42 U.S.C. § 13236: Alternative fuel bus program

Summary

The Transportation Secretary, after talking with the other Secretary named in the law, can make cooperative agreements or joint ventures with city, county, or regional transit agencies in urban areas with more than 100,000 people (by the latest census). These deals let those agencies test using alternative fuels in buses and other mass-transit vehicles, including testing specific vehicle designs for safety. Private companies can join and give money or other help. Any federal money from these deals must be extra to other federal aid. Local governments must pay 20% of the test costs. Projects that show big environmental benefits can get priority. The Secretary can also pay part of the extra cost of school buses in those same urban areas. That can include buying or converting buses and building refueling facilities. The Secretary may pay a contractor if the local agency asks. Conversions must meet the warranty and safety rules in section 7587. Up to $30,000,000 is authorized for each of fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995.

Title 42, §13236

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Cooperative agreements and joint ventures

(1)The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary, may enter into cooperative agreements and joint ventures proposed by any municipal, county, or regional transit authority in an urban area with a population over 100,000 (according to latest available census information) to demonstrate the feasibility of commercial application, including safety of specific vehicle design, of using alternative fuels for urban buses and other motor vehicles used for mass transit.

(2)The cooperative agreements and joint ventures under paragraph (1) may include interested or affected private firms willing to provide assistance in cash, or in kind, for any such demonstration.

(3)Federal assistance provided under cooperative agreements and joint ventures entered into under paragraph (1) to demonstrate the feasibility of commercial application of using alternative fuels for urban buses shall be in addition to Federal assistance provided under any other law for such purpose.

(b)Limitations

(1)The Secretary of Transportation may not enter into cooperative agreement or joint venture under subsection (a) with any municipal, county, or regional transit authority, unless such government body agrees to provide 20 percent of the costs of such demonstration.

(2)The Secretary of Transportation may grant such priority under this section to any entity that demonstrates that the use of alternative fuels for transportation would have a significant beneficial effect on the environment.

(c)School buses

The Secretary of Transportation may also provide, in accordance with such rules as he may prescribe, financial assistance to any agency, municipality, or political subdivision in an urban area referred to in subsection (a), of any State or the District of Columbia for the purpose of meeting the incremental costs of school buses that are dedicated vehicles and used regularly for such transportation during the school term. Such costs may include the purchase and installation of alternative fuel refueling facilities to be used for school bus refueling, and the conversion of school buses to dedicated vehicles. The Secretary of Transportation may provide such assistance directly to a person who is a contractor of such agency, municipality, or political subdivision, upon the request of the agency, municipality, or political subdivision, and who, under such contract, provides for such transportation. Any conversion under this subsection shall comply with the warranty and safety requirements for alternative fuel conversions contained in section 7587 of this title.

(d)Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated not more than $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995 for purposes of this section.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 7587 of this title, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original “section 247 of the Clean Air Act

Amendments

of 1990”, Pub. L. 101–549, and was translated as reading “section 247 of the Clean Air Act”, meaning section 247 of act July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title II, as added Nov. 15, 1990, Pub. L. 101–549, title II, § 229(a), 104 Stat. 2523, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because the Clean Air Act

Amendments

of 1990 does not contain a section 247, and section 247 of the Clean Air Act relates to alternate fuel conversions for vehicles.

§13236 Alternative Fuel Bus Program

Summary

Title 42, §13236

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Amendments

Amendments

Citations & Metadata