text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Surface Transportation 
  Policy and Planning Act of 2009''.
  
  SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION POLICY AND 
                PLAN.
  
      (a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 49, United States Code, is 
  amended--
              (1) by redesignating sections 304 through 309 as sections 
          307 through 312;
              (2) by redesignating sections 303 and 303a as sections 305 
          and 306, respectively; and
              (3) by inserting after section 302, the following:
  ``Sec. 303. National surface transportation policy
      ``(a) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to develop a 
  comprehensive national surface transportation system that advances the 
  national interest and defense, interstate and foreign commerce, the 
  efficient and safe interstate mobility of people and goods, and the 
  protection of the environment. The system shall be built, maintained, 
  managed, and operated as a partnership between the Federal, State, and 
  local governments and the private sector and shall be coordinated with 
  the overall transportation system of the United States, including the 
  Nation's air, rail, pipeline, and water transportation systems. The 
  Secretary of Transportation shall be responsible for carrying out this 
  policy and for defining the Federal Government's role in the system.
      ``(b) Objectives.--The objectives of the policy shall be to 
  facilitate and advance--
              ``(1) the efficient connectivity of persons and goods 
          within and between nations, regions, States, and metropolitan 
          areas;
              ``(2) the safety and health of the public;
              ``(3) the security of the Nation and the public;
              ``(4) environmental protection and enhancement, including 
          the reduction of carbon-related emissions;
              ``(5) energy conservation and security, including reducing 
          transportation-related energy use;
              ``(6) international and interstate freight movement, trade 
          enhancement, job creation, and economic development;
              ``(7) responsible land use and sustainable development;
              ``(8) the preservation and adequate performance of system-
          critical transportation assets, as defined by the Secretary;
              ``(9) reasonable access to the national surface 
          transportation system for all system users, including rural 
          communities;
              ``(10) sustainable, balanced, and adequate financing of the 
          national surface transportation system; and
              ``(11) innovation in transportation services, 
          infrastructure, and technology.
      ``(c) Goals.--
              ``(1) In general.--The goals of the policy shall be--
                      ``(A) to reduce national per capita motor vehicle 
                  miles traveled on an annual basis;
                      ``(B) to reduce national motor vehicle-related 
                  fatalities by 50 percent by 2030;
                      ``(C) to reduce national surface transportation-
                  generated carbon dioxide levels by 40 percent by 2030;
                      ``(D) to reduce national surface transportation 
                  delays per capita on an annual basis;
                      ``(E) to increase the percentage of system-critical 
                  surface transportation assets, as defined by the 
                  Secretary, that are in a state of good repair by 20 
                  percent by 2030;
                      ``(F) to increase the total usage of public 
                  transportation, intercity passenger rail services, and 
                  non-motorized transportation on an annual basis;
                      ``(G) to increase the proportion of national 
                  freight transportation provided by non-highway or 
                  multimodal services by 10 percent by 2020;
                      ``(H) to reduce passenger and freight 
                  transportation delays and congestion at international 
                  points of entry on an annual basis;
                      ``(I) to ensure adequate transportation of domestic 
                  energy supplies; and
                      ``(J) to maintain or the reduce the percentage of 
                  gross domestic product consumed by transportation 
                  costs.
              ``(2) Baselines.--Within 1 year after the date of enactment 
          of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act 
          of 2009, the Secretary shall develop baselines for the goals 
          and shall determine appropriate methods of data collection to 
          measure the attainment of the goals.
      ``(d) Requirements.--The Secretary, consistent with the plan 
  developed under section 304 and notwithstanding any other provision of 
  law in effect as of the date of enactment of the National Surface 
  Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009, shall--
              ``(1) develop appropriate performance criteria and data 
          collections systems for each Federal surface transportation 
          program in order to evaluate:
                      ``(A) whether such programs are consistent with the 
                  policy, objectives, and goals established by this 
                  section; and
                      ``(B) how effective such programs are in 
                  contributing to the achievement of the policy, 
                  objectives, and goals established by this section;
              ``(2) using the criteria developed under paragraph (1), 
          annually evaluate each such program and provide the results to 
          the public;
              ``(3) based on the evaluation performed under paragraph 
          (2), make any necessary changes or improvements to such 
          programs to ensure such consistency and effectiveness;
              ``(4) align the availability and award of Federal surface 
          transportation funding to meet the policy, objectives, goals, 
          and performance criteria established by this section, 
          consistent with the evaluation performed under paragraph (2);
              ``(5) carry out this section in a manner that is consistent 
          with sections 302, 5503, 10101, and 13101 of this title and 
          section 101 of title 23 to the extent that such sections do not 
          conflict with the policy, objectives, and goals established by 
          this section;
              ``(6) review, update, and reissue all relevant surface 
          transportation planning requirements to ensure that such 
          requirements require that regional, State, and local surface 
          transportation planning efforts funded with Federal funds are 
          consistent with the policy, objectives, and goals established 
          by this section; and
              ``(7) require recipients of Federal surface transportation 
          funds to annually report on the use of such funds, including a 
          description of--
                      ``(A) which projects and priorities were funded 
                  with such funds;
                      ``(B) the rationale and method employed for 
                  apportioning such funds to the projects and priorities; 
