Ferry Service Expansion Act

To increase authorizations for the passenger ferry competitive grant program and the ferry boats and terminal facilities formula grant program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ferry Service Expansion Act 2. Construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities Section 147(h) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (2), by striking $112,000,000 $160,000,000 (2) in paragraph (3), by striking $114,000,000 $160,000,000 (3) in paragraph (4), by striking $116,000,000 $160,000,000 (4) in paragraph (5), by striking $118,000,000 $160,000,000 3. Apportionments Section 5336(h)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking $30,000,000 $90,000,000 4. Surface transportation block grant program (a) In general Section 133(b)(1)(B)(i) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting , except that for the purposes of this section, hovercraft and terminal facilities for hovercraft engaging in water transit for passengers or vehicles shall be considered to be ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities under section 129(c) section 129(c) (b) Rule of construction Any hovercraft funded using funds made available under section 133(b)(1) of title 23, United States Code, shall be deemed to be a vessel subject to chapters 121 and 551 of title 46, United States Code. 5. Toll roads, bridges, tunnels, and ferries (a) In general Section 129(c)(5) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the first sentence, by inserting (including between territories of the United States) adjoining States (2) in the second sentence, by inserting operations between territories of the United States, United States, (b) Sunset Section 11117(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 23 U.S.C. 147 Public Law 117–58 (1) by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through section 147(b) (b) Diesel fuel ferry vessels Notwithstanding section 147(b) of title 23, United States Code ; and (2) by striking paragraph (2). 6. Ferry service for rural communities Section 71103 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 23 U.S.C. 147 Public Law 117–58 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking located more than 50 sailing miles apart (B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: (3) Rural area The term rural area (A) has not been designated by the Secretary of Commerce in the most recent decennial census as an urbanized area; or (B) has been designated by the Secretary of Commerce in the most recent decennial census as an urbanized area, but has populations described in subparagraphs (H) and (I) of section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13) ; (2) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and (3) by inserting after subsection (e) the following: (f) Grant requirements The requirements under sections 5323(j) and 5333 of title 49, United States Code, shall apply to grants under this section. . 7. Electric or low-emitting ferry pilot program Section 71102 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 23 U.S.C. 147 Public Law 117–58 (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: (d) Grant requirements The requirements under sections 5323(j) and 5333 of title 49, United States Code, shall apply to grants under this section. . 8. Transit infrastructure grants The matter under the heading transit infrastructure grants Federal Transit Administration Department of Transportation Public Law 117–58 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— (A) by striking $10,250,000,000 $11,500,000,000 (B) by striking $2,050,000,000 $2,300,000,000 (2) in paragraph (2), by striking and (3) in paragraph (3) by striking the colon at the end and inserting ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (4) $1,250,000,000 shall be to carry out passenger ferry grants under section 5307(h) of title 49, United States Code: . 9. Qualified vessel (a) Eligible vessel Section 53501(2) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking and (2) in subparagraph (B)(v), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (C) a ferry, as such term is defined in section 2101; and (D) a passenger vessel or small passenger vessel, as such terms are defined in section 2101. . (b) Qualified vessel Section 53501(5) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking and (2) in subparagraph (B)(v), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (C) a ferry, as such term is defined in section 2101; and (D) a passenger vessel or small passenger vessel, as such terms are defined in section 2101. . 10. Establishing a capital construction fund Section 53503(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting (including transportation on a ferry, passenger vessel, or small passenger vessel, as such terms are defined in section 2101) short sea transportation 11. Technical corrections Section 133 of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (7)— (i) by striking section 206 section 206, (ii) by striking trails,, trails, (B) by redesignating paragraph (24) as paragraph (4) and moving the paragraph so as to appear after paragraph (3); and (2) in subsection (k)(1)(B)(i), by striking 14501 section 14501

Summary: Ferry Service Expansion Act This bill revises and increases funding for grant programs related to ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities, including by making certain passenger ferries eligible and qualified vessels for capital construction funds.