Ferry Intermodal Transportation Act

Summary: Ferry Intermodal Transportation Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to study, and submit a report on the results to specified congressional committees, ferry transportation in the United States and its possessions in order to identify:  (1) existing ferry operations; and (2) potential U.S. ferry routes in the United States and its possessions and to develop certain information on them. Directs the Secretary to meet with State metropolitan planning organizations to discuss the results of the study and the availability of both Federal and State resources for providing ferry services. 
Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to make amounts available, out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), for the construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities. 
Amends Federal shipping law, with regard to the issuance of a certificate of documentation for a small passenger vessel, passenger vessel, or a ferry, to declare that the members of an association, trust, joint venture, or other entity that owns a vessel that is not registered under the laws of a foreign country or titled in a State do not all have to be U.S. citizens provided the vessel is subject to a charter to a U.S. citizen. 
Authorizes the Secretary to guarantee loans for ferry operations in the transportation of passengers or passengers and vehicles in the United States and its possessions. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ferry Intermodal Transportation 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FERRIES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Today's ferries are a critical transportation component 
        in many communities, providing vital transportation services 
        for passengers, automobiles, buses, and trucks in locations 
        where practical alternatives are insufficient or do not exist.
            (2) Ferries provide alternatives to other transport modes 
        that are facing severe capacity constraints.
            (3) Ferries do not require the construction of costly 
        infrastructure such as roads, bridges, or tunnels, thereby 
        reducing environmental impacts, capital investment, and the 
        time required to begin operation.
            (4) Ferries reduce single-occupancy vehicle traffic, 
        thereby reducing traffic congestion, air pollution, and energy 
        use.
            (5) Ferries are flexible because vessels and some loading 
        facilities may be shifted to new locations to respond to 
        changes in demand or in times of national emergency.
            (6) Joint efforts by private operators and local 
        governments already have resulted in highly innovative and 
        successful ferry operations in many urban areas.
            (7) The Department of Transportation strategic plan for the 
        National Transportation System urges emphasis on those modes of 
        transportation that promote those interests ``of critical 
        importance to our country, including clean air, reducing energy 
        consumption and safe, comfortable, and cost effective 
        transportation'' goals that ferry transportation embodies.
            (8) Ferry transportation is an important and unique 
        component of the national transportation system which should be 
        encouraged and supported in those communities for which it is 
        applicable.
    (b) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
        conduct a study of ferry transportation in the United States 
        and its possessions--
                    (A) to identify existing ferry operations, 
                including--
                            (i) the locations and routes served;
                            (ii) the name, the United States official 
                        number, and a description of each vessel 
                        operated as a ferry;
                            (iii) the source and amount, if any, of 
                        funds derived from Federal, State, or local 
                        government sources supporting ferry operations; 
                        and
                            (iv) the impact of ferry transportation on 
                        local and regional economies; and
                    (B) to identify potential domestic ferry routes in 
                the United States and its possessions and to develop 
                information on those routes, including--
                            (i) locations and routes that might be 
                        served;
                            (ii) estimates of capacity required;
                            (iii) estimates of capital costs of 
                        developing those routes;
                            (iv) estimates of annual operating costs 
                        for these routes;
                            (v) estimates of the economic impact of 
                        these routes on local and regional economies; 
                        and
                            (vi) the potential for use of high speed 
                        ferry services.
            (2) Report.--The Secretary shall submit a report on the 
        results of the study required under subsection (a) to the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate.
    (c) Meeting With State Metropolitan Planning Organizations.--After 
submitting the report required by subsection (b), the Secretary of 
Transportation shall--
            (1) meet with the chief metropolitan planning organization 
        officer of each metropolitan area in which a ferry service is 
        operated or for which a potential ferry route is identified in 
        the report; and
            (2) in that meeting discuss the results of the study under 
        subsection (a) and availability of resources, both Federal and 
        State, for providing ferry services.
    (d) 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:
    ``(c) Authorization.--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, $18,000,000 for each of 
the fiscal years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 in carrying out this 
section. Such sums shall remain available until expended.''.
    (e) Ferry Operating and Leasing Amendments.--
            (1) Facilitation of private ownership and leasing.--Section 
        129(c) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (3) by striking ``owned.'' and 
                inserting ``owned or operated.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (6), by striking ``sold, leased, 
                or'' and inserting ``sold or''.
            (2) Documentation; citizenship of members of owner 
        entities.--Section 12102(d)(1) of title 46, United States Code, 
        is amended by inserting ``or the issuance of any certificate of 
        documentation for a small passenger vessel, a passenger vessel, 
        or a ferry,'' after ``endorsement,''.
    (f) Loan Guarantees.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation may 
        guarantee, or make a commitment to guarantee, the payment of 
        the principal of, and the interest on, an obligation for ferry 
        operations in the transportation of passengers or passengers 
        and vehicles in the United States and its possessions. A 
        guarantee or commitment under this subsection shall be made--
                    (A) under standards and requirements equivalent to 
                those under title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 
                (46 App. U.S.C. 1271 et seq.); and
                    (B) subject to such terms as the Secretary may 
                require.
            (2) Simplified process.--A guarantee or commitment made 
        under this subsection is subject to all laws, requirements, and 
        procedures applicable to guarantees or commitments made under 
        title XI of that Act, except the Secretary shall by rule 
        provide a simplified application and compliance process for 
        guarantees and commitments made under this subsection.
            (3) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        to carry out this subsection $7,000,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.