[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2991 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2991
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out an active
transportation investment program to make grants to eligible applicants
to build safe and connected options for bicycles and walkers within and
between communities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 4, 2021
Mr. Pappas (for himself, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms.
Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Welch, Mr. Neal, Ms. McCollum, Mrs. Napolitano,
Mr. Carson, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Larson of
Connecticut, and Ms. Tlaib) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out an active
transportation investment program to make grants to eligible applicants
to build safe and connected options for bicycles and walkers within and
between communities, 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 ``Connecting America's Active
Transportation System Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Nearly half of the trips taken in the United States are
within a 20-minute bicycle ride, and nearly a quarter of such
trips are within a 20-minute walk.
(2) Approximately 90 percent of public transportation trips
are accessible by walking or bicycling.
(3) Communities that invest in active transportation
infrastructure experience significant increases in bicycling
and walking rates over time, and such investments are in strong
demand because they lead to a higher quality of life, better
health, a stronger economy, and increased mobility in
communities where investments are made.
(4) The communities that perform best in encouraging active
transportation create interconnected systems that make it
convenient and safe to travel on foot or by bicycle to
destinations on a routine basis.
(5) Achieving a mode shift to active transportation within
a community requires intensive, concentrated funding of active
transportation systems rather than discrete, piecemeal
projects.
(6) Increased use of active transportation reduces traffic
congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle miles traveled,
and rates of obesity and chronic disease associated with
physical inactivity.
(7) Given the contribution that active transportation makes
to national policy goals, and the opportunity active
transportation provides to accommodate short trips at the least
cost to the public and individuals, funding of active
transportation is one of the most strategic and cost effective
Federal transportation investments available.
(8) The Federal Government is uniquely qualified to
facilitate interstate connections necessary to build long
distance active transportation spines and regional connections
in communities that span State boundaries.
SEC. 3. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out an active
transportation infrastructure investment program to make grants, on a
competitive basis, to eligible organizations to construct eligible
projects to provide safe and connected active transportation facilities
in an active transportation network or active transportation spine.
(b) Application.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an eligible organization shall submit to the
Secretary an application in such manner and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
(2) Eligible projects partially on federal land.--With
respect to an application for an eligible project that is
located in part on Federal lands, an eligible organization
shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the appropriate
Federal agency with jurisdiction over such land to submit an
application described in paragraph (1).
(c) Application Considerations.--In making a grant for construction
of an active transportation network or active transportation spine
under this section, the Secretary shall consider the following:
(1) Whether the eligible organization submitted a plan for
an eligible project for the development of walking and
bicycling infrastructure that is likely to provide substantial
additional opportunities for walking and bicycling, including
effective plans to--
(A) create an active transportation network
connecting destinations within or between communities,
including schools, workplaces, residences, businesses,
recreation areas, and other community areas, or create
an active transportation spine connecting two or more
communities, metropolitan regions, or States; and
(B) integrate active transportation facilities with
transit services, where available, to improve access to
public transportation.
(2) Whether the eligible organization demonstrates broad
community support through--
(A) the use of public input in the development of
transportation plans; and
(B) the commitment of community leaders to the
success and timely implementation of an eligible
project.
(3) Whether the eligible organization provides evidence of
commitment to traffic safety, regulations, financial
incentives, or community design policies that facilitate
significant increases in walking and bicycling.
(4) The extent to which the eligible organization
demonstrates commitment of State, local, or eligible Federal
matching funds, and land or in-kind contributions, in addition
to the local match required under subsection (f)(1), unless the
applicant qualifies for an exception under subsection (f)(2).
(5) The extent to which the eligible organization
demonstrates that the grant will address existing disparities
in bicyclist and pedestrian fatality rates based on race or
income level or provide access to jobs and services for low-
income communities and communities of color.
(6) Whether the eligible organization demonstrates how
investment in active transportation will advance safety for
pedestrians and cyclists, accessibility to jobs and key
destinations, economic competitiveness, environmental
protection, and quality of life.
(d) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--Of the amounts made available to carry out
this section and except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall obligate--
(A) not less than 30 percent to eligible projects
that construct active transportation networks that
connect people with public transportation, businesses,
workplaces, schools, residences, recreation areas, and
other community activity centers; and
(B) not less than 30 percent to eligible projects
that construct active transportation spines.
