 3003(c), substituted “a” for “an urban” and struck out “under sections 5309 and 5310 of this title” before period at end.

Pub. L. 109–59, § 3002(b)(4), substituted “public transportation” for “mass transportation”.

Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 109–59, § 3003(d)(1), substituted “public transportation equipment” for “mass transportation equipment” and “both public transportation companies and private companies engaged in public transportation” for “public and private mass transportation companies”.

Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 109–59, § 3003(d)(2), substituted “public transportation systems” for “urban mass transportation systems” and “both public transportation companies and private companies engaged in public transportation” for “public and private mass transportation companies”.

Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 109–59, § 3003(d)(3), substituted “public transportation systems” for “urban mass transportation systems” and “public transportation companies or private companies engaged in public transportation” for “public or private mass transportation companies”.

Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 109–59, § 3003(d)(4), substituted “public” for “urban mass”.

Effective Date Of Amendment

Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 23, Highways.

Miscellaneous

Contracting Out Study

Pub. L. 105–178, title III, § 3032, June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 385, as amended by Pub. L. 105–206, title IX, § 9009(v), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 861, provided that a study of the effect of contracting out mass transportation operation and administrative functions was to be arranged between the Secretary of Transportation and the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences no later than 6 months after June 9, 1998, and made available funds for fiscal year 1999.

Commute-to-Work Benefits

Pub. L. 102–240, title VIII, § 8004, Dec. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 2206, provided that:

“(a)Findings.—The Congress finds that—

“(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)Policy.—The Congress strongly supports Federal policy that promotes increased use of employer-provided commuter transit benefits. Such a policy ‘levels the playing field’ between transportation modes and is consistent with important national objectives of energy conservation, reduced reliance on energy imports, lessened congestion, and clean air.”