Sustainable Transportation Act – Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy

A BILL

To establish the principles and practices for sustainable transportation in the United States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

(a) This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Sustainable Transportation Act.”

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS.

(a) The Congress finds that—

(1) a sustainable level of transportation activity is a crucial element of sustainable economic activity, or a “steady state economy”;

(2) a steady state economy is achieved when population multiplied by per capita consumption, expressed in terms of GDP, is stabilized or mildly fluctuating at a size within the ecological capacity of the nation;

(3) transportation systems that are inadequately subsidized and poorly financed promote an inefficient and unsustainable increase in per capita transportation consumption, energy use, and externalities associated with pollution and traffic congestion;

(4) sustainable transportation ultimately entails a steady state economy, and the population existing in a steady state economy requires a sustainable level and type of transportation system; and

(5) the national significance of transportation systems requires that they be financed principally with Federal general funds.

(b) The Congress declares that it is the policy of the Federal Government to use all practicable means, consistent with its needs and obligations and other essential national policies, to—

(1) reduce the nation’s reliance on automobile and heavy-truck freight transportation;

(2) reduce the nation’s reliance on commercial jet air travel;

(3) discourage purchases of automobiles and trucks that consume excessive amounts of fossil fuels, on a miles per gallon or vehicle-weight basis;

(4) encourage the establishment of multi-modal rail transportation networks that include street cars, higher-speed freight and passenger rail systems, and a modest number of high-speed passenger rail systems;

(5) encourage the establishment of renewable-energy-based electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, at both the household and community level;

(6) encourage sufficient rail-network construction to separate passenger and freight rail networks or to increase the efficiency and ensure the safety of shared-track systems;

(7) encourage the electrification of freight rail networks via overhead catenary systems (OCS), battery-electric locomotives, and hybrid combinations of OCS and last-mile or intermittent battery systems; and

(8) to encourage metropolitan systems for light-rail transit, lower-speed streetcar transit, and bicycle-pedestrian commuter travel.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

(a) In this Act—

(1) the term “Act” refers to the Sustainable Transportation Act;

(2) the term “airline service level” means the number of passenger miles flown by an airline;

(3) the term “airport authority level” means the number of passenger miles associated with airports overseen by an airport authority;

(4) the term “charter” means any general aviation jet travel operated by owners who sell on-demand flight time on their jet or fleet of jets;

(5) the term “co-located transmission line” means any electric power transmission line directly adjacent to or within a railway line right-of-way;

(6) the term “Commissioner” refers to the Commissioner of the United States Internal Revenue Service;

(7) the term “cost-sharing subsidy” means any subsidy granted by the Federal Government on the basis of any project cost expenditure;

(8) the term “curb weight” means the weight of any roadway car or truck, without passengers or other loads;

(9) the term “emergency flight” means any airline passenger- or goods-transport flight undertaken principally to meet the needs of an emergency, as defined by the Secretary of Transportation and published in the Department of Transportation’s approved regulations;

(10) the term “flight” means a single instance of air travel comprising one takeoff, one landing, and one standard route from the airport of takeoff to the airport of landing;

(A) the term “long flight” means a flight of longer than two hours between the time of takeoff and the time of landing; and

(B) the term “short flight” means a flight of two hours or less between the time of takeoff and the time of landing.

(11) the term “fractional” means any general aviation jet travel operated by multiple owners who each own a fractional portion of a company’s jet or jet fleet;

(12) the term “higher-speed rail system” means any rail system operating at speeds higher than 79 miles per hour but lower than 155 miles per hour;

(13) the term “high-speed rail system” means any rail system operating at speeds at or above 155 miles per hour;

(14) the term “jet card” refers to any general aviation jet travel operated by owners who sell flight time on a pre-paid hourly basis using a debit-card system;

(15) the term “last-mile or intermittent battery system” means any freight-locomotive electric battery system designed to bridge energy gaps on rail lines powered partly or mostly with an Overhead Catenary System;

(16) the term “long-distance passenger rail travel” means any passenger rail route longer than 200 miles;

