Overview

Title

To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish a competitive grant program for projects for commercial motor vehicle parking, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H.R. 2367 is a plan to make more parking spots for big trucks across the country to keep drivers safe and help them deliver things better. It gives money to help build or expand parking lots, but there are rules about what the money can be used for, like not allowing fees for parking and not using it for special energy stations.

Summary AI

H.R. 2367, known as the "Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act," aims to improve parking availability for commercial motor vehicles across the United States. It proposes a competitive grant program to fund projects that increase public parking for these vehicles, enhance driver safety, and ensure the efficient movement of freight. Eligible projects include building new parking areas, expanding existing ones, and improving safety features. The bill also outlines rules for grant eligibility and details on how funds can be used, emphasizing the need for geographic distribution of new parking capacity nationwide.

Published

2024-12-19
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Reported in House
Date: 2024-12-19
Package ID: BILLS-118hr2367rh

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
6
Words:
2,684
Pages:
14
Sentences:
47

Language

Nouns: 830
Verbs: 185
Adjectives: 143
Adverbs: 12
Numbers: 92
Entities: 167

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.13
Average Sentence Length:
57.11
Token Entropy:
5.17
Readability (ARI):
29.83

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The bill in question aims to amend Title 23 of the United States Code to create a competitive grant program designed to address the shortage of parking for commercial motor vehicles, with a focus on enhancing safety for drivers and improving the efficiency of freight movement. Known as the "Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act," the legislation outlines a structured program through which various government and tribal entities can apply for grants to build or improve facilities for truck parking. The bill also stipulates regular assessments and reports to evaluate the progress and effectiveness of these initiatives.

Summary of Significant Issues

One of the notable aspects of this bill is its broad range of eligibility for grant recipients, which includes states, local governments, tribal governments, and multijurisdictional groups. While this inclusivity supports widespread participation, the lack of specific criteria and metrics for selecting grant recipients raises concerns about the transparency and fairness of the process.

Moreover, there is a prohibition against using grant funds for the construction of charging or fueling infrastructure for commercial vehicles. This restriction might seem counterintuitive in a time when there is a significant push towards sustainable and green energy solutions.

The recurring requirement for evaluations and reports adds another layer of accountability but might also strain resources, particularly if there are misalignments in federal and state reporting cycles.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, this bill could positively impact the general public by potentially reducing traffic congestion and enhancing highway safety. With improved and increased truck parking facilities, there may be fewer instances of trucks parking on highway shoulders or other unsafe areas, thereby decreasing accident risks.

The implementation of this program could also assist in alleviating some of the logistical challenges faced by commercial drivers today, making their operations more efficient and less stressful. However, the lack of clear monitoring protocols for guaranteeing publicly accessible parking might pose difficulties in ensuring these benefits are widespread and equitable across different regions.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For commercial truck drivers, the bill has the potential to significantly ease the burden of finding safe and legal parking, improving their working conditions and safety on long hauls. However, the exact impact will depend on how effectively these grants are administered and the extent to which new facilities meet the actual needs of drivers.

Local governments and metropolitan planning organizations could see positive impacts through the receipt of federal funds to support infrastructure improvements. However, they might face challenges related to compliance with reporting requirements and the prohibition of charging fees for parking, which could affect their ability to maintain and operate these facilities without additional revenue streams.

Private sector participants might view the opportunity to partner with eligible entities as a positive avenue for engagement in public projects. Yet, this potential partnership also opens doors for conflicts of interest if not properly regulated or monitored.

Overall, while the bill offers a promising framework for addressing an ongoing issue in commercial transportation, its effectiveness largely hinges on the establishment of clear guidelines and criteria to ensure fair and impactful distribution of resources.

Financial Assessment

The bill known as the "Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act" includes specific financial provisions to address the shortage of parking for commercial motor vehicles. Here's an analysis of the financial aspects and how they relate to identified issues:

Financial Provisions

The bill authorizes appropriations totaling $755 million over a period of three years:

  • $175 million for fiscal year 2024.
  • $260 million for fiscal year 2025.
  • $320 million for fiscal year 2026.

These funds are allocated to the Secretary of Transportation to support projects that improve parking for commercial motor vehicles.

Issues Related to Financial Allocations

  1. Lack of Detailed Breakdown
  2. The authorization of funds in Section 5 is quite general, lacking a detailed breakdown of how these funds are expected to be used. There's no specificity in terms of what proportion of the funds will be used for various types of projects, such as construction, expansion, or safety improvements. This absence of detail raises concerns about potential wasteful spending and whether there will be sufficient oversight to ensure funds are used effectively.

