46 U.S.C. § 55601 United States Marine Highway Program

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: prefLabel,label,title,shortLabel
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-19 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/06/2023)
• Citation: 46 U.S.C. § 55601

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.-

(1) IN GENERAL.-There is in the Department of Transportation a program, to be known as the "United States marine highway program".

(2) ADDITIONAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.-In carrying out the program established under this subsection, the Secretary of Transportation may-

(A) coordinate with ports, State departments of transportation, localities, other public agencies, and appropriate private sector entities on the development of landside facilities and infrastructure to support marine highway transportation; and

(B) develop performance measures for the program.

(b) MARINE HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION ROUTES.-

(1) DESIGNATION.-The Secretary may designate a route as a marine highway transportation route, or modify such a designation, if-

(A) such route-

(i) provides a coordinated and capable alternative to landside transportation;

(ii) mitigates or relieves landside congestion;

(iii) promotes marine highway transportation; or

(iv) uses vessels documented under chapter 121; and

(B) such designation or modification is requested by-

(i) the government of a State or territory;

(ii) a metropolitan planning organization;

(iii) a port authority;

(iv) a non-Federal navigation district; or

(v) a Tribal government.

(2) DETERMINATION.-Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Maritime Administrator receives a request for the designation or modification of a marine highway route under paragraph (1), the Maritime Administrator shall make a determination of whether to make the requested designation or modification.

(3) NOTIFICATION.-Not later than 14 days after the date on which the Maritime Administrator makes a determination under paragraph (2), the Maritime Administrator shall notify the requester of the determination.

(c) MAP OF MARINE HIGHWAY PROGRAM ROUTES.-

(1) IN GENERAL.-The Maritime Administrator shall make publicly available a map showing the location of marine highway routes, including such routes along the coasts, in the inland waterways, and at sea and update that map when a marine highway route is designated or modified pursuant to subsection (b).

(2) COORDINATION.-The Maritime Administrator shall coordinate with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to incorporate the map referred to in paragraph (1) into the Marine Cadastre.

(d) ASSISTANCE.-

(1) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary may make grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, eligible entities to implement a marine highway transportation project or a component of such a project if the Secretary determines that the project or component-