(17) the term “OCS” refers to any Overhead Catenary System for rail-line electrification;

(18) the term “Overhead Catenary System” means any railroad electrification system that transmits electric power to any locomotive via an overhead wire and a pantograph device attached to the locomotive;

(19) the term “Part 91” refers to Part 91 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for the regulation of any general aviation pilot flying their personal aircraft;

(20) the term “Part 91K” refers to Part 91, Subpart K of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for the regulation of any general aviation pilot with any fractional jet ownership contract;

(21) the term “Part 135” refers to Part 135 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for the regulation of any general aviation operator of non-airline charter or jet card flight operations;

(22) the term “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation;

(23) the term “renewable energy” means electric power generated by a solar, wind, geothermal, or hydroelectric source; and

(24) the term “U.S.-owned Class I railway” means any railway company with annual revenue greater than an amount determined by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. That amount is currently $250,000,000.

SEC. 4. CURB-WEIGHT PASSENGER-VEHICLE EXCISE TAX.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby imposed a series of graduated excise taxes for passenger vehicles that exceed certain weight limits.

(b) PASSENGER-VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITATIONS AND EXCISE TAX RATES.—

(1) For any passenger vehicle with a curb weight greater than 4,500 pounds but less than 5,000 pounds, an excise tax of 3 percent of the sale price shall be imposed on any new-vehicle purchase.

(2) For any passenger vehicle with a curb weight of 5,000 pounds or greater, but less than 7,500 pounds, an excise tax of 10 percent of the sale price shall be imposed on any new-vehicle purchase.

(3) For any passenger vehicle with a curb weight of 7,500 pounds or greater, an excise tax of 15 percent of the sale price shall be imposed on any new-vehicle purchase.

(c) COMMENCEMENT.— These passenger vehicle weight excise taxes shall be imposed on all subject vehicles beginning January 1, 2028.

(d) APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—The introduction of these excise taxes shall be enforced by the Secretary and announced no later than July 1, 2027.

SEC. 5. PARTIAL REPEAL OF TRANSPORTATION AND VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—All transportation excise taxes determined to be regressive and ineffective at reducing environmental degradation or pollution are hereby eliminated.

(b) TRANSPORTATION EXCISE TAX ELIMINATIONS.—All federal excise taxes in 26 U.S. Code, subtitle D, chapter 31, subchapter B, subsection 4042, and subchapter C; chapter 32 subchapter A, parts II and III; chapter 36, subchapters A, B, and D; and chapter 38, subchapter A shall be repealed.

(c) EXEMPTIONS.—Transportation and vehicle excise taxes in chapter 31, subchapter B, subsection 4043; and in chapter 32, subchapter A, part I shall remain in effect after the repeal of the excise taxes designated in section 5(b).

(d) COMMENCEMENT.—The repeal of these current excise taxes shall be made effective on January 1, 2028.

(e) APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—The repeal of these excise taxes shall be enforced by the Secretary and announced no later than July 1, 2027.

SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL FREIGHT RAIL TRANSPORT SUBSIDY PROGRAM.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby established a series of Federal cost-sharing subsidies for railway freight line electrification and intermodal transfer facilities:

(1) There is hereby established a Federal cost-sharing subsidy for freight rail electrification.

(2) There is hereby established a Federal cost-sharing subsidy for the co-location of electric-utility transmission lines.

(3) There is hereby established a Federal cost-sharing subsidy for the construction of any renewable-energy generating plant wholly connected to co-located transmission lines for any electric freight rail system.

(4) There is hereby established a Federal cost-sharing subsidy for the construction of any intermodal freight transfer facility dedicated to electrified freight rail connections and financed by state or municipal governments.

