[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1736 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1736
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish the
Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART)
Challenge Grant Program to promote technological innovation in our
Nation's communities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 10, 2021
Mr. DeSaulnier introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish the
Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART)
Challenge Grant Program to promote technological innovation in our
Nation's communities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES.
This Act may be cited as the ``Moving and Fostering Innovation to
Revolutionize Smarter Transportation Act'' or the ``Moving FIRST Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Beyond Traffic 2045, a comprehensive assessment of the
national transportation system recently published by the
Department of Transportation, identified transportation trends
that need to be proactively addressed, including--
(A) the population of the United States will
increase by 70,000,000 during the 30-year period ending
in 2045;
(B) emerging megaregions could absorb 75 percent of
the United States population by 2050;
(C) freight volume will increase by more than 40
percent by 2045;
(D) Americans are currently stuck in traffic for
more than 42 hours each year, on average;
(E) the current annual cost of congestion in delays
and lost fuel amounts to $160,000,000,000;
(F) 96 people die in motor vehicle crashes in the
United States every day, on average, and nearly 6,700
are injured per day; and
(G) connected vehicles and new crash avoidance
technology could potentially address 81 percent of
crashes involving unimpaired drivers.
(2) According to the Department of Transportation, in
2015--
(A) traffic crash-related deaths increased by more
than 7 percent compared to 2014;
(B) pedestrian fatalities increased by more than 9
percent compared to 2014; and
(C) pedalcyclist fatalities increased by more than
12 percent compared to 2014.
(3) In 2015, the Secretary of Transportation created the
Smart City Challenge to assist cities in addressing the
challenges facing our Nation's transportation system through
innovative and creative means, utilizing both the public and
the private sectors.
(4) By asking American cities to use emerging
transportation technologies to address their most pressing
problems, the Smart City Challenge aimed to spark and spread
innovation through a mixture of collaboration, competition, and
experimentation.
(5) The following outcomes were expected from the original
Smart City Challenge and are expected to result from the SMART
grants awarded under this Act:
(A) Improved safety from the use of advanced
technologies, including connected vehicle technologies,
to reduce the number of collisions, fatalities, and
injuries for vehicle occupants and nonvehicle
occupants.
(B) Enhanced mobility by providing realtime
traveler information and emerging mobility services to
improve personal mobility for all citizens including
people with lower incomes, people with disabilities,
and older adults.
(C) Enhanced ladders of opportunity by--
(i) providing access to advanced technology
and its benefits for underserved areas and
residents;
(ii) increasing connectivity to employment,
education, and other services; and
(iii) contributing to revitalization by
incentivized reinvestment in underserved
communities.
(D) Reduction in pollution by implementing advanced
technologies and policies that support a more
sustainable and cost-effective relationship between
transportation and the environment through more
efficient fuel use and emissions reductions.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Large community.--The term ``large community'' means an
applicant community with a population between 400,000 and
1,000,000, according to the Census Bureau's most recent annual
estimates of resident population.
(2) Mid-sized community.--The term ``mid-sized community''
means an applicant community with a population between 75,000
and 400,000, or an applicant community with a population
between 10,000 and 75,000 that is located within an urbanized
area or cluster, according to the Census Bureau's most recent
annual estimates of resident population.
(3) Multi-jurisdictional group.--The term ``multi-
jurisdictional group'' means an applicant composed of 2 or more
combination of States, tribal governments, local governments,
public transit agencies, public toll authorities, or
metropolitan planning organizations (as defined in section
134(b) of title 23, United States Code), each of which is
eligible to apply for a SMART grant under section 4.
(4) Regional partnership.--The term ``regional
partnership'' means a group of 2 or more jurisdictions with a
combined population between 10,000 and 75,000, according to the
Census Bureau's most recent annual estimates of resident
population, which have entered into a partnership to apply for
a SMART grant under section 4.
(5) Rural community.--The term ``rural community'' means an
applicant community with a population between 10,000 and 75,000
people that is not located within an urbanized area or cluster,
according to the Census Bureau's most recent annual estimates
of resident population.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(7) Strengthening mobility and revolutionizing
transportation grant; smart grant.--The terms ``Strengthening
Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation grant'' and ``SMART
grant'' means a grant awarded to an eligible applicant under
section 4.
