Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “National High Performance Passenger Rail Transportation-Oriented Development Act of 2013”.
National High Performance Passenger Rail Transportation-Oriented Development Act of 2013
A BILL
To promote transportation-oriented development and encourage dedicated revenue sources for urban and regional rail corridor development.
Sec. 2 Transportation-oriented development initiative
Establishment— The Secretary of Transportation (in this Act referred to as the “Secretary”) shall establish an initiative to promote intercity and urban passenger rail operations and transportation-oriented development by creating incentives for communities to encourage dedicated revenue sources for urban and regional rail corridor development.
Implementation— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall obtain the services of qualified independent private sector entity with experience in transportation-oriented development to serve as a liaison between the Federal Government, State and local authorities, private sector participants, and appropriate other stakeholders in the initiative. Such entity shall—
serve as a development planning advisor, by advancing and recommending methodologies to use in the overall implementation of the initiative;
provide recommendations as requested by the Secretary, which shall include recommendations on—
liaison between the Federal Government, and State, local, or regional applicants for incentives under the initiative;
mechanisms for coordination among all stakeholders, including State, local, and regional authorities;
types of projects that should receive incentives under the initiative; and
mechanisms for providing technical assistance and types of technical assistance that should be provided; and
conduct a preliminary transportation-oriented development survey on the Northeast Corridor or other local station areas or regional corridors.
Coordination— The Secretary shall harmonize planning requirements and direct coordination and administration of the initiative between the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.
Sec. 3 Federal incentives
Qualified projects—
Criteria— The Secretary shall establish criteria for the designation of projects qualified for Federal incentives pursuant to this section and the amendments made by this section.
Types of projects that may qualify— Projects that may qualify for Federal incentives pursuant to this section and the amendments made by this section are commercial development or other projects that—
contribute to the generation of revenue by the capture of increasing value from development around station areas, through the establishment of special assessment districts, increasing the tax base, promoting job growth, promoting cost effectiveness, facilitating intermodal connectivity, combining congestion relief with station development, stimulating economic development, or any other appropriate means;
are likely to make long-term contributions to rail corridor development funds or similar mechanisms that help finance intercity and urban passenger rail infrastructure or operating expenses; and
provide for a quantifiable revenue stream to the relevant station or rail operation.
Applicant coordinating authority— An applicant for Federal incentives pursuant to this section and the amendments made by this section shall be a State, local, or regional authority. Such authority shall provide for coordination among stakeholders, local governments, and private developers in the defined region, and shall be the lead party in the application.
Projects authorized— Except as provided in subsection (b), projects are not authorized to receive Federal incentives pursuant to this section and the amendments made by this section until the date that is 1 year after the report required under subsection (c) is transmitted to Congress.
Pilot projects— The Secretary may designate up to 4 pilot projects as qualified for Federal incentives pursuant to this section and the amendments made by this section before the date specified in subsection (a)(4).
Report to Congress— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, after consultation with each State, local, or regional authority coordinating a pilot project under subsection (b), shall transmit to Congress a report assessing the success or failure of each such pilot project and making any appropriate recommendations for modifications to the initiative under this Act.
Railroad rehabilitation improvement financing— Section 502 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 822) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
by striking “and” at the end of paragraph (5);
by striking the period at the end of paragraph (6) and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(7) persons conducting a qualified project (as defined by the Secretary under section 3 of the National High Performance Passenger Rail Transportation-Oriented Development Act of 2013).”
in subsection (b)(1)—
by striking “or” at the end of subparagraph (B);
by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (C) and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(D) conduct a qualified project (as defined by the Secretary under section 3 of the National High Performance Passenger Rail Transportation-Oriented Development Act of 2013).”
Transportation infrastructure finance— Section 601(a)(12) of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
by striking “and” at the end of subparagraph (C);
by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(E) a qualified project (as defined by the Secretary under section 3 of the National High Performance Passenger Rail Transportation-Oriented Development Act of 2013).”
Application priority— In general, Federal applications to the Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Transit Administration for railroad projects that participate in the transportation-oriented development initiative under this Act shall receive a priority for funding in the application decision process.
Revenue neutral program cost— The Secretary shall establish and apply to recipients of Federal incentives pursuant to this section and the amendments made by this section a fee in an amount sufficient to cover the administrative costs of carrying out this Act, including section 2(b).
Sec. 4 Technical assistance
National technical assistance— The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to applicants and potential applicants for Federal incentives pursuant to this Act and the amendments made by this Act with respect to—
identification of transportation-oriented development opportunities;
establishment of special assessment districts in regions;
establishment of rail corridor development funds; and
expediting Federal, State, and local regulatory approvals.
States, localities, and regions outside the northeast corridor— The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to the States, localities, and regions outside the Northeast Corridor as identified by the Secretary, including—
technical assistance on the establishment of regional authorities appropriate to carrying out the purposes of this Act at the regional level; and
technical assistance at the request of a State, local, or regional entity to identify stations and potential stations within a region and conduct a preliminary survey of property available and potentially available, to maximize development and commercial revenue generation to financially support the development of a high performance intercity or urban rail passenger corridor.
Northeast corridor— The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to the States and local or regional entities along the Northeast Corridor, including—
technical assistance on the establishment, by the Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission established under section 24905 of title 49, United States Code, of a Northeast Corridor Transportation-Oriented Development Working Group, which shall—
include outside members with expertise in transportation-oriented development;
be supported by the independent private sector entity retained by the Secretary under section 2(b);
be chaired by a designee appointed by the Secretary who is an expert with private sector transportation oriented development experience; and
advise the Secretary and the Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission on the ways and means for carrying out the purposes of this Act at the regional level; and
not more than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, technical assistance to identify Northeast Corridor stations and potential stations and conduct a preliminary survey of property available and potentially available, to maximize development and commercial revenue generation to financially support the creation of a true high-speed rail corridor in the Northeast Corridor.