(b) ELIGIBILITY.—

(1) For any renewable-energy generating plant upgrade or new construction and for any construction of co-located transmission lines dedicated to electrified freight rail lines—

(A) 75 percent of the cost is eligible for a Federal cost-sharing subsidy to for-profit utility companies;

(B) 90 percent of the cost is eligible for a Federal cost-sharing subsidy to cooperative and non-profit utility companies; and

(2) For the purchase of any battery-electric locomotive, on any U.S.-owned Class I railway, 50 percent of the cost is eligible for a Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(3) For the purchase of any battery-electric locomotive, on any U.S.-owned regional, local, or short-line railway, 75 percent of the cost is eligible for a Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(4) For the installation of OCS on any U.S.-owned Class I railway, 75 percent of the cost is eligible for a Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(5) For the installation of OCS on any U.S.-owned regional, local, or short-line railway, 100 percent of the cost is eligible for a Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(6) For the construction of any state- or municipality-financed intermodal freight transfer facility connected to any U.S.-owned Class I, regional, local, or short-line railway system, the sponsoring state or municipality is eligible for a 75 percent Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(c) COMMENCEMENT.—All subsidies established in section 6(b) shall be made available to any eligible entity by application beginning on January 1, 2028.

(d) APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—The eligibility standards and application requirements for each of these subsidy programs shall be determined by the Secretary and published no later than July 1, 2027.

SEC. 7. INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL EXTENSION AND COST SHARING.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby established a Federal cost-sharing subsidy program for Amtrak rail system infrastructure projects.

(b) PASSENGER RAIL SYSTEM EXTENSION.—For the construction of any new passenger intercity or interstate rail line, or the extension of any existing line, Amtrak is eligible for a 90 percent Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(c) PASSENGER RAIL STATION CONSTRUCTION OR RENOVATION.—For the construction or renovation of any new or existing passenger rail station, Amtrak is eligible for a 75 percent Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(d) COMMENCEMENT.—All subsidies established in sections 7(b) and 7(c) shall be made available on or after January 1, 2028.

(e) APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—The eligibility standards and application requirements for each of these subsidy programs shall be determined by the Secretary and published no later than July 1, 2027.

SEC. 8. NATIONALIZATION OF INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby established a nationalized passenger rail system, to be known thereafter as the American National Railway Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation.

(b) SUNSET OF INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL EXTENSION AND COST SHARING.—All subsidies established in sections 7(b) and 7(c) shall be eliminated at the beginning of the calendar year beginning January 1, 2033.

(c) NATIONALIZATION OF INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL SYSTEM.—Beginning on January 1, 2033, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) shall cease operating as a quasi-public for-profit corporation and begin operating as the American National Railway Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation, funded fully thereafter by the Federal government of the United States.

(d) COMMENCEMENT.—The subsidies shall be eliminated and Amtrak shall be nationalized beginning on January 1, 2033.

(e) APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—A detailed plan for nationalization shall be determined by the Secretary and published no later than July 1, 2032.

SEC. 9. METROPOLITAN PASSENGER LIGHT RAIL COST SHARING.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby established a Federal cost-sharing subsidy program for the construction and extension of any metropolitan passenger light rail system.

(b) CONSTRUCTION COST SHARING.—For the construction of or extension of any metropolitan passenger light rail system or free-fare intracity streetcar line, the sponsoring state or municipality is eligible for a 75 percent Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(c) OPERATIONAL COST SHARING.—For the ongoing operations of any metropolitan passenger light rail system or free-fare intracity streetcar line, the sponsoring state or municipality is eligible for a 90 percent Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(d) COMMENCEMENT.—All subsidies established in sections 9(b) and 9(c) shall be made available by application for any eligible entity beginning on January 1, 2028.

SEC. 10. PASSENGER FREIGHT RAIL TRACK-SHARING INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby established a Federal cost-sharing subsidy program for any track-sharing infrastructure improvement designed to improve the efficiency and safety of any line shared by Amtrak intercity passenger rail and any commercial freight rail system.