SEC. 4. SMART GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Grants Authorized.--During each of the fiscal years 2020
through 2024, the Secretary is authorized to award--
(1) 1 SMART grant of not less than $30,000,000 or more than
$50,000,000 to an applicant on behalf of a large community to
carry out an eligible project;
(2) 1 SMART grant of not less than $30,000,000 or more than
$50,000,000 to an applicant on behalf of a mid-sized community
to carry out an eligible project; and
(3) 2 SMART grants, totaling not more than the greater of
$20,000,000 or 20 percent of the amount appropriated pursuant
to section 6(a) for the fiscal year, to applicants on behalf of
rural communities or regional partnerships to carry out
eligible projects.
(b) Eligible Applicants.--The following entities are eligible to
receive a grant under this section:
(1) A unit of local government, including counties.
(2) A tribal government.
(3) A public transit agency or authority.
(4) A public toll authority.
(5) A metropolitan planning organization.
(6) A multi-jurisdictional group applying through a single
lead applicant.
(c) Application Process.--
(1) In general.--An eligible applicant may apply for a
grant under this section by submitting an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may reasonably require to evaluate
the merits of the proposed project in accordance with the
selection criteria set forth in subsection (d).
(2) Technical assistance.--
(A) State departments of transportation.--Eligible
rural and regional partnership applicants are strongly
encouraged to seek technical assistance from the
department of transportation in their respective States
during the application process and during the
implementation of a project that is awarded a SMART
grant, as applicable.
(B) Federal department of transportation.--The
Secretary, after reviewing all of the applications for
SMART grants submitted in a fiscal year under
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a), shall--
(i) provide not fewer than 2 applicants
from each of the 3 groups of applicants that
submitted applications deemed superior by the
Secretary with limited technical assistance to
improve their respective applications; and
(ii) allow such applicants to resubmit
their improved applications before determining
which applicants will receive a SMART grant in
such fiscal year.
(3) Multiple grants.--An eligible applicant may not be
awarded more than 1 SMART grant during the duration of the
SMART Grant Program.
(d) Selection Criteria.--
(1) In general.--A panel of experts from the Department of
Transportation, including representatives from the applicable
subagencies within the Department and representatives from any
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Smart
Cities and Communities Projects, shall evaluate applications
for SMART grants based on the applicable criteria described in
paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) Applicant readiness.--The panel referred to in
paragraph (1) shall determine the extent to which the applicant
or applicant community--
(A) has a dense urban population typical for a
large or mid-sized American city (except for grants
described in subsection (a)(3));
(B) represents more than 15 percent of the
population of the census-designated place in which it
is located, according to the Census Bureau's most
recent annual estimates of resident population;
(C) has a public transportation system or other
transit options committed to integrating with the
sharing economy, and is considering options to reduce
the frequency of single occupancy vehicles;
(D) has an environment that is conducive to
demonstrating proposed strategies;
(E) has continuity of committed leadership and
capacity to carry out the proposed project;
(F) is committed to making open, machine-readable
data accessible, discoverable, and usable by the
public, in a secure fashion, to fuel entrepreneurship
and innovation; and
(G) is likely to successfully implement the
project, including technical and financial commitments
from public and private sectors, and its functional
capability to perform.
(3) Effective use of technology and project benefits.--The
panel shall determine the extent to which the proposed project
will use advanced data and intelligent transportation systems
technologies and applications to provide significant benefits
to a local area, a State, a region, or the United States,
including the extent to which the project will--
(A) reduce congestion and delays for commerce and
the traveling public;
(B) improve the safety of transportation facilities
and systems for pedestrians, bicyclists, and the
broader traveling public;
(C) provide access to jobs, education, and
essential services, including health care;
(D) connect underserved populations and reduce
their transportation costs;
(E) contribute to medium- and long-term economic
competitiveness;
(F) improve the condition, reliability, and user
experience of existing transportation facilities and
systems;
(G) promote connectivity between connected
vehicles, roadway infrastructure, pedestrians,
bicyclists, the public, and transportation systems;
(H) use innovative strategies or technologies to
pursue any of the primary selection criteria;
(I) demonstrate strong collaboration among a broad
range of participants, including the private sector,
job centers, or the integration of transportation with
other public service efforts, including working with
existing mobile and fixed telecommunication service
provides whenever possible;
(J) improve the overall environment, including
through improved energy efficiency, reduced dependence
on oil, or reduced pollution;
(K) promote or improve positive public health
outcomes for a community;
(L) increase resiliency of the transportation
system;
(M) incorporate relevant security solutions and
address emergency situations based on the scope and
necessity;
(N) includes sufficient technical, physical, and
administrative measures to ensure security of
information and protection of individuals' privacy; and
(O) address issues identified by the Department of
Transportation in the Beyond Traffic 2045 report.