                  and
                      ``(C) how the obligation of such funds is 
                  consistent with or advances the policy, objectives, and 
                  goals established by this section.
      ``(e) Authority.--
              ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
          law in effect as of the date of enactment of the National 
          Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009, the 
          Secretary may, through a process of public notice and comment 
          and with reasonable prior notice to the Senate Committee on 
          Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of 
          Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
          preceding any significant change, consistent with the public 
          interest, amend the goals under subsection (c) or develop 
          additional goals to effectively meet the policy and objectives 
          set forth in this section.
              ``(2) The Secretary may also make recommendations to those 
          Committees for reorganizing the Department of Transportation, 
          as necessary and consistent with the requirements of section 
          304(b)(6), in order to achieve the policy, objectives, and 
          goals established by this section.
  ``Sec. 304. National surface transportation performance plan
      ``(a) Development.--Within 2 years after the date of enactment of 
  the National Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009, 
  the Secretary of Transportation shall develop and implement a National 
  Surface Transportation Performance Plan to achieve the policy, 
  objectives, and goals set forth in section 303.
      ``(b) Contents.--The plan shall include--
              ``(1) an assessment of the current performance of the 
          national surface transportation system and an analysis of the 
          system's ability to achieve the policy, objectives, and goals 
          set forth in section 303;
              ``(2) an analysis of emerging and long-term projected 
          trends that will impact the performance, needs, and uses of the 
          national surface transportation system;
              ``(3) a description of the major impediments to effectively 
          meeting the policy, objectives, and goals set forth in section 
          303 and recommended actions to address such impediments;
              ``(4) a comprehensive strategy and investment plan to meet 
          the policy, objectives, and goals set forth in section 303;
              ``(5) initiatives to improve transportation modeling, 
          research, data collection, and analysis; and
              ``(6) a plan for any reorganization of the Department of 
          Transportation or its agencies necessary to meet the policy, 
          objectives, and goals set forth in section 303.
      ``(c) Consultation.--In developing the plan required by subsection 
  (a), the Secretary shall--
              ``(1) consult with local, State, and tribal governments, 
          public and private transportation providers and carriers, non-
          profit organizations representing transportation employees, 
          appropriate foreign governments, and other interested parties; 
          and
              ``(2) provide public notice and hearings and solicit public 
          comments on the plan.
      ``(d) Submittal.--The Secretary shall submit the completed plan to 
  the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
  House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and 
  Infrastructure.
      ``(e) Progress Reports.--The Secretary shall submit biennial 
  progress reports on the implementation of the plan beginning 2 years 
  after the date of submittal of the plan under subsection (d) to the 
  Committees. The progress report shall--
              ``(1) describe progress made toward fully implementing the 
          plan and achieving the policies, objectives, and goals 
          established under section 303;
              ``(2) describe challenges and obstacles to full 
          implementation;
              ``(3) describe updates to the plan necessary to reflect 
          changed circumstances or new developments; and
              ``(4) make policy and legislative recommendations the 
          Secretary believes are necessary and appropriate to fully 
          implement the plan.
      ``(f) Data.--The Secretary shall have the authority to conduct 
  studies, gather information, and require the production of data 
  necessary to develop or update this plan, consistent with Federal 
  privacy standards.
      ``(g) Funding.--The Secretary may use such sums as may be necessary 
  from any funds provided to the Department of Transportation for surface 
  transportation programs for the purpose of completing and updating the 
  plan and developing and issuing the progress reports pursuant to this 
  section.''.
      (b) Conforming Amendments.--
              (1) Section 302(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
          amended by striking ``10101 and 13101'' and inserting ``303, 
          10101, and 13101''.
              (2) Section 308, as redesignated, of title 49, United 
          States Code, is amended by striking ``sections 301-304'' and 
          inserting ``sections 301 through 307''.
              (3) The table of contents for chapter 3 of title 49, United 
          States Code, is amended--
                      (A) by redesignating the items relating to sections 
                  303 through 309 as relating to sections 305 through 
                  312; and
                      (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 
                  302 the following:
  
  ``303. National surface transportation policy.
  ``304. National surface transportation performance plan.''.
target: Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009 - Declares it is U.S. policy to develop a national surface transportation system that advances the national interest and defense, interstate and foreign commerce, the efficient and safe interstate mobility of people and goods, and the protection of the environment.
  
  Sets forth certain U.S. policy objectives and goals, including to: (1) reduce national per capita motor vehicle miles traveled annually; (2) reduce national surface transportation-generated carbon dioxide levels by 40% by 2030; (3) reduce national surface transportation (including passenger and freight) delays and congestion at U.S. points of entry; (4) increase the total usage of public transportation, intercity passenger rail services, and non-motorized transportation; and (5) ensure adequate transportation of domestic energy supplies.
  
  Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) develop performance criteria and data collections systems to evaluate the effectiveness of federal surface transportation programs; (2) implement such programs to meet the policy, objectives, goals, and performance criteria established by this Act; and (3) develop and implement a National Surface Transportation Performance Plan.
  
  Authorizes the Secretary to amend the goals established under this Act.
feat_title: A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to establish national purposes and goals for Federal surface transportation activities and programs and create a national surface transportation plan.