Road User Charge Advancement Act of 2021

To include certain eligibility requirements in the surface transportation system funding alternatives program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Road User Charge Advancement Act of 2021 2. State surface transportation system funding pilots Section 6020 of the FAST Act ( 23 U.S.C. 503 (1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: (b) Eligibility (1) Application To be eligible for a grant under this section, a State or group of States shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Eligible projects The Secretary may provide grants to States or a group of States under this section for the following projects: (A) State pilot projects (i) In general A pilot project to demonstrate a user-based alternative revenue mechanism in a State. (ii) Limitation If an applicant has previously been awarded a grant under this section, such applicant’s proposed pilot project must be comprised of core activities or iterations not substantially similar in manner or scope to activities previously carried out by the applicant with a grant for a project under this section. (B) State implementation projects A project— (i) to implement a user-based alternative revenue mechanism that collects revenue to be expended on projects for the surface transportation system of the State; or (ii) that demonstrates progress towards implementation of a user-based alternative revenue mechanism, with consideration for previous grants awarded to the applicant under this section. ; (2) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1) by striking 2 or more future (B) by adding at the end the following: (6) To test solutions to ensure the privacy and security of data collected for the purpose of implementing a user-based alternative revenue mechanism. ; (3) in subsection (d) by striking to test the design, acceptance, and implementation of a user-based alternative revenue mechanism to test the design and acceptance of, or implement, a user-based alternative revenue mechanism (4) in subsection (g) by striking 50 percent 80 percent (5) in subsection (i)— (A) in the heading by striking Biennial Annual (B) by striking 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act 1 year after the date of enactment of the Road User Charge Advancement Act of 2021 (C) by striking every 2 years thereafter every year thereafter (D) by inserting and containing a determination of the characteristics of the most successful mechanisms with the highest potential for future widespread deployment (6) by striking subsections (j) and (k) and inserting the following: (j) Funding From funds made available to carry out section 503(b) of title 23, United States Code, $35,000,000 shall be used to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025. (k) Use of funds Of amounts made available pursuant to subsection (j)— (1) for fiscal year 2022, $17,500,000 shall be used to carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(A) and $17,500,000 shall be used to carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(B); (2) for fiscal year 2023, $15,000,000 shall be used to carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(A) and $20,000,000 shall be used to carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(B); (3) for fiscal year 2024, $12,500,000 shall be used to carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(A) and $22,500,000 shall be used to carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(B); and (4) for fiscal year 2025, $10,000,000 shall be used to carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(A) and $25,000,000 shall be used to carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(B). .

Summary: Road User Charge Advancement Act of 2021 This bill revises the Surface Transportation Systems Funding Alternatives program. The program provides grants to states to demonstrate user-based alternative revenue mechanisms that utilize a user fee structure to maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. Specifically, the bill revises the program to set forth certain eligibility requirements, ensure that activities carried out using grant funds include test solutions to ensure the privacy and security of data collected for the purpose of implementing a user-based alternative revenue mechanism, increase the maximum amount of federal share that may payable for the costs of an activity from 50% to 80% of the total costs, and modify reporting requirements for the Department of Transportation to include annually publishing a report that contains a determination of the characteristics of the most successful mechanisms with the highest potential for future widespread deployment. The bill also provides funding for FY2022-FY2025 to carry out the program.