Highway Cost Allocation Study Act of 2021
Bill: S.1659 | Sponsor: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. (R-WY)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Highway Cost Allocation Study Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to carry out a highway cost allocation study to determine the direct costs of highway use by various types of users.
In carrying out the study, DOT must (1) ensure that the study examines only direct federal costs of highway use, (2) capture the various driving conditions in different geographic areas of the United States, and (3) distinguish between costs directly occasioned by a single highway user class and costs occasioned by all highway user classes.
Once the study is completed, DOT must develop recommendations for a set of revenue options to fully cover the costs occasioned by highway users, including recommendations for changes to existing revenue streams and new revenue streams based on user fees.

To require the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a highway cost 
               allocation study, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Highway Cost Allocation Study Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the Highway Trust Fund was designed to be self-
        sustaining by relying on user fees from motorists on the 
        roadways;
            (2) however, since 2008, the Highway Trust Fund has 
        experienced a revenue shortfall;
            (3) Congress has relied on transfers from the general fund 
        of the Treasury to supplement the Highway Trust Fund since that 
        time, undermining the user fee model;
            (4) the Department of Transportation last completed a 
        highway cost allocation study in 1997; and
            (5) the information gained from an updated highway cost 
        allocation study could allow Congress to equitably ensure the 
        long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.

SEC. 3. HIGHWAY COST ALLOCATION STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation (referred to in this 
section as the ``Secretary''), in coordination with State departments 
of transportation, shall carry out a highway cost allocation study to 
determine the direct costs of highway use by various types of users.
    (b) Inclusions.--The study under subsection (a) shall include an 
examination of--
            (1) the Federal costs occasioned in the design, 
        construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of Federal-aid 
        highways by--
                    (A) the use of vehicles of different dimensions, 
                weights, number of axles, and other specifications; and
                    (B) the frequency of those vehicles in the traffic 
                stream; and
            (2) the proportionate share of the costs described in 
        paragraph (1) that are attributable to each class of highway 
        users.
    (c) Requirements.--In carrying out the study under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall--
            (1) ensure that the study examines only direct Federal 
        costs of highway use;
            (2) capture the various driving conditions in different 
        geographic areas of the United States; and
            (3) to the maximum extent practicable, distinguish between 
        costs directly occasioned by a highway user class and costs 
        occasioned by all highway user classes.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) Interim reports.--Not less frequently than annually 
        during the period during which the Secretary is carrying out 
        the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress an interim report on the progress of the study.
            (2) Final report.--On completion of the study under 
        subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a final 
        report on the results of the study, including the 
        recommendations under subsection (e).
    (e) Recommendations.--On completion of the study under subsection 
(a), the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, 
shall develop recommendations for a set of revenue options to fully 
cover the costs occasioned by highway users, including recommendations 
for--
            (1) changes to existing revenue streams; and
            (2) new revenue streams based on user fees.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary.
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