I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1725
To establish a regional investments for national growth program to identify
and fund the metropolitan regional transportation projects that are essen-
tial to the national economy, but exceed State and regional financial
capacity.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 22, 1997
Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To establish a regional investments for national growth pro-
gram to identify and fund the metropolitan regional
transportation projects that are essential to the national
economy, but exceed State and regional financial capac-
ity.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Regional Investments
for National Growth Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) the economic infrastructure of metropolitan
regions assists businesses in those regions in provid-
ing quality goods and services at a low cost;
(2) maintaining and improving the economic in-
frastructure of metropolitan regions is essential for
the success of the Nation in the world economy; and
(3) building efficient transportation links within
and between metropolitan regions is critical to that
economic infrastructure.
SEC. 3. REGIONAL INVESTMENTS FOR NATIONAL GROWTH
PROGRAM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish a regional investments for national
growth program (hereinafter in this section referred to as
the ‘‘RING program’’) for the purpose of identifying and
funding large multi-State and regional transportation
projects that are essential to the global competitiveness
of the United States.
(b) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Regional transportation in-
frastructure investments that include participation
by two or more States or public authorities rep-
resenting two or more States, or improve access to
international commerce centers such as ports, com-
mercial aviation facilities, and major rail terminals,
and meets the requirements of paragraph (2), shall
be eligible for funding under the RING program.
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In order to be eligible for
funding under the RING program, a project shall—
(A) support the economic growth of the
Nation through improved movement of people
and goods;
(B) improve intermodal connections by in-
creasing access to ports, airports, rail terminals,
distribution centers, or other passenger or
freight rail hubs;
(C) address capacity constraints that ham-
per the movement of people and goods between
States or metropolitan regions;
(D) contribute to the global competitive-
ness of the United States; and
(E) not be currently funded for construc-
tion.
(c) SELECTION PROCESS.—
(1) SOLICITATION
OF
PROPOSALS.—Within 6
months of the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Transportation shall solicit proposals
for projects to be carried out under the RING pro-
gram. Any State, multi-State region, or multi-State
agency may submit a proposal.
(2) RECOMMENDED PROJECTS.—Within 2 years
of such date of enactment, the Secretary shall trans-
mit a report to Congress recommending eligible
projects.
(3) FINAL PROPOSALS.—Within 1 year of the
date of issuance of the report under paragraph (2),
sponsors of those projects recommended as eligible
shall submit a final proposal to the Secretary.
(4) RANKING OF PROJECTS.—Within 6 months
of receiving final proposals, the Secretary shall
transmit a report to Congress ranking the projects
in priority order.
(d) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In considering projects
for inclusion in the report required by subsection (c)(2),
the Secretary shall consider the following criteria:
(1) Time savings for both goods and peo-
ple.
(2) Volume of goods and number of users
affected.
(3) Reduction in costs of goods movement.
(4) Relief the project provides to capacity
limitations of existing infrastructure.
(5) Benefits for multi-State facilities and
operations.
(6) Promotion of efficient multi-modal
usage.
(7) Level of State, local, and regional fi-
nancial support for the project.
(8) Private sector funding opportunities.
(e) FUNDING ELIGIBILITY.—
(1) 
PROJECT
PROPOSAL
FUNDING.—Those
projects included by the Secretary in the report re-
quired by subsection (c)(2) shall be eligible to receive
project proposal funding under the RING program.
(2) DESIGN
AND
ENGINEERING
FUNDING.—
Those projects included by the Secretary in the re-
port required by subsection (c)(4) shall be eligible to
receive design and engineering funding under the
RING program.
(f) REIMBURSEMENT FOR PLANNING AND DESIGN.—
Projects included by the Secretary in the report required
by subsection (c)(2) shall also be eligible for reimburse-
ment of funds for planning and design which have been
expended prior to the issuance of such report.
(g) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the eli-
gible costs of a project under the RING program shall not
exceed 75 percent.
(h) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.—All projects
receiving assistance under this section shall comply with