112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 897 
AN ACT 
To provide authority and sanction for the granting and 
issuance of programs for residential and commuter toll, 
user fee and fare discounts by States, municipalities, 
other localities, and all related agencies and departments, 
and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Residential and Com-
muter Toll Fairness Act of 2012’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Residents of various localities and political 
subdivisions throughout the United States are sub-
ject to tolls, user fees, and fares to access certain 
roads, highways, bridges, railroads, busses, ferries, 
and other transportation systems. 
(2) Revenue generated from transportation 
tolls, user fees, and fares is used to support various 
infrastructure maintenance and capital improvement 
projects that directly benefit commuters and indi-
rectly benefit the regional and national economy. 
(3) Residents of certain municipalities, counties, 
and other localities endure significant or dispropor-
tionate toll, user fee, or fare burdens compared to 
others who have a greater number of transportation 
options because such residents— 
(A) live in geographic areas that are not 
conveniently located to the access points for 
roads, highways, bridges, rail, busses, ferries, 
and other transportation systems; 
(B) live on islands, peninsulas, or in other 
places that are only accessible through a means
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF LOCAL RESIDENTIAL OR COM-
MUTER TOLL, USER FEE OR FARE DISCOUNT 
PROGRAMS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL OR COM-
MUTER TOLL, USER FEE, OR FARE DISCOUNT PRO-
GRAMS.—States, counties, municipalities, and multi-juris-
dictional transportation authorities that operate or man-
age roads, highways, bridges, railroads, busses, ferries, or 
other transportation systems are authorized to establish 
programs that offer discounted transportation tolls, user 
fees, or other fares for residents of specific geographic 
areas in order to reduce or alleviate toll burdens imposed 
upon such residents. 
(b) RULEMAKING WITH RESPECT TO THE STATE, 
LOCAL, OR AGENCY PROVISION OF TOLL, USER FEE OR 
FARE DISCOUNT PROGRAMS TO LOCAL RESIDENTS OR 
COMMUTERS.—States, counties, municipalities, and multi- 
jurisdictional transportation authorities that operate or 
manage roads, highways, bridges, railroads, busses, fer-
ries, or other transportation systems are authorized to 
enact such rules or regulations that may be necessary to 
establish the programs authorized under subsection (a). 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 
may be construed to limit or otherwise interfere with the 
authority, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, of 
States, counties, municipalities, and multi-jurisdictional
transportation authorities that operate or manage roads, 
highways, bridges, railroads, busses, ferries, or other 
transportation systems. 
Passed the House of Representatives August 1, 
2012. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 897 
AN ACT 
To provide authority and sanction for the granting 
and issuance of programs for residential and 
commuter toll, user fee and fare discounts by 
States, municipalities, other localities, and all re-
lated agencies and departments, and for other 
purposes.