[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 386 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 386
To amend title 23, United States Code, with respect to funding for
certain safety projects, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 21, 2021
Mr. Brown (for himself, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Titus, Ms. Brownley, Mr.
Espaillat, Mr. Carson, and Mr. Cohen) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, with respect to funding for
certain safety projects, 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 ``Safe Routes to School Expansion
Act''.
SEC. 2. HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
Section 148 of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (4)(B)--
(i) by striking clause (xviii) and
inserting the following:
``(xviii) Safe Routes to School
infrastructure related projects described in
section 211(e).'';
(ii) in clause (xxvi) by inserting ``or
leading pedestrian intervals'' after
``beacons'';
(iii) by redesignating clause (xxviii) as
clause (xxix);
(iv) by inserting after clause (xxvii) the
following:
``(xxviii) Installation of infrastructure
improvements, including sidewalks, crosswalks,
signage, and bus stop shelters or protected
waiting areas.''; and
(v) in clause (xxix), as redesignated, by
striking ``(xxvii)'' and inserting
``(xxviii)'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (12)
as paragraphs (11) through (13), respectively;
(C) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
``(10) Safety project under any other section.--
``(A) In general.--The term `safety project under
any other section' means a project carried out for the
purposes of safety under any section of this title
other than this section.
``(B) Inclusion.--The term `safety project under
any other section' includes a project, consistent with
the State strategic highway safety plan, that--
``(i) promotes public awareness and informs
the public regarding highway safety matters
(including motorcycle safety and school bus
stop safety);
``(ii) facilitates enforcement of traffic
safety laws; and
``(iii) supports Safe Routes to School non-
infrastructure projects, as described in
section 211(e).''; and
(D) in paragraph (12)(A), as so redesignated--
(i) in clause (ix) by striking ``and'';
(ii) by redesignating clause (x) as clause
(xi); and
(iii) by inserting after clause (ix) the
following:
``(x) State or local representatives of
educational agencies to address Safe Routes to
School and school bus safety; and'';
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(A) by striking ``(11)'' and
inserting ``(12)'';
(3) in subsection (d)(2)(B)(i) by striking ``(11)'' and
inserting ``(12)''; and
(4) in subsection (e) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Flexible funding for safety projects under any other
section.--
``(A) In general.--To advance the implementation of
a State strategic highway plan, a State may use not
more than 25 percent of the amounts apportioned to the
State under section 104(b)(3) for a fiscal year to
carry out safety projects under any other section.
``(B) Other transportation and safety plans.--
Nothing in this paragraph requires a State to revise
any State process, plan, or program in effect on the
date of enactment of this paragraph.
``(C) Effect of paragraph.--
``(i) Requirements.--A project funded under
this paragraph shall be subject to all
requirements under this section that apply to a
highway safety improvement project.
``(ii) Other apportioned programs.--
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to amounts
that may be obligated for non-infrastructure
projects apportioned under any other paragraph
of section 104(b).''.
SEC. 3. FEDERAL SHARE PAYABLE.
Section 120(c)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ``an improvement for pedestrian or bicyclist safety or safety
of people with disabilities, Safe Routes to School improvements,''
after ``utility poles,''.
SEC. 4. SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Chapter 2 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 210 the following:
``Sec. 211. Safe routes to school program
``(a) Program.--The Secretary shall carry out a safe routes to
school program for the benefit of children in primary, middle, and high
schools.
``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the program shall be--
``(1) to enable and encourage children, including those
with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school;
``(2) to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and
more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging
a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age; and
``(3) to facilitate the planning, development, and
implementation of projects and activities that will improve
safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution
in the vicinity of schools.
``(c) Use of Funds.--Amounts apportioned to a State under
paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 104(b) may be used to carry out
projects, programs, and other activities under this section.
``(d) Eligible Entities.--Projects, programs, and activities funded
under this section may be carried out by eligible entities described
under section 133(h)(4)(B) that demonstrate an ability to meet the
requirements of this section.
``(e) Eligible Projects and Activities.--
``(1) Infrastructure-related projects.--
``(A) In general.--A State may obligate funds under
this section for the planning, design, and construction
of infrastructure-related projects that will
substantially improve the ability of students to walk
and bicycle to school, including sidewalk improvements,
traffic calming and speed reduction improvements,
pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, on-street
bicycle facilities, off-street bicycle and pedestrian
facilities, secure bicycle parking facilities, and
traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of
schools.
``(B) Location of projects.--Infrastructure-related
projects under subparagraph (A) may be carried out on
any public road or any bicycle or pedestrian pathway or
trail in the vicinity of schools.
``(2) Noninfrastructure-related activities.--In addition to
projects described in paragraph (1), a State may obligate funds
under this section for noninfrastructure-related activities to
encourage walking and bicycling to school, including--
``(A) public awareness campaigns and outreach to
press and community leaders;
``(B) traffic education and enforcement in the
vicinity of schools;
``(C) student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian
safety, health, and environment;
``(D) programs that address personal safety; and
``(E) funding for training, volunteers, and
managers of safe routes to school programs.
``(3) Safe routes to school coordinator.--Each State
receiving an apportionment under paragraphs (2) and (3) of
section 104(b) shall use a sufficient amount of the
apportionment to fund a full-time position of coordinator of
the State's safe routes to school program.
``(4) Rural school district outreach.--A coordinator
described in paragraph (3) shall conduct outreach to ensure
that rural school districts in the State are aware of such
State's safe routes to school program and any funds authorized
by this section.
``(f) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project,
program, or activity under this section shall be 100 percent.
``(g) Clearinghouse.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall maintain a national
safe routes to school clearinghouse to--
``(A) develop information and educational programs
on safe routes to school; and
``(B) provide technical assistance and disseminate
techniques and strategies used for successful safe
routes to school programs.
``(2) Funding.--The Secretary shall carry out this
subsection using amounts authorized to be appropriated for
administrative expenses under section 104(a).
``(h) Treatment of Projects.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, projects carried out under this section shall be treated as
projects on a Federal-aid highway under chapter 1 of this title.
``(i) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions
apply:
``(1) In the vicinity of schools.--The term `in the
vicinity of schools' means, with respect to a school, the area
within bicycling and walking distance of the school
(approximately 2 miles).
``(2) Primary, middle, and high schools.--The term
`primary, middle, and high schools' means schools providing
education from kindergarten through twelfth grade.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Repeal.--Section 1404 of SAFETEA-LU (Public Law 109-59;
119 Stat. 1228-1230), and the item relating to such section in
the table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act, are
repealed.
(2) Analysis.--The analysis for chapter 2 of title 23,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 210 the following:
``211. Safe routes to school program.''.
<all>