STARTER Act

2/8/2022, 11:16 PM

Surface Transportation Advanced through Reform, Technology, and Efficient Review Act or the STARTER Act

This bill addresses provisions related to federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier, innovation, and resiliency programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Among other provisions, the bill

  • extends FY2020 enacted levels through FY2025 for federal-aid highway, transit, and safety programs;
  • requires DOT to provide competitive grants for projects to provide parking for commercial motor vehicles on the federal-aid highway system;
  • authorizes DOT to modify loan interest rates under the transportation infrastructure finance and innovation (TIFIA) program for borrowers impacted by COVID-19 (i.e. coronavirus disease 2019);
  • specifies that projects that provide access to hospitals and health care providers in areas of limited public transportation options are eligible to be carried out as public transportation research projects;
  • creates a public awareness campaign to reduce instances of driving while under the influence of prescription and over-the-counter medications;
  • directs DOT to promulgate regulations to implement an apprenticeship program for licensed commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21;
  • establishes new competitive grant programs to spur innovation of connected vehicle applications into practical and effective operational deployments, and to test the safe integration of automated driving system technologies into the on-road transportation system; and
  • addresses projects to improve the resiliency of federal-aid highways and bridges on and off the National Highway System.
Congress
116

Number
HR - 7248

Introduced on
2020-06-18

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

6/18/2020

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Surface Transportation Advanced through Reform, Technology, and Efficient Review Act or the STARTER Act

This bill addresses provisions related to federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier, innovation, and resiliency programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Among other provisions, the bill

  • extends FY2020 enacted levels through FY2025 for federal-aid highway, transit, and safety programs;
  • requires DOT to provide competitive grants for projects to provide parking for commercial motor vehicles on the federal-aid highway system;
  • authorizes DOT to modify loan interest rates under the transportation infrastructure finance and innovation (TIFIA) program for borrowers impacted by COVID-19 (i.e. coronavirus disease 2019);
  • specifies that projects that provide access to hospitals and health care providers in areas of limited public transportation options are eligible to be carried out as public transportation research projects;
  • creates a public awareness campaign to reduce instances of driving while under the influence of prescription and over-the-counter medications;
  • directs DOT to promulgate regulations to implement an apprenticeship program for licensed commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21;
  • establishes new competitive grant programs to spur innovation of connected vehicle applications into practical and effective operational deployments, and to test the safe integration of automated driving system technologies into the on-road transportation system; and
  • addresses projects to improve the resiliency of federal-aid highways and bridges on and off the National Highway System.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Transportation and Public Works

Potential Impact
Accidents
Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Agricultural conservation and pollution
Air quality
Atmospheric science and weather
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Building construction
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Commuting
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of Transportation
Disability assistance
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Economic development
Emergency communications systems
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Employment and training programs
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Fires
Floods and storm protection
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Intergovernmental relations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Lakes and rivers
Licensing and registrations
Life, casualty, property insurance
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Natural disasters
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Public transit
Public-private cooperation
Railroads
Regional and metropolitan planning
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Roads and highways
Rural conditions and development
Sales and excise taxes
Social security and elderly assistance
Solid waste and recycling
State and local government operations
Technology transfer and commercialization
Transportation employees
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security
Urban and suburban affairs and development
User charges and fees
Water quality
Watersheds

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary4/19/2021

Surface Transportation Advanced through Reform, Technology, and Efficient Review Act or the STARTER Act

This bill addresses provisions related to federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier, innovation, and re...


Latest Action6/19/2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.