  3. Restrictions on Use of Funds

  4. In Section 3(h)(3)(A), the bill prohibits the use of funds for constructing or improving charging or fueling infrastructure. This limitation might be interpreted as a missed opportunity to integrate environmentally sustainable solutions within the infrastructure projects. Given the current emphasis on green energy, this provision could become contentious as it restricts opportunities for innovative, future-oriented infrastructure developments.

  5. Prohibition on Charging Fees

  6. The bill includes a prohibition against charging fees for the use of parking facilities developed with these funds (Section 3(i)(2)). While this ensures free access for commercial drivers, it also means that potential revenue sources that could have contributed to the maintenance and sustainability of these facilities are foreclosed. This approach could lead to financial challenges in maintaining these parking areas long-term, especially if appropriated funds run out or need supplementation.

  7. Potential for Perceived Unfairness

  8. The financial allocations are tied to a competitive grant system (Section 3). While competition can drive innovation and efficiency, the broad eligibility criteria and insufficiently specific selection criteria can lead to perceptions of unfairness. There may be concerns that funds are not distributed equitably, potentially favoring entities that are more adept at grant writing rather than those with the most pressing needs.

Overall, the bill's financial framework is designed to stimulate improvements in commercial motor vehicle parking, yet it surfaces several issues that could impact its effectiveness. Addressing these issues through additional guidelines and transparency measures might enhance the allocation and use of the appropriated funds.

Issues

  • Section 3 and Section 180: The prohibition against constructing charging or fueling infrastructure (subsection (h)(3)(A)) might limit the integration of environmentally sustainable solutions, which could be seen as restrictive given the increasing emphasis on green energy and infrastructure.

  • Section 5: The appropriation amounts are specified, but the section lacks a detailed breakdown or explanation of how funds will be spent. This lack of detail raises concerns about potential wasteful spending and insufficient oversight.

  • Section 3: The eligibility criteria for grants (subsection (c)) are broad, and the selection criteria (subsection (f)) lack specific metrics. This could lead to perceived unfairness or favoritism in the grant awarding process, prompting legal or political challenges.

  • Section 3: The mandate for publicly accessible parking (subsection (i)(1)) does not specify how access will be monitored or enforced, leading to potential compliance issues and debates over public versus private access rights.

  • Section 2: The 'sense of Congress' statement is vague and lacks specificity regarding actions to address the parking shortage, which might be criticized for being ineffective in driving concrete outcomes.

  • Section 3: The potential conflicts of interest with private sector participation (subsection (c)(2)) may arise without proper regulation or monitoring, raising ethical concerns and necessitating transparency.

  • Section 4: The regular reporting requirements may strain resources without clear justification, especially if state and federal reporting cycles or data standards do not align, leading to administrative complexity.

  • Section 3: The language describing projects eligible for grants (subsection (d)) is complex and might be difficult for stakeholders to interpret, potentially leading to misunderstandings or misapplication of funds.

  • Section 3: The prohibition on charging fees for parking (subsection (i)(2)) might limit revenue generation needed for the maintenance of facilities, leading to financial challenges for sustaining the parking amenities.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section states that the name of the legislation is the "Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act."

2. Sense of Congress Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

Congress believes it is very important to solve the problem of not having enough parking spaces for commercial trucks on highways to make the roads safer.

3. Parking for commercial motor vehicles Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section creates a program for granting funds to various government entities and tribal governments to increase parking capacity and safety for commercial motor vehicles. Projects that qualify can construct new parking areas, improve existing facilities, or use technology to manage parking. The grants aim to address shortages in parking capacity, improve safety, and enhance the efficiency of freight movement, but they cannot fund charging or fueling infrastructure.

180. Parking for commercial motor vehicles Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section outlines a grant program for improving parking infrastructure for commercial motor vehicles, including defining eligible projects and entities, application procedures, and funding limitations. It also mandates that parking be accessible to all drivers, prohibits charging fees, and requires notices about human trafficking and suicide prevention at facilities developed with these grants.

4. Survey and comparative assessment Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The Secretary of Transportation must evaluate and report on the availability and effectiveness of parking and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles every two years, considering both public and private sites, and aligning with state freight plans. These reports, which also assess projects funded for improving parking, are to be made publicly available online.

5. Authorization of appropriations Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section authorizes funding for the Secretary of Transportation to support projects related to parking for commercial motor vehicles, with $175 million set aside for 2024, $260 million for 2025, and $320 million for 2026.

Money References

  • There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for projects for commercial motor vehicle parking under section 180 of title 23, United States Code— (1) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; (2) $260,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and (3) $320,000,000 for fiscal year 2026. ---