(e) Use of Grant Funds.--
(1) Vision elements.--A SMART grant may be used for a
project that demonstrates a sound, innovative, integrated, and
holistic approach and incorporates many aspects of the
applicable vision elements set forth in this paragraph.
(A) Coordinated automation.--The use of automated
transportation and autonomous vehicles, which offer
tremendous possibilities for enhancing safety,
mobility, accessibility, equity, and the environment,
while working to minimize the impact on the
accessibility of any other user group or mode of
travel.
(B) Connected vehicles.--Connected vehicles, which
send and receive information about their movements in
the network, use vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-
infrastructure, and vehicle-to-pedestrian
communications to provide connectivity that will enable
countless safety, mobility, and environmental
applications.
(C) Intelligent, sensor based infrastructure.--The
use of a collective intelligent infrastructure allows
sensors to collect and report real-time data to inform
every day transportation-related operations,
performance, and trends of a community, ensuring that
data collection and dissemination is conducted in a
safe, secure manner.
(D) Architecture and standards.--The explicit use
of architectures, which--
(i) are governed by rules, documentation,
and standards;
(ii) may be extended to a nationwide or
broader deployment;
(iii) are defined and demonstrate
integration of intelligent transportation
systems with other systems which comprise a
smart community; and
(iv) include a description of the required
interfaces to other systems that utilize
existing networking or other standards, if
available, and any new standards that may be
needed.
(E) Low cost, efficient, secure, and resilient
information and communications technology.--Strategies
and practices that advance information and
communications technology that is affordable,
adaptable, efficient, secure and resilient, including
integrated telecommunications platforms, enterprise
software, storage, and visualization systems.
(F) Smart land use.--Strategies and practices that
ensure land use is efficiently optimized through a
combination of planning and innovation deployments
designed to lead to a better connected community that
incorporates new modes of shared and sustainable
transportation into its existing infrastructure,
expanding the range of transportation choices and
access to employment, housing, education and health
services, which may include--
(i) the establishment of value capture
programs and value capture districts to use a
portion of the increase in value resulting
infrastructure investments as part of a mixed
package of funding for the infrastructure and
other public benefits; and
(ii) planning updates and policy changes to
increase the supply of housing located in
proximity to public transportation services.
(G) Comprehensive analytics.--The development of
platforms for understanding and analyzing data to
address complex challenges, including personal safety
and mobility, network efficiency, and environmental
sustainability, and measuring the performance of a
transportation network.
(H) User-focused mobility services and choices.--
Strategies, initiatives, and services, including
connected vehicles, automated vehicles, and ride,
bicycle, and scooter share innovations, consistent with
current law, that increase transportation choices and
options by supporting and improving mobility for all
travelers, including aging Americans and persons with
disabilities and advanced traveler information systems
that provide real-time traffic, transit, parking, and
other transportation-related information to travelers.
(I) Commerce delivery and logistics.--Innovative
solutions supporting efficient goods movement in ways
that use data or deploy technology, such as connected
vehicle probe data, road weather data, or GPS, to
create opportunities for a more efficient supply chain
approach that delivers safer logistics management,
improved on-time pickups and delivery, improved travel
time reliability, reduced fuel consumption, and reduced
labor and vehicle maintenance costs.
(J) Leverage the use of innovative aviation
technology.--Leveraging the use of innovative aviation
technologies, such as unmanned aircraft systems, to
support transportation safety and efficiencies,
including traffic monitoring and infrastructure
inspection.
