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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 5301. Policies, findings, and purposes
(a) Development of Transportation Systems. - It is in the
interest of the United States to encourage and promote the
development of transportation systems that embrace various modes of
transportation and efficiently maximize mobility of individuals and
goods in and through urbanized areas and minimize
transportation-related fuel consumption and air pollution.
(b) General Findings. - Congress finds that -
(1) more than 70 percent of the population of the United States
is located in rapidly expanding urban areas that generally cross
the boundary lines of local jurisdictions and often extend into
at least 2 States;
(2) the welfare and vitality of urban areas, the satisfactory
movement of people and goods within those areas, and the
effectiveness of programs aided by the United States Government
are jeopardized by deteriorating or inadequate urban
transportation service and facilities, the intensification of
traffic congestion, and the lack of coordinated, comprehensive,
and continuing development planning;
(3) transportation is the lifeblood of an urbanized society,
and the health and welfare of an urbanized society depend on
providing efficient, economical, and convenient transportation in
and between urban areas;
(4) for many years the mass transportation industry capably and
profitably satisfied the transportation needs of the urban areas
of the United States but in the early 1970's continuing even
minimal mass transportation service in urban areas was threatened
because maintaining that transportation service was financially
burdensome;
(5) ending that transportation, or the continued increase in
its cost to the user, is undesirable and may affect seriously and
adversely the welfare of a substantial number of lower income
individuals;
(6) some urban areas were developing preliminary plans for, or
carrying out, projects in the early 1970's to revitalize their
mass transportation operations;
(7) significant mass transportation improvements are necessary
to achieve national goals for improved air quality, energy
conservation, international competitiveness, and mobility for
elderly individuals, individuals with disabilities, and
economically disadvantaged individuals in urban and rural areas
of the United States;
(8) financial assistance by the Government to develop efficient
and coordinated mass transportation systems is essential to solve
the urban transportation problems referred to in clause (2) of
this subsection; and
(9) immediate substantial assistance by the Government is
needed to enable mass transportation systems to continue
providing vital transportation service.
(c) Rapid Urbanization and Continuing Population Dispersal. -
Rapid urbanization and continuing dispersal of the population and
activities in urban areas have made the ability of all citizens to
move quickly and at a reasonable cost an urgent problem of the
Government.
(d) Elderly Individuals and Individuals With Disabilities. - It
is the policy of the Government that elderly individuals and
individuals with disabilities have the same right as other
individuals to use mass transportation service and facilities.
Special efforts shall be made in planning and designing mass
transportation service and facilities to ensure that mass
transportation can be used by elderly individuals and individuals
with disabilities. All programs of the Government assisting mass
transportation shall carry out this policy.
(e) Preserving the Environment. - It is the policy of the
Government that special effort shall be made to preserve the
natural beauty of the countryside, public park and recreation
lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and important historical and
cultural assets when planning, designing, and carrying out an urban
mass transportation capital project with assistance from the
Government under sections 5309 and 5310 of this title.
(f) General Purposes. - The purposes of this chapter are -
(1) to assist in developing improved mass transportation
equipment, facilities, techniques, and methods with the
cooperation of public and private mass transportation companies;
(2) to encourage the planning and establishment of areawide
urban mass transportation systems needed for economical and
desirable urban development with the cooperation of public and
private mass transportation companies;
(3) to assist States and local governments and their
authorities in financing areawide urban mass transportation
systems that are to be operated by public or private mass
transportation companies as decided by local needs;
(4) to provide financial assistance to State and local
governments and their authorities to help carry out national
goals related to mobility for elderly individuals, individuals
with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged individuals;
and
(5) to establish a partnership that allows a community, with
financial assistance from the Government, to satisfy its urban
mass transportation requirements.
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