(b) SWITCH INFRASTRUCTURE ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.—For the construction of any new switch infrastructure or the improvement of existing switch infrastructure, on any line shared by an inter-city passenger and a commercial freight system, the track section owner or owners are eligible for a 90 percent Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(c) ADDITION OF LINES IN TRACK-SHARING CORRIDORS.—For the construction of any new track line adjacent to existing lines in shared-track corridors and any acquisition of additional rights-of-way, the track section owner or owners are eligible for one of two cost-sharing subsidies—

(1) A 90 percent cost-sharing subsidy for any shared track corridor used by one passenger line and one freight line; or

(2) A 100 percent cost-sharing subsidy for any shared track corridor used by three or more lines, in which one of the lines is a U.S.-owned Class I, regional, local, or short-line freight railway.

(d) GRADE-CROSSING ELIMINATION.—For the construction of any bridge or roadway enhancement to eliminate any railroad grade crossing, the sponsoring state or municipality is eligible for a 90 percent Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(e) RAIL LINE CURVE STRAIGHTENING.—For the construction of any new rail section or the acquisition of any additional right-of-way, to eliminate or reduce the angle of curvature of curved track sections exceeding 5 degrees of curvature, the track section owner or owners are eligible for a 90 percent Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(f) COMMENCEMENT.—All subsidies established in sections 10(b-e) shall be made available by application for any eligible entity beginning on January 1, 2028.

(g) APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—The eligibility standards and application requirements for each of these subsidy programs shall be determined by the Secretary and published no later than July 1, 2027.

SEC. 11. ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL EV CHARGING STATION SUBSIDY PROGRAM.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby established a Federal cost-sharing subsidy for any state- or municipality-sponsored EV charging station powered by 100 percent renewable energy (solar, wind, a solar-wind combination, or hydroelectric) and made available to any EV passenger-car driver at no cost.

(b) CONSTRUCTION COST SHARING.—For the construction of any eligible state- or municipality-sponsored EV charging station, the sponsoring state or municipality is eligible for a 75 percent Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(c) COMMENCEMENT.—All subsidies established in section 11(b) shall be made available by application for any eligible public entity beginning on January 1, 2028.

SEC. 12. ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL EV CHARGING STATION TAX CREDIT.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby established a Federal tax credit for the purchase and installation of any personal Level I, 120-Volt EV charging station powered by 100 percent renewable energy (solar, wind, a solar-wind combination, or hydroelectric).

(b) TAX CREDIT.—For the purchase and installation of any Level I EV charger for personal, at-home use, the purchaser is entitled to a non-refundable adjustment-to-income tax credit equal to the cost of the charger and its installation, up to $500.

(c) COMMENCEMENT.—All non-refundable tax credits established in section 12(b) shall be made available for the tax year beginning on January 1, 2028.

(d) APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—To effect the addition of new tax credits established in section 12(b), necessary adjustments to IRS 1040 and Schedule 1 forms shall be determined by the Commissioner and published no later than July 1, 2027.

SEC. 13. PHASED REDUCTION OF COMMERCIAL JET AIR TRAVEL.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby established a mandated jet air travel reduction program, implemented by the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration and based on corresponding increases in regional passenger train travel.

(b) AIRLINES AND AIRPORT AUTHORITIES.—Commensurate with the subsidized expansion of commercial passenger rail service, domestic airlines and airport authorities shall reduce their authorized service and authorized capacity by the following ratios:

(1) For any short flight originating in any region designated by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, authorized annual airline service levels, measured in passenger miles, shall be reduced by 50 percent of the annual passenger miles added to passenger rail travel within the same region during the previous calendar year. Airport authority flight capacity shall be reduced proportionally.

(2) For any long flight originating in any region designated by the Secretary, authorized annual airline service levels, measured in passenger miles, shall be reduced by 40 percent of the annual passenger miles added to long-distance passenger rail travel originating in the same region during the previous calendar year. Airport authority flight capacity shall be reduced proportionally.

(c) EXEMPTION.—Any flight classed as an “emergency flight” under standards promulgated by the Secretary shall be exempted from the airline service level and airport authority capacity limit calculations.

(d) COMMENCEMENT.—All initial mandated reductions in service level and capacity shall be based on additions to passenger rail service, on a passenger-mile basis, recorded by the Secretary for the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2028, and shall be implemented initially for the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2029.

