FREIGHT INTERMODAL DISTRIBUTION PILOT GRANT PROGRAM.

SEC. 1306. FREIGHT INTERMODAL DISTRIBUTION PILOT GRANT PROGRAM.(a) In General.—The Secretary shall establish and implement a freight intermodal distribution pilot grant program.(b) Purposes.—The purposes of the program established under subsection (a) shall be for the Secretary to make grants to States—(1) to facilitate and support intermodal freight transportation initiatives at the State and local levels to relieve congestion and improve safety; and119 STAT. 1216(2) to provide capital funding to address infrastructure and freight distribution needs at inland ports and intermodal freight facilities.(c) Eligible Projects.—Projects for which grants may be made under this section shall help relieve congestion, improve transportation safety, facilitate international trade, and encourage public-private partnership and may include projects for the development and construction of intermodal freight distribution and transfer facilities at inland ports.(d) Selection Process.—(1) Applications.—A State (as defined in section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code) shall submit for approval by the Secretary an application for a grant under this section containing such information as the Secretary may require to receive such a grant.(2) Priority.—In selecting projects for grants, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that will—(A) reduce congestion into and out of international ports located in the United States;(B) demonstrate ways to increase the likelihood that freight container movements involve freight containers carrying goods; and(C) establish or expand intermodal facilities that encourage the development of inland freight distribution centers.(3) Designated projects.—Subject to the provisions of this section, the Secretary shall allocate for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009, from funds made available to carry out this section, 20 percent of the following amounts for grants to carry out the following projects under this section:(A) Short-haul intermodal projects, Oregon, $5,000,000.(B) The Georgia Port Authority, $5,000,000.(C) The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, $5,000,000.(D) Fairbanks, Alaska, $5,000,000.(E) Charlotte Douglas International Airport Freight Intermodal Facility, North Carolina, $5,000,000.(F) South Piedmont Freight Intermodal Center, North Carolina, $5,000,000.(e) Use of Grant Funds.—Funds made available to a recipient of a grant under this section shall be used by the recipient for the project described in the application of the recipient approved by the Secretary. (f) Report.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the pilot program carried out under this section.(g) Funding.—(1) In general.—There is authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) to carry out this section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009.(2) Contract authority.—Funds authorized by this subsection shall be available for obligation in the same manner as if the funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code; except that such funds shall not be transferable and shall remain available until expended, and the Federal share of the cost of a project under this section 119 STAT. 1217 shall be determined in accordance with section 120 of such title.(h) Treatment of Projects.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, projects for which grants are made under this section shall be treated as projects on a Federal-aid system under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code.