text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Alternative Fuel Vehicles Intermodal 
  Transportation Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act, the following definitions apply:
              (1) Alternative fuel vehicle.--
                      (A) In general.--The term ``alternative fuel 
                  vehicle'' means a motor vehicle that is powered by--
                              (i) in whole or in part, electricity, 
                          including that supplied by a fuel cell that is 
                          not powered by gasoline or diesel;
                              (ii) liquefied natural gas;
                              (iii) compressed natural gas;
                              (iv) liquefied petroleum gas;
                              (v) hydrogen; or
                              (vi) methanol at no less than 85 percent by 
                          volume.
                      (B) Exclusions.--The term ``alternative fuel 
                  vehicle'' shall not include any vehicle capable of 
                  operating solely on gasoline or diesel.
              (2) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the 
          grant program established under section 4(a).
              (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of Transportation.
  
  SEC. 3. PURPOSE.
  
      The purpose of this Act is--
              (1) to establish a pilot program to demonstrate the use of 
          alternative fuel vehicles in linked systems of transportation, 
          enhance the usefulness of public transportation systems, 
          protect the environment, and speed the deployment of 
          alternative fuel vehicle technology; and
              (2) to encourage partnerships between the public and 
          private sectors.
  
  SEC. 4. ALTERNATIVE FUELS INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION PILOT PROGRAM.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a competitive grant 
  program to assist States, localities, and governmental authorities to 
  purchase, operate, and facilitate the use of alternative fuel vehicles 
  in linked transportation systems.
      (b) Eligible Projects.--To receive Federal assistance under the 
  pilot program, a proposal shall--
              (1) have been made in accordance with the application 
          requirements of subsection (e);
              (2) include only projects that provide new options in a 
          locality for moving passengers or goods in alternative fuel 
          vehicles; and
              (3) include at least one project to enable passengers or 
          goods to be transferred directly from one alternative fuel 
          vehicle to another in a linked transportation system.
      (c) Funding Limitations.--
              (1) Maximum number of grants.--The Secretary shall not 
          provide grants to more than 15 applicants under the pilot 
          program.
              (2) Maximum amount.--The Secretary shall not provide more 
          than $20,000,000 in Federal assistance under the pilot program 
          to any applicant.
              (3) Cost sharing.--
                      (A) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost 
                  of any project under the pilot program shall not exceed 
                  50 percent of the eligible costs of the project.
                      (B) Non-federal share.--Funds apportioned to a 
                  State under section 104(b)(2) of title 23, United 
                  States Code, for the congestion mitigation and air 
                  quality improvement program may be used by the State to 
                  pay for the non-Federal share of the cost of any 
                  project under the pilot program.
              (4) Maximum period of grants.--No applicant may receive 
          Federal assistance under the pilot program for more than 5 
          years.
      (d) Allowable Project Costs.--The cost of a project eligible for 
  Federal assistance under the pilot program may include only the 
  following:
              (1) The purchase of alternative fuel vehicles, including--
                      (A) passenger vehicles;
                      (B) buses used for public transportation or 
                  transportation to and from schools;
                      (C) delivery vehicles for goods or services;
                      (D) ground support vehicles at public airports, 
                  including vehicles to carry baggage or push airplanes 
                  away from terminal gates; and
                      (E) two-wheel bikes, scooters, or other vehicles 
                  for use by law enforcement personnel or other State or 
                  local government employees.
              (2) Infrastructure necessary to directly support a project, 
          including fueling and other support equipment.
              (3) Operation and maintenance of vehicles, infrastructure, 
          and equipment purchased as part of a project with Federal 
          assistance under the pilot program.
      (e) Proposals.--The Secretary shall issue requirements for applying 
  for grants under the pilot program. At a minimum, the Secretary shall 
  require that applications be submitted by the head of a State or local 
  government or a metropolitan transportation authority, or any 
  combination thereof, and include--
              (1) an estimate of the ridership or degree of use of the 
          projects proposed in the application;
              (2) an estimate of the air pollution emissions reduced and 
          fossil fuel displaced as a result of the projects and a plan to 
          collect and disseminate environmental data over the life of the 
          projects;
              (3) a description of other existing modes of transportation 
          to which the projects will connect or the degree to which 
          proposed modes of transportation will be linked;
              (4) a description of how the projects will be sustainable 
          without Federal assistance after the completion of the term of 
          the demonstration;
              (5) a complete description of the costs of the project, 
          including acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance 
          costs over the expected life of the project; and
              (6) a description of which costs will be supported by 
          Federal assistance and which by assistance from non-Federal 
          partners, including State and local governments and private 
          entities.
      (f) Criteria.--In evaluating applications under the pilot program, 
  the Secretary shall consider each applicant's previous experience 
  involving alternative fuel vehicles and shall approve the proposals 
  that--
              (1) are most likely to maximize--
                      (A) protection of the environment, including 
                  reductions in air pollution emissions and the ability 
                  of the proposal to help achieve national, State, or 
                  local air quality goals;
                      (B) enhancement of the local or national public 
                  transportation system, especially the degree to which 
                  the proposal connects various modes of transportation;
                      (C) nationwide deployment of innovative 
                  transportation technology or important new 
                  configurations of intermodal transportation systems 
                  that increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles;
                      (D) the amount of goods transported or number of 
                  riders served; and
                      (E) stimulation of the national or regional 
                  economy;
              (2) demonstrate the greatest commitment on the part of the 
          applicant to fund the proposal and the greatest likelihood that 
          each project in the proposal will be maintained and expanded 
          after Federal assistance is exhausted; and
              (3) assure a broad geographic distribution of project 
          sites.
      (g) Schedule.--
              (1) Publication.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
          enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the 
          Federal Register, and elsewhere as appropriate, a request for 
          proposals to undertake projects under the pilot program. 
          Applications for such proposals shall be due within 180 days of 
          the publication of the notice.
              (2) Selection.--Not later than 180 days after the date by 
          which applications for grants are due, the Secretary shall 
          select all proposals to be carried out under the pilot program.
  
  SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
  
      Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
  the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Transportation and 
  Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
  Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
  containing--
              (1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot program 
          including an assessment of the benefits to the environment 
          derived from the projects included in the pilot program as well 
          as an estimate of the potential benefits to the environment to 
          be derived from widespread application of such intermodal 
          transportation activities;
              (2) an identification of other applicants that submitted 
          project applications for the pilot program; and
              (3) a description of the mechanisms used by the Secretary 
          to ensure that the information and know-how gained by 
          participants in the pilot program is transferred among the 
          pilot program participants and to other interested parties, 
          including other applicants that submitted project applications.
  
  SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATIONS.
  
      (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
  $200,000,000 to carry out this Act.
      (b) Availability of Amounts.--Amounts appropriated to carry out 
  this Act shall remain available until expended.
target: Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) the effectiveness of the pilot program, including an assessment of the benefits to the environment derived from the projects included in the program as well as an estimate of the potential benefits to the environment to be derived from widespread application of such intermodal transportation activities; and (2) the mechanisms used by the Secretary to ensure that the information and knowhow gained by program participants is transferred among them and to other interested parties, including other project applicants.
  Authorizes appropriations.
feat_title: Alternative Fuel Vehicles Intermodal Transportation Act