(2) Planning and design grants.--Each fiscal year, the
Secretary shall set aside not less than $3,000,000 from the
funds made available to carry out this section to provide
planning grants for eligible organizations to develop plans for
active transportation networks and active transportation
spines.
(3) Administrative costs.--Each fiscal year, the Secretary
shall set aside not more than $2,000,000 of the funds made
available to carry out this section to cover the costs of
administration, research, technical assistance, communications,
and training activities under the program.
(4) Limitation on statutory construction.--Nothing in this
subsection shall be construed to prohibit an eligible
organization from receiving research or other funds under
titles 23 or 49, United States Code.
(e) Grant Timing.--
(1) Request for application.--Not later than 30 days after
funds are made available to carry out this section, the
Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a request for
applications for grants under this section.
(2) Selection of grant recipients.--Not later than 150 days
after funds are made available to carry out this section, the
Secretary shall select grant recipients for grants under this
section.
(f) Federal Share.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Federal share of a grant under this section shall not exceed 80
percent of the total project cost.
(2) Exception for disadvantaged communities.--For projects
serving communities with a poverty rate of over 40 percent
based on the majority of census tracts served by such project,
the Secretary may increase the Federal share of a grant under
this section up to 100 percent of the total project cost.
(g) Contract Authority.--Funds made available to carry out this
section shall be available for obligation and administered in the same
manner as if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23,
United States Code, except that the funds shall remain available until
expended and shall not be transferrable.
(h) Assistance to Indian Tribes.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary may enter into grant agreements, self determination contracts
and self-governance compacts under the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) with eligible Indian
tribes and such agreements, contracts, and compacts shall be
administered in accordance with such Act.
(i) Reports.--
(1) Interim report.--Not later than September 30, 2023, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the
information described in paragraph (3).
(2) Final report.--Not later than September 30, 2025, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the
information described in paragraph (3).
(3) Report information.--A report submitted under this
subsection shall contain the following:
(A) A list of grants made under this section.
(B) Best practices of recipients in implementing
active transportation projects.
(C) Impediments experienced by recipients of grants
under this section in developing and shifting to active
transportation.
(j) Rule Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a final rule that
encourages the use of the programmatic categorical exclusion, expedited
procurement techniques, and other best practices to facilitate
productive and timely expenditures for projects that are small, low
impact, and constructed within an existing built environment.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit
Account) $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to
carry out this section.
(l) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Active transportation.--The term ``active
transportation'' means mobility options powered primarily by
human energy, including bicycling and walking.
(2) Active transportation network.--The term ``active
transportation network'' means facilities built for active
transportation, including sidewalks, bikeways, and pedestrian
and bicycle trails, that connect between destinations within a
community or metropolitan region.
(3) Active transportation spine.--The term ``active
transportation spine'' means facilities built for active
transportation, including sidewalks, bikeways, and pedestrian
and bicycle trails that connect between communities,
metropolitan regions, or States.
(4) Community.--The term ``community'' means a geographic
area that is socioeconomically interdependent and may include
rural, suburban, and urban jurisdictions.
(5) Eligible organization.--The term ``eligible
organization'' means--
(A) a local or regional governmental organization,
including a metropolitan planning organization or
regional planning organization or council;
(B) a multi-county special district;
(C) a State;
(D) a multi-state group of governments; or
(E) an Indian tribe.
(6) Eligible project.--The term ``eligible project'' means
an active transportation project or group of projects--
(A) within or between a community or group of
communities, at least one of which falls within the
jurisdiction of an eligible organization, which has
submitted an application under this section; and
(B) that has--
(i) a total cost of not less than
$15,000,000; or
(ii) with respect to planning and design
grants, planning and design costs of not less
than $100,000.
(7) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)).
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(9) Total project cost.--The term ``total project cost''
means the sum total of all costs incurred in the development of
a project that are approved by the Secretary as reasonable and
necessary, including--
(A) the cost of acquiring real property;
(B) the cost of site preparation, demolition, and
development;
(C) expenses related to the issuance of bonds or
notes;
(D) fees in connection with the planning,
execution, and financing of the project;
(E) the cost of studies, surveys, plans, permits,
insurance, interest, financing, tax, and assessment
costs;
(F) the cost of construction, rehabilitation,
reconstruction, and equipping the project;
(G) the cost of land improvements;
(H) contractor fees;
(I) the cost of training and education related to
the safety of users of any bicycle or pedestrian
network or spine constructed as part of an eligible
project; and
(J) any other cost that the Secretary determines is
necessary and reasonable.
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