23 U.S.C. § 137 — Fringe and corridor parking facilities

(a) The Secretary of Transportation may approve, as a Federal-aid highway project, buying land next to the highway right-of-way — outside what the Secretary defines as the central business district — and building publicly owned parking there or within the right-of-way, including using the space above and below the highway pavement. This only applies to serve an urban area with 50,000 people or more. The parking facility must be located and designed to work together with existing or planned public transportation. If the facility charges fees, the rate can't be more than what's needed to maintain and run it, including paying people to operate it. (b) Before approving a project, the Secretary must first: (1) confirm the State, or the local government, agency, or instrumentality involved, has the authority and the ability to build, maintain, and run the facility; (2) sign an agreement with that State, local government, agency, or instrumentality covering how the facility will be financed, maintained, and operated — including requirements to make sure enough public transportation service will be available to people using the facility; and (3) approve design standards for building the facility, developed together with the State's transportation department. (c) In this section, "parking facilities" includes access roads, buildings, structures, equipment, improvements, and interests in land. (d) Nothing in this section, or in any rule, regulation, or required agreement, stops (1) a State, local government, agency, or instrumentality from hiring someone to operate a parking facility built under this section, or (2) that person from actually operating it. (e) The Secretary can't approve a project unless it's based on an ongoing, comprehensive transportation planning process carried out under section 134 of this title. (f) Carpool parking and clean-vehicle facilities. (1) Using funds set aside under section 104(b)(1), the Secretary may approve federal financial help for projects that designate existing facilities, or that acquire right-of-way or build new facilities — including adding electric vehicle charging stations or natural gas vehicle refueling stations — to use as preferential parking for carpools. This only applies if the facilities (A) sit outside the central business district and within an interstate highway corridor, and (B) mainly aim to reduce vehicle traffic on the interstate highway. (2) Nothing in this subsection, or in any related rule, regulation, or agreement, stops (A) a State, local government, agency, or instrumentality from hiring someone to operate a facility designated or built under this subsection, or (B) that person from operating it. Any fees charged for using the facility can't exceed what's needed for operation and maintenance, including paying the operator. (3) In this subsection, "facilities" and "parking facilities" mean the same thing that "parking facilities" means in subsection (c). (g) Funding. Adding electric vehicle charging stations or natural gas vehicle refueling stations to new parking facilities — or to ones already funded — qualifies for funding under this section.