(a)
(1) to assist States in strategically directing resources toward improved system performance for the efficient movement of freight on the Network;
(2) to inform freight transportation planning;
(3) to assist in the prioritization of Federal investment; and
(4) to assess and support Federal investments to achieve the national multimodal freight policy goals described in section 70101(b) of this title and the national highway freight program goals described in section 167 of title 23.
(b)
(1)
(2)
(A) the National Highway Freight Network, as established under section 167 of title 23;
(B) the freight rail systems of Class I railroads, as designated by the Surface Transportation Board;
(C) the public ports of the United States that have total annual foreign and domestic trade of at least 2,000,000 short tons, as identified by the Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center of the Army Corps of Engineers, using the data from the latest year for which such data is available;
(D) the inland and intracoastal waterways of the United States, as described in section 206 of the Inland Waterways Revenue Act of 1978 (33 U.S.C. 1804);
(E) the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and coastal and ocean routes along which domestic freight is transported;
(F) the 50 airports located in the United States with the highest annual landed weight, as identified by the Federal Aviation Administration; and
(G) other strategic freight assets, including strategic intermodal facilities and freight rail lines of Class II and Class III railroads, designated by the Under Secretary as critical to interstate commerce.
(c)
(1)
(A) improving network and intermodal connectivity; and
(B) using measurable data as part of the assessment of the significance of freight movement, including the consideration of points of origin, destinations, and linking components of domestic and international supply chains.
(2)
(A) origins and destinations of freight movement within, to, and from the United States;
(B) volume, value, tonnage, and the strategic importance of freight;
(C) access to border crossings, airports, seaports, and pipelines;
(D) economic factors, including balance of trade;
(E) access to major areas for manufacturing, agriculture, or natural resources;
(F) access to energy exploration, development, installation, and production areas;
(G) intermodal links and intersections that promote connectivity;
(H) freight choke points and other impediments contributing to significant measurable congestion, delay in freight movement, or inefficient modal connections;
(I) impacts on all freight transportation modes and modes that share significant freight infrastructure;
(J) facilities and transportation corridors identified by a multi-State coalition, a State, a State freight advisory committee, or a metropolitan planning organization, using national or local data, as having critical freight importance to the region;
(K) major distribution centers, inland intermodal facilities, and first- and last-mile facilities; and
(L) the significance of goods movement, including consideration of global and domestic supply chains.
(3)
(A) use, to the extent practicable, measurable data to assess the significance of goods movement, including the consideration of points of origin, destinations, and linking components of the United States global and domestic supply chains;
(B) consider-
(i) the factors described in paragraph (2); and
(ii) any changes in the economy that affect freight transportation network demand; and
(C) provide the States with an opportunity to submit proposed designations in accordance with paragraph (4).
(4)
(A)
(i) consider nominations for additional designations from metropolitan planning organizations and State freight advisory committees, as applicable, within the State;
(ii) consider nominations for additional designations from owners and operators of port, rail, pipeline, and airport facilities; and
(iii) ensure that additional designations are consistent with the State transportation improvement program or freight plan.
(B)
(i) is a rural principal arterial;
(ii) provides access or service to energy exploration, development, installation, or production areas;
(iii) provides access or service to-
(I) a grain elevator;
(II) an agricultural facility;
(III) a mining facility;
(IV) a forestry facility; or
(V) an intermodal facility;
(iv) connects to an international port of entry;
(v) provides access to a significant air, rail, water, or other freight facility in the State; or
(vi) has been determined by the State to be vital to improving the efficient movement of freight of importance to the economy of the State.
(C)
(i)
(ii)
(D)
(i) a list of any additional designations proposed to be added under this paragraph; and
(ii) a certification that-
(I) the State has satisfied the requirements of subparagraph (A); and
(II) the designations referred to in clause (i) address the factors for designation described in this subsection.
(d)
(Added
The date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsecs. (b)(1) and (c)(1), is the date of enactment of
A prior section 70103 was transferred and renumbered as section 50903 of Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs.
Prior sections 70104 to 70121 were transferred and renumbered as sections 50904 to 50923 of Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs.
Section effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of