A bill to establish a bus state of good repair program.

To establish a bus state of good repair program. 1. Bus and bus facilities state of good repair discretionary grants (a) In general Chapter 53 5341. Bus and bus facilities state of good repair discretionary grants (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term State (2) the term territory (b) General authority The Secretary shall make grants under this section to assist eligible recipients described in subsection (e)(1) in financing capital projects to maintain bus and bus facilities systems in a state of good repair, including projects— (1) to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment; and (2) to construct bus-related facilities. (c) Grant criteria In making grants under this section, the Secretary— (1) with respect to a bus and bus facilities system, shall consider— (A) project readiness; (B) the level of commitment of non-Federal funds and the availability of a local financial commitment that exceeds the required non-Federal share of the cost of the project; and (C) project justification; (2) with respect to the replacement, rehabilitation, and purchase of buses and related equipment, and the construction of bus-related facilities, shall consider— (A) condition; (B) the need to comply with any applicable legal requirements relating to reinvestment; and (C) the status of components; and (3) in considering the factors under paragraphs (1) and (2), shall give priority consideration to vehicle age and mileage. (d) Grant requirements The requirements of section 5307 apply to recipients of grants made under this section. (e) Eligible recipients and subrecipients (1) Recipients Eligible recipients under this section are designated recipients that operate bus service or that allocate funding to bus operators. (2) Subrecipients A designated recipient that receives a grant under this section may allocate amounts of the grant to subrecipients that are public agencies or private nonprofit organizations engaged in public transportation. (f) Government’s share of costs (1) Capital projects A grant for a capital project under this section shall be for 80 percent of the net capital costs of the project. A recipient of a grant under this section may provide additional local matching amounts. (2) Remaining costs The remainder of the net project cost shall be provided— (A) in cash from non-Government sources other than revenues from providing public transportation services; (B) from revenues derived from the sale of advertising and concessions; (C) from an undistributed cash surplus, a replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve, or new capital; or (D) from amounts received under a service agreement with a State or local social service agency or private social service organization. (g) Period of availability to recipients Amounts made available to carry out this section may be obligated by a recipient for 3 fiscal years after the fiscal year in which the amount is appropriated. Not later than 30 days after the end of the 3-year period described in the preceding sentence, any amount that is not obligated on the last day of that period shall be added to the amount that may be appropriated to carry out this section in the next fiscal year. (h) Funding limit Not more than 4 percent of the amounts made available under section 5338 to carry out this section for a fiscal year shall be made available to a single recipient. (i) Bus and bus facilities formula grants (1) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a recipient from receiving a grant under section 5339 and a grant under this section. (2) Funding for formula grants Of the amounts made available under section 5338 to carry out this section for a fiscal year, $62,500,000 shall be available for the bus and bus facilities program under section 5339, of which $1,250,000 shall be apportioned to each State. . (b) Funding Section 5338 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) as subsections (k) and (l), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following: (j) Bus and bus facilities state of good repair discretionary grants There are authorized to be appropriated out of the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to carry out section 5341— (1) $492,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; (2) $687,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; (3) $777,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; (4) $878,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; (5) $992,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and (6) $1,389,000,000 fiscal year 2021. . (c) Initial grants Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall begin making grants under section 5341 of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection (b). (d) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 53 5341. Bus and bus facilities state of good repair discretionary grants. .

Summary: This bill requires the Department of Transportation to make grants to assist eligible recipients in financing capital projects to maintain bus and bus facilities systems in a state of good repair, including projects to: (1) replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment; and (2) construct bus-related facilities. Eligible recipients are designated recipients that operate bus service or that allocate funding to bus operators. Grant recipients may: (1) allocate amounts to subrecipients that are public agencies or private nonprofit organizations engaged in public transportation, and (2) obligate funds for three fiscal years after the fiscal year in which the amount is appropriated. The bill limits to 4% the percentage of funding made available for this Act in a fiscal year that may be provided to a single recipient.