Low carbon corridor grant program

(a) Low carbon corridor defined In this section, the term low carbon corridor means a connected systems-management corridor that connects different methods of transportation, including public transportation systems, rail transportation, roadways, and alternative methods of transportation. (b) Establishment The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program to provide grants to eligible entities to carry out projects to develop low carbon corridors. The purpose of such projects shall be to— (1) lower carbon emissions along the corridor; (2) increase transportation inter-connectivity; and (3) increase transportation infrastructure reinvestment. (c) Eligible entities The Secretary may award grants under the program to a State, local, or tribal government, or a subdivision thereof, or a metropolitan planning organization. (d) Eligible uses Funds provided under this section may be used to incorporate low carbon and investment mechanisms into low carbon corridors, including— (1) high occupancy vehicle lanes; (2) value capture; (3) transit-oriented development and high-density development; (4) carbon fees; (5) automated vehicle or electric vehicle lanes that are timed and connected to a transit system; (6) Smart Cities connectivity and innovation; (7) high-speed rail; and (8) facilities for alternative modes of transportation, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities. (e) Labor requirements (1) In general A project carried out with a grant under the program shall be subject to the provisions of each of the following: (A) Subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40 (commonly known as the Davis-Bacon Act). (B) Chapter 65 of title 41, United States Code (commonly known as the Walsh-Healy Act). (C) Chapter 67 of title 41, United States Code (commonly known as the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act of 1965). (D) Chapter 37 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the Work Hours and Safety Standards Act). (E) Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.). (2) Authorities of the Secretary With respect to the labor standards in this subsection, the Secretary of Labor shall have the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of title 40, United States Code, as applicable. (f) Strategic partnerships A recipient of a grant under the program may enter into strategic partnerships with nonprofit organizations or universities to develop plans for low carbon corridors. (g) DOT and EPA benchmarks The Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall jointly monitor how low carbon corridors with respect to which grants were provided under this section reduce carbon emissions and how any mechanisms described in subsection (d) incorporated into such corridor contribute to carbon emission reductions. (h) Use of American products (1) In general A recipient of funds under this section shall ensure that any iron, steel, and manufactured products used in projects carried out with such funds are produced in the United States. (2) Waiver authority (A) In general The Secretary may waive the requirement of paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that— (i) applying paragraph (1) would be inconsistent with the public interest; (ii) iron, steel, and manufactured products produced in the United States are not produced in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or are not of a satisfactory quality; or (iii) using iron, steel, and manufactured products produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent. (B) Publication Before issuing a waiver under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a detailed written explanation of the waiver determination. (3) Consistency with international agreements This subsection shall be applied in a manner consistent with the obligations of the United States under international agreements. (4) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Produced in the United States The term produced in the United States means the following: (i) When used with respect to a manufactured product, the product was manufactured in the United States and the cost of the components of such product that were mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States exceeds 60 percent of the total cost of all components of the product. (ii) When used with respect to iron or steel products, or an individual component of a manufactured product, all manufacturing processes for such iron or steel products or components, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings, occurred in the United States, except that the term does not include— (I) steel or iron material or products manufactured abroad from semi-finished steel or iron from the United States; and (II) steel or iron material or products manufactured in the United States from semi-finished steel or iron of foreign origin. (B) Manufactured product The term manufactured product means any construction material or end product (as such terms are defined in part 25.003 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation) that is not an iron or steel product, including— (i) electrical components; and (ii) non-ferrous building materials, including, aluminum and polyvinylchloride (PVC), glass, fiber optics, plastic, wood, masonry, rubber, manufactured stone, any other non-ferrous metals, and any unmanufactured construction material.