49 U.S.C. § 70204 — Multi-State freight corridor planning

(a) Congress recognizes the right of States, cities, regional planning organizations, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and local public authorities, including public port authorities, that are regionally linked with an interest in a specific nationally or regionally significant multi-State freight corridor to enter into a multi-State freight compact. The compact may promote improved movement of goods by—(1) identifying projects along the corridor that benefit multiple States; (2) assembling rights-of-way; and (3) performing capital improvements. This section does not define “multi-State freight compact.”
(b) A compact formed under subsection (a) may provide that, to carry it out, the relevant States or other entities may—(1) accept contributions from a State or local government; (2) use any Federal or State funds available for planning or construction of freight-mobility infrastructure, including by applying for grants; (3) subject to terms and conditions the States consider advisable—(A) borrow money for a short term; and (B) issue—(i) notes for that borrowing; and (ii) bonds; and (4) obtain financing by other means allowed by applicable Federal or State law.
(c)(1) A compact under this section may establish a multi-State freight corridor advisory committee. The committee must include representatives of State departments of transportation and other public- and private-sector entities with an interest in freight mobility, such as—(A) ports; (B) freight railroads; (C) shippers; (D) carriers; (E) freight-related associations; (F) third-party logistics providers; (G) the freight-industry workforce; (H) environmental organizations; (I) community organizations; and (J) units of local government. (2) An advisory committee established under paragraph (1) may—(A) advise the parties to the applicable compact about freight-related priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs that affect multi-State—(i) freight mobility; and (ii) supply chains; (B) serve as a forum for States, Indian Tribes, and other public entities to discuss decisions affecting freight mobility; (C) communicate and coordinate multi-State freight priorities with other organizations; (D) promote information sharing between the private and public sectors about freight issues; and (E) provide information for consideration in developing State freight plans under section 70202.
(d)(1) The Secretary of Transportation, called the “Secretary” in this section, must establish a program to provide grants to multi-State freight compacts, or to States seeking to form a compact, that seek to improve a route or corridor that is part of the National Multimodal Freight Network established under section 70103. (2)(A) To encourage the establishment of new compacts, the Secretary may award an operating-cost grant of not more than $2,000,000 to—(i) a compact established under subsection (a), during the 2-year period beginning on the date it is established; or (ii) States seeking to form a compact described in subsection (a). (B)(i) A new compact is eligible for a grant under this paragraph only during its first 2 years of operation. (ii) States seeking to form a compact are eligible during—(I) the 2-year period beginning when an application for a grant for the proposed compact is submitted to the Secretary; or (II) if the compact is formed before a grant is awarded under subclause (I), the compact’s first 2 years of operation. (C) To receive a grant under this paragraph, a compact or the applicable States seeking to form one must—(i) submit an application at the time, in the manner, and with the information the Secretary requires; (ii) provide a non-Federal match of at least 25 percent of the compact’s operating costs; and (iii) commit to establishing an advisory committee under subsection (c)(1) during the compact’s first 2 years of operation. (3)(A) The Secretary may award an operating-cost grant of not more than $1,000,000 to a compact that is not eligible for a grant under paragraph (2). (B) To receive a grant under this paragraph, the compact must—(i) submit an application at the time, in the manner, and with the information the Secretary requires; (ii) provide a non-Federal match of at least 50 percent of the compact’s operating costs; and (iii) show that it has established an advisory committee under subsection (c)(1). (4) Congress authorizes $5,000,000 for each fiscal year for this subsection.