(K) Strategic business models and partnering
opportunities.--Creative strategic partnerships that--
(i) draw in stakeholders, including private
sector, nonprofit, foundation, philanthropic,
academia, and other public agencies, to advance
SMART grant solutions; and
(ii) may include collaboration among
transit agencies and other transportation
providers to integrate multiple transportation
services for increased efficiency, reliability,
and convenience in first and last mile travel.
(L) Smart grid, roadway electrification, and
electric vehicles.--Strategies and initiatives that--
(i) leverage the smart grid (a programmable
and efficient energy transmission and
distribution system) to support the adoption or
expansion of roadway electrification, energy
capture, and electric vehicle deployment,
including electrically assisted bicycles, or
freight or commercial fleet fuel efficiency;
and
(ii) explore and utilize interactions
between electric vehicles and intelligent
transportation systems with the smart grid.
(M) Synchronization of technology.--Strategies and
initiatives that utilize technology, such as integrated
mobile commerce infrastructure--
(i) to enhance public interaction with
transportation systems;
(ii) to increase intermodal efficiency; and
(iii) to accelerate the transition to open
payment fare systems, broadband, GPS, or Wi-Fi
access.
(N) Connected, involved citizens.--Strategies,
local campaigns, and processes to proactively engage
and inform citizens at the individual level by
deploying hardware, software, and open data platforms
in an effort to increase personal mobility.
(2) Eligible project costs.--A SMART grant may be used
for--
(A) development phase activities, including a
reasonable amount of funding, as determined by the
Secretary, for--
(i) planning;
(ii) feasibility analysis;
(iii) revenue forecasting;
(iv) environmental review;
(v) permitting;
(vi) preliminary engineering and design
work;
(vii) acquisition of real property
(including land related to the eligible project
and improvements to land);
(viii) systems development or information
technology work; and
(ix) other preconstruction activities; and
(B) construction phase activities, including--
(i) construction;
(ii) reconstruction;
(iii) rehabilitation;
(iv) replacement;
(v) environmental mitigation;
(vi) construction contingencies; and
(vii) acquisition of equipment, including
vehicles.
(3) Prohibited use of grant funds.--SMART grants may not be
used--
(A) to reimburse any pre-award costs or application
preparation costs under the proposed project
application;
(B) for traffic or parking enforcement activities;
or
(C) to purchase or lease license plate readers.
(f) Transparency.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall include, in any notice
of funding availability, a full description of how applications
will be evaluated against the criteria set forth in subsection
(d).
(2) Consultations on decisions.--After all SMART grants
have been awarded for a fiscal year, the Secretary (or the
Secretary's designee) shall be available to communicate
directly with and have a debrief with each unsuccessful
applicant.
(g) Submission of Application for Other Federal Transportation
Funding Programs To Carry Out Proposed SMART Grant Projects.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an eligible project under
this section is deemed to be an eligible project under any of the
following programs:
(1) The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage
Development (BUILD) discretionary grant program (previously
known as the ``Transportation Investment Generating Economic
Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grants'') established under
title XII of division A of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
(2) The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant
program (previously known as the ``Nationally Significant
Freight and Highway Projects Program'') established under
section 117 of title 23, United States Code.
(3) The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and
Innovation program (commonly known as ``TIFIA'') established
under chapter 6 of title 23, United States Code.
(4) The Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing
Program of the Federal Railroad Administration established
under title V of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory
Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 821 et seq.).
(5) The Capital Investment Grants Program of the Federal
Transit Administration authorized under section 5309 of title
49, United States Code.
(6) The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement
Program of the Federal Highway Administration established
pursuant to section 149 of title 23, United States Code.
(7) The Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management
Technologies Deployment program (commonly known as ``ATCMTD'')
established under section 503(c)(4) of title 23, United States
Code.
SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Report to Secretary.--Not later than 3 years after the date on
which a SMART grant recipient receives a grant under section 4, and
annually thereafter until such grant is expended, the recipient shall
submit an implementation report to the Secretary that describes--
(1) the deployment and operational costs compared to the
benefits and savings from the project; and
(2) how the project has met the original expectation as
projected in the deployment plan submitted with the
application, including--
(A) data on how the project--
(i) affected the measurement and
improvement of transportation system
performance through the deployment of advanced
technologies;
(ii) reduced traffic-related fatalities and
injuries;
(iii) reduced traffic congestion, improved
travel time reliability, and reduced costs;
(iv) reduced transportation-related
emissions;
(v) optimized multimodal system
performance;
(vi) improved access to all transportation
alternatives;
(vii) implemented technological innovation
to increase efficiency with regards to
intermodal communication, energy consumption,
information and communications technology, and
personal mobility;
(viii) provided the public with access to
real-time integrated traffic, transit, and
multimodal transportation information to make
informed travel decisions;
(ix) provided cost savings to
transportation agencies, businesses, and the
traveling public;
(x) provided other benefits to
transportation users and the general public;
(xi) reduced barriers or improved access to
jobs, education, or various essential services;
and
(xii) utilized partnerships with the
private sector, such as creative strategic
partnerships, which--
(I) draw in stakeholders, including
the private sector, nonprofit
organizations, foundations,
philanthropic organizations, academia,
and other public agencies, to advance
SMART grant solutions; and
(II) may include collaboration
among transit agencies and other
transportation providers to integrate
multiple transportation services for
increased efficiency, reliability, and
convenience in first and last mile
travel;
(B) the effectiveness of providing real-time
integrated traffic, transit, and multimodal
transportation information to the public to make
informed travel decisions; and
(C) lessons learned and recommendations for future
deployment strategies to optimize transportation
efficiency and multimodal system performance.
(b) GAO Biennial Reviews.--Not later than 2 years after the first
SMART grant is awarded, and biennially thereafter, the Comptroller
General of the United States shall conduct a review of the SMART grant
selection process and submit a report containing the results of such
review to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate,
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Energy
and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
(c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date on
which initial grants are awarded under section 4, the Secretary shall
submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate,
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives,
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives that--
(1) describes all of the grant recipients;
(2) identifies the amount each grant recipient was awarded;
(3) summarizes the intended uses for the grants;
(4) describes the effectiveness of SMART grant recipients
in meeting their projected deployment plan;
(5) analyzes how the projects funded by such grants or by
other Department of Transportation financial assistance
described in section 4(f) have--
(A) affected the measurement and improvement of
transportation system performance through the
deployment of advanced technologies;
(B) reduced traffic-related fatalities and
injuries;
(C) reduced traffic congestion, improved travel
time reliability, and reduced costs;
(D) reduced transportation-related emissions;
(E) optimized multimodal system performance;
(F) improved access to all transportation
alternatives;
(G) implemented technological innovation to
increase efficiency with regards to intermodal
communication, energy consumption, information and
communications technology, and personal mobility;
(H) provided the public with access to real-time
integrated traffic, transit, and multimodal
transportation information to make informed travel
decisions;
(I) provided cost savings to transportation
agencies, businesses, and the traveling public;
(J) provided other benefits to transportation users
and the general public;
(K) reduced barriers or improved access to jobs,
education, or various essential services;
(L) utilized partnerships with the private sector,
such as creative strategic partnerships, which--
(i) draw in stakeholders, including the
private sector, nonprofit organizations,
foundations, philanthropic organizations,
academia, and other public agencies, to advance
SMART grant solutions; and
(ii) may include collaboration among
transit agencies and other transportation
providers to integrate multiple transportation
services for increased efficiency, reliability,
and convenience in first and last mile travel;
and
(M) effectively provided real-time integrated
traffic, transit, and multimodal transportation
information to the public to make informed travel
decisions; and
(6) describes lessons learned and recommendations for
future deployment strategies to optimize transportation
efficiency and multimodal system performance.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Department of Transportation $100,000,000 for each of the first 5
fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, of
which--
(1) not more than 80 percent shall be used for SMART grants
to large communities and mid-sized communities under paragraphs
(1) and (2) of section 4(a);
(2) not more than 20 percent shall be used for SMART grants
to rural communities or regional partnerships under section
4(a)(3); and
(3) not more than 2 percent shall be used for
administrative costs by the Office of the Secretary within the
Department of Transportation.
(b) Limitation.--A grant recipient may not use more than 2 percent
of the grant award each fiscal year to carry out reporting
specifications required under the administration of this program.
(c) Availability.--Amounts appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant
to this section shall be available for obligation during the 2-year
period beginning on the first day of the fiscal year for which such
amounts were appropriated.
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