(e) APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—The methods of calculation and enforcement of mandated airline and airport authority service reductions, on a passenger-mile ratio, shall be determined by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

SEC. 14. PHASED REDUCTION OF PERSONAL JET TRAVEL.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby established a series of limits for non-airline jet flight hours.

(b) PRIVATE JET PART 91 FLIGHT HOUR CAPS.—There is hereby instituted a series of flight hour caps for all jet flights conducted by any individual or non-airline business operator that is not part of a fractional, charter, or jet card flight program, on the following schedule:

(1) For the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2031, aggregate Part 91 domestic flight hours shall be limited to 2 million hours.

(2)For the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2032, aggregate Part 91 domestic flight hours shall be limited to 1.75 million hours.

(3) For the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2033, aggregate Part 91 domestic flight hours shall be limited to 1.5 million hours.

(4) For the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2034, aggregate Part 91 domestic flight hours shall be limited to 1.25 million hours.

(5) For the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2035, aggregate Part 91 domestic flight hours shall be limited to 1 million hours.

(c) PRIVATE JET PART 91K AND PART 135 FLIGHT HOUR CAPS.—There is hereby established a series of flight hour caps for all jet flights conducted by any individual or non-airline business operator that is part of a fractional, charter, or jet card flight program, on the following schedule:

(1) For the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2031, aggregate Part 91K and Part 135 domestic flight hours shall be limited to 2.5 million hours.

(2) For the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2032, aggregate Part 91K and Part 135 domestic flight hours shall be limited to 2.4 million hours.

(3) For the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2033, aggregate Part 91K and Part 135 domestic flight hours shall be limited to 2.3 million hours.

(4) For the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2034, aggregate Part 91K and Part 135 domestic flight hours shall be limited to 2.2 million hours.

(5) For the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2035, aggregate Part 91K and Part 135 domestic flight hours shall be limited to 2 million hours.

(d) COMMENCEMENT.—All initial flight hour caps shall be implemented for the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2031.

(e) APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—The methods of calculation of flight hours and enforcement of flight-hour caps, including the apportionment of the aggregate flight hour cap by operator, shall be determined by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

SEC. 15. VIOLATIONS, PENALTIES, AND ENFORCEMENT.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby established a series of penalties for violations of the limits imposed in section 13(b)1, 13(b)2, 13(c), 14(b), and 14(c).

(b) AIRLINES AND AIRPORT AUTHORITIES.—

(1)Any airline in violation of sections 13(a)1 and 13(a)2 of this Act shall be subject to criminal penalties of up to $1,000,000 per offense, as imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

(2) Any airport authority in violation of sections 13(a)1 and 13(a)2 of this Act shall be subject to criminal penalties of up to $500,000 per offense, as imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

(3) Any private jet operator in violation of any flight hour limit established in sections 14(b) and 14(c) shall be subject to criminal penalties up to $1,000,000 per offense, as imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

(c) COMMENCEMENT.—All penalties established in sections 15(b)1 and 15(b)2 shall be enforced by the Secretary beginning on January 1, 2028. All penalties established in section 15(b)3 shall be enforced by the Secretary beginning on January 1, 2032.

(d) APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—The methods of determination of violations and of penalty assessment shall be determined by the Secretary.

SEC. 16. BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

(a) GENERAL RULE.—There is hereby established a Federal cost-sharing subsidy program for the construction of any municipal bicycle-pedestrian commuter path or associated infrastructure.

(b) ELIGIBILITY.—For all construction and land-acquisition costs associated with any project defined by section 16(a), the sponsoring state or municipality is eligible for a 75 percent Federal cost-sharing subsidy.

(c) COMMENCEMENT.—All subsidies established in section 16(b) shall be made available by application for any eligible public entity beginning on January 1, 2028.

(d) APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—The eligibility standards and application requirements for each of the subsidy programs shall be determined by the Secretary and published no later than July 1, 2027.

SEC. 17. EXCISE TAX COLLECTION.

(a) GENERAL RULE.—All revenues collected pursuant to this Act shall be deposited into the General Fund of the United States Treasury.