SPIRIT Act | Strategic Public Infrastructure for Rail and Integrated Transport Act
Draft Mock Federal Legislation
by Wilson W. Ahrens
A BILL
To establish a strategic public infrastructure system for integrated rail and aviation transport, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “SPIRIT Act” (Strategic Public Infrastructure for Rail and Integrated Transport Act).
SECTION 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are—
(1) to establish federally owned and operated passenger rail and aviation systems as core national infrastructure and a public good;
(2) to guarantee baseline transportation access essential to interstate commerce, economic participation, and national mobility;
(3) to develop and expand a national high-speed rail network integrated with public aviation services;
(4) to provide publicly operated transportation alternatives to promote competition, system resilience, and continuity of transport services; and
(5) to ensure equitable, affordable, and reliable and meaningfully adequate transportation access across urban, suburban, and rural regions, with routes informed by public need and long-term operational sustainability.
SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS
In this Act:
(1) PUBLIC CARRIER.—The term “Public Carrier” means any federally owned entity providing passenger air or rail services under this Act.
(2) INTEGRATED TRANSPORT SYSTEM.—The term “Integrated Transport System” means a coordinated network of rail and aviation services operating under unified planning and scheduling frameworks.
(3) HIGH-SPEED RAIL.—The term “high-speed rail” means passenger rail service operating at speeds exceeding 250 kilometers per hour (155 miles per hour).
(4) ESSENTIAL SERVICE AREAS.—The term “Essential Service Areas” means any geographic region designated by the Secretary of Transportation as requiring guaranteed baseline access to transportation services.
(5) COVERED PRIVATE CARRIER.—The term “Covered Private Carrier” means any privately owned airline or rail operator operating within the United States.
SECTION 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT ENTITIES
(a) UNITED STATES PUBLIC AIR SERVICE.—There is established within the Department of Transportation a federally owned corporation to be known as the “United States Public Air Service” (USPAS), and shall be responsible for domestic passenger air transportation in coordination with existing Federal aviation authorities.
(b) UNITED STATES HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY.—There is established within the Department of Transportation an authority to be known as the “United States High-Speed Rail Authority” (USHSRA), which shall be responsible for the planning, construction, maintenance, and operation of high-speed rail infrastructure in coordination with existing Federal rail authorities.
(c) PUBLIC SERVICE MANDATE.—Entities established under this section shall operate—
(1) in the public interest;
(2) without a primary obligation to maximize profit; and
(3) with priority given to accessibility, affordability, and national connectivity.
(d) POWERS AND AUTHORITIES.—Entities established under this section are authorized to—
(1) enter into contracts and agreements;
(2) acquire, lease, and dispose of property;
(3) set and collect fares and fees;
(4) coordinate with Federal, State, and local agencies; and
(5) carry out such other activities as are necessary to fulfill the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
(a) HIGH-SPEED RAIL NETWORK.—The USHSRA shall develop a national high-speed rail network connecting major metropolitan regions and Essential Service Areas.
(b) INTEGRATED PLANNING.—Rail and aviation systems shall be planned as a unified network to—
(1) reduce redundancy;
(2) optimize route efficiency; and
(3) improve intermodal connectivity between transportation hubs.
(c) PRIORITY CORRIDORS.—Initial development shall prioritize—
(1) high-density population corridors;
(2) regions with high air traffic congestion; and
(3) underserved or economically isolated regions.
SECTION 6. PUBLIC SERVICE GUARANTEES
(a) UNIVERSAL ACCESS.—All residents of the United States shall have reasonable access to—
(1) public air service; or
(2) rail service connecting to the national network.
(b) FARE POLICY.—Fares shall be structured to—
(1) promote affordability;
(2) support long-term operational sustainability; and
(3) ensure broad public access to transportation services.
(c) SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.—Public carriers shall meet minimum standards for—
(1) frequency;
(2) reliability; and
(3) accessibility compliance.
SECTION 7. RELATIONSHIP TO PRIVATE CARRIERS
(a) OPEN COMPETITION.—Private carriers may continue to operate alongside public carriers within the national transportation system.
(b) NON-PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.—No private carrier shall receive preferential Federal subsidy or regulatory advantage relative to public carriers established under this Act.
(c) CONDITIONS FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.—No private carrier may receive Federal financial assistance unless—
(1) the Federal Government receives an equity stake; or
(2) the carrier agrees to binding public service obligations aligned with this Act.
(d) VOLUNTARY PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretary of Transportation may facilitate voluntary partnerships or asset-sharing agreements between public and private carriers to enhance system efficiency.
SECTION 8. FUNDING
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
(b) BUDGETARY REVIEW COMMISSION.—The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a commission to—
(1) assess total funding requirements;
(2) develop a 10-year investment framework;
(3) identify cost efficiencies and public-private coordination opportunities; and
(4) report findings to Congress within 18 months of enactment.
(c) FUNDING MECHANISMS.—Funding may include—
(1) Federal appropriations;
(2) infrastructure bonds; and
(3) revenue generated by public carriers.
(d) INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may issue long-term infrastructure bonds to support capital investments under this Act.
SECTION 9. GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT
(a) OVERSIGHT BOARDS.—Public entities established under this Act shall be governed by federally appointed boards.
(b) TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS.—Annual reports to Congress shall include—
(1) financial performance;
(2) service coverage metrics; and
(3) accessibility and equity outcomes.
(c) AUDITS.—All public entities shall be subject to annual Federal audits.
SECTION 10. LABOR AND WORKFORCE PROTECTIONS
(a) EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS.—Employees transitioning from private carriers to public entities shall retain—
(1) equivalent compensation where feasible;
(2) collective bargaining rights; and
(3) eligibility for Federal employment benefits.
(b) LABOR STANDARDS.—Federal labor standards shall apply to all public entities.
SECTION 11. IMPLEMENTATION AND TRANSITION
(a) PHASED IMPLEMENTATION.—This Act shall be implemented over a 10-year period.
(b) INITIAL ROLLOUT.—Priority shall be given to—
(1) high-demand corridors; and
(2) regions lacking reliable service.
SECTION 12. FINDINGS
Congress finds that—
(1) transportation infrastructure is essential to national economic stability and interstate commerce;
(2) market-driven transportation systems may not consistently provide equitable access across all regions;
(3) publicly operated transportation systems can enhance competition, stimulate innovation, improve system resilience, and ensure continuity of service; and
(4) integrated rail and aviation systems are necessary to meet future mobility and infrastructure demands, and serve a critical public function.
SECTION 13. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Act, or the application of such provision, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this Act, and the application of the remaining provisions, shall not be affected.
SECTION 14. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.
The Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act.
SECTION 15. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that a modern, integrated national transportation system is essential to economic competitiveness, national connectivity, and equal access to opportunity.
