Toll Credit Marketplace Act of 2021

To establish a pilot program for the transfer and sale of toll credits, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Toll Credit Marketplace Act of 2021 2. Transfer and sale of toll credits (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Originating State The term originating State (A) is eligible to use a credit under section 120(i) of title 23, United States Code; and (B) has been selected by the Secretary under subsection (d)(2). (2) Pilot program The term pilot program (3) Recipient State The term recipient State (4) Secretary The term Secretary (5) State The term State (b) Establishment of pilot program Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and implement a toll credit exchange pilot program in accordance with this section. (c) Purposes The purposes of the pilot program are— (1) to identify the extent of the demand to purchase toll credits; (2) to identify the cash price of toll credits through bilateral transactions between States; (3) to analyze the impact of the purchase or sale of toll credits on transportation expenditures; (4) to test the feasibility of expanding the pilot program to allow all States to participate on a permanent basis; and (5) to identify any other repercussions of the toll credit exchange. (d) Selection of originating States (1) Application In order to participate in the pilot program as an originating State, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including, at a minimum, such information as is required for the Secretary to verify— (A) the amount of unused toll credits for which the State has submitted certification to the Secretary that are available to be sold or transferred under the pilot program, including— (i) toll revenue generated and the sources of that revenue; (ii) toll revenue used by public, quasi-public, and private agencies to build, improve, or maintain highways, bridges, or tunnels that serve the public purpose of interstate commerce; and (iii) an accounting of any Federal funds used by the public, quasi-public, or private agency to build, improve, or maintain the toll facility, to validate that the credit has been reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage of the total cost of building, improving, or maintaining the facility that was derived from Federal funds; (B) the documentation of maintenance of effort for toll credits earned by the originating State; and (C) the accuracy of the accounting system of the State to earn and track toll credits. (2) Selection Of the States that submit an application under paragraph (1), the Secretary may select not more than 10 States to be designated as an originating State. (3) Limitation on sales At any time, the Secretary may limit the amount of unused toll credits that may be offered for sale under the pilot program. (e) Transfer or sale of credits (1) In general In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall provide that an originating State may transfer or sell to a recipient State a credit not previously used by the originating State under section 120(i) of title 23, United States Code. (2) Website support The Secretary shall make available a publicly accessible website on which originating States shall post the amount of toll credits, verified under subsection (d)(1)(A), that are available for sale or transfer to a recipient State. (3) Bilateral transactions An originating State and a recipient State may enter into a bilateral transaction to sell or transfer verified toll credits. (4) Notification Not later than 30 days after the date on which a credit is transferred or sold, the originating State and the recipient State shall jointly submit to the Secretary a written notification of the transfer or sale, including details on— (A) the amount of toll credits that have been sold or transferred; (B) the price paid or other value transferred in exchange for the toll credits; (C) the intended use by the recipient State of the toll credits, if known; (D) the intended use by the originating State of the cash or other value transferred; (E) an update on the toll credit balance of the originating State and the recipient State; and (F) any other information about the transaction that the Secretary may require. (5) Use of credits by transferee or purchaser A recipient State may use a credit received under paragraph (1) toward the non-Federal share requirement for any funds made available to carry out title 23 or chapter 53 (6) Use of proceeds from sale of credits An originating State shall use the proceeds from the sale of a credit under paragraph (1) for a project eligible for assistance under title 23 or chapter 53 (f) Metropolitan planning organization and local government toll credit allocation (1) Purchase of toll credits On request of a metropolitan planning organization or local government in the State, and with a timely payment of the amount of the toll credits, a State may purchase toll credits under this section on behalf of the metropolitan planning organization or local government. (2) Allocation of toll credits On approval of the applicable metropolitan planning organization or local government, a State may allocate toll credits purchased by the State for use by the metropolitan planning organization or local government. (g) Limitation on use of Federal funds for the purchase of toll credits A State, metropolitan planning organization, or local government may not use Federal funds to purchase toll credits on a toll credit marketplace. (h) Reporting requirements (1) Initial report Not later than 1 year after the date on which the pilot program is established, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the pilot program. (2) Final report Not later than 3 years after the date on which the pilot program is established, the Secretary shall— (A) submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that— (i) determines whether a toll credit marketplace is viable and cost effective; (ii) describes the buying and selling activities under the pilot program; (iii) describes the average sale price of toll credits; (iv) determines whether the pilot program could be expanded to more States or all States or to non-State operators of toll facilities; (v) provides updated information on the toll credit balance accumulated by each State; and (vi) describes the list of projects that were assisted by the pilot program; and (B) make the report under subparagraph (A) publicly available on the website of the Department. (i) Termination (1) In general The Secretary may terminate the pilot program or the participation of any State in the pilot program if the Secretary determines that— (A) the pilot program is not serving a public benefit; or (B) it is not cost effective to carry out the pilot program. (2) Procedures The termination of the pilot program or the participation of a State in the pilot program shall be carried out consistent with Federal requirements for project closeout, adjustment, and continuing responsibilities.

Summary: Toll Credit Marketplace Act of 2021 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish and implement a toll credit exchange pilot program to identify the extent of the demand to purchase toll credits, identify the cash price of toll credits through bilateral transactions between states, analyze the impact of the purchase or sale of toll credits on transportation expenditures, test the feasibility of expanding the pilot program to allow all states to participate on a permanent basis, and identify any other repercussions of the toll credit exchange. In carrying out the pilot program, DOT must provide that an originating state may transfer or sell to a recipient state a credit not previously used by the originating state. DOT must also make available a public website on which originating states must post the amount of toll credits that are available for sale or transfer to a recipient state. States may purchase toll credits on behalf of metropolitan planning organizations or local governments in such states. DOT may terminate the pilot program or the participation of any state in the pilot program if the program is not serving a public benefit or it is not cost effective.