[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5922 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5922
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program
for the provision of competitive grants to eligible entities for use
improving the availability of accessible microtransit services to
individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 4, 2025
Mr. Stanton (for himself and Mr. Bresnahan) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program
for the provision of competitive grants to eligible entities for use
improving the availability of accessible microtransit services to
individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments, 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 ``Improving Accessibility Through
Microtransit Act''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR PROVISION OF GRANTS TO IMPROVE MICROTRANSIT
SERVICES.
(a) Pilot Program.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting through
the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, shall
establish a pilot program (herein referred to as the ``Pilot Program'')
under which the Secretary may make grants, on a competitive basis, to
covered entities for use improving the availability of microtransit
services to individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments,
including individuals who use a wheelchair.
(b) Eligibility.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
the Pilot Program, a covered entity must submit an application
at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require,
and that includes the following information:
(A) A description of the types of disabilities or
mobility impairments of individuals the covered entity
expects to provide with microtransit services through
the expenditure of grant funds.
(B) The approximate square miles of the geographic
area in which the covered entity expects to provide
microtransit services through the expenditure of grant
funds.
(C) Any additional information as the Secretary may
require.
(2) Public-private partnership.--A covered entity may
submit an application on behalf of a partnership between a
covered entity and a private entity for the provision of a
microtransit service.
(c) Selection.--
(1) Criteria.--In selecting applicants to receive a grant
under the Pilot Program, the Secretary shall select a covered
entity based on criteria established by the Secretary.
(2) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize for receipt
of a grant under the Pilot Program applicants--
(A) whose applications demonstrate how each
microtransit service intended to be acquired or
provided using grant funds will--
(i) provide greater accessibility for
individuals with disabilities or mobility
impairments;
(ii) address a lack of accessible service
in the geographic area in which the covered
entity expects to provide microtransit services
through the expenditure of grant funds; and
(iii) deliver economic benefits in such
geographic area, such as improving access to
jobs or promoting local economic development
through enhanced mobility; and
(B) that intend to use grant funds to--
(i) provide wheelchair accessible vehicles
and accessible mobile applications for use in
microtransit services;
(ii) enable low-income individuals,
including individuals without access to
smartphone technology or a credit card, to
access any transportation services made
available through the project;
(iii) carry out an allowable use described
in subsection (e) that improves the performance
of the transit and microtransit services system
of the applicant;
(iv) accelerate the deployment of advanced
transit technologies, including shared-use
mobility services;
(v) improve safety within the area serviced
by the applicant; or
(vi) directly hire workers to perform
microtransit services within the system of the
applicant.
(d) Grant Amount Limitation.--In carrying out the Pilot Program,
the Secretary may not issue a grant for an amount greater than
$3,000,000.
(e) Allowable Uses.--A recipient of a grant under the Pilot Program
may use grant funds for the following uses:
(1) To purchase or lease a covered vehicle for use in a
microtransit service existing as of the date on which the
recipient submits an application in accordance with subsection
(b).
(2) To fund initial training for individuals to be able to
drive a covered vehicle operating in a mircotransit service of
the recipient.
(3) To fund continuing education training for drivers of a
covered vehicle operating in a microtransit service of the
recipient.
(4) To contract for the provision of activities necessary
for the provisions of a microtransit service, including capital
management and operations-related activities.
(5) To acquire software or license technology that
facilitates microtransit services.
(6) Any other uses determined by the Secretary to improve
the accessibility or availability of microtransit services for
individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments.
(f) Camera System Requirement.--
(1) Stipulation.--As a condition of receiving funds under
the Pilot Program, each recipient shall agree to install, if
necessary, and maintain on each vehicle of the microtransit
service of the recipient an interior camera system--
(A) capable of recording passengers and drivers on
the vehicle; and
(B) that may--
(i) continuously record video and audio
while the vehicle is engaged in passenger
service;
(ii) be tamper-resistant;
(iii) retain recordings for 30 days or
more; and
(iv) produce recordings in a format
accessible to the recipient and, upon lawful
request, law enforcement.
(2) Recording access limitations.--A recording produced by
an interior camera system maintained pursuant to paragraph (1)
may not be released to the public and access to the recording
shall be limited to--
(A) employees of the recipient who the recipient
authorizes to access; and
(B) law enforcement pursuant to a lawful request.
(g) Labor Standards.--The Secretary shall apply the requirements of
section 5333 of title 49, United States Code, to projects financed with
Pilot Program grant funds.
(h) Termination.--The authority to carry out the Pilot Program
under this section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after
the date on which the Pilot Program commences.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary $20,000,000 to carry out this section.
Such amount is authorized to remain available through the fiscal year
in which the Pilot Program is terminated pursuant to subsection (f).
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means--
(A) a State government;
(B) a local government;
(C) a Tribal organization; or
(D) a metropolitan planning organization.
(2) Covered vehicle.--The term ``covered vehicle'' means a
multi-passenger vehicle that, to be accessible to individuals
with disabilities or mobility impairments (including
individuals who use a wheelchair), is equipped with handicap
accessible designs, including--
(A) a ramp;
(B) a hydraulic mechanism designed to load and
unload a wheelchair; and
(C) any other handicap accessible designs
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(3) Fixed route system.--The term ``fixed route system''
has the meaning given such term in section 221 of the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12141).
(4) Microtransit service.--The term ``microtransit
service'' means a technology-enabled, on-demand service with
dynamically generated routing that uses a managed fleet of
multi-passenger vehicles dedicated to that service.
(5) On-demand service.--With respect to a microtransit
service, the term ``on-demand service'' includes the following:
(A) A service to connect an individual from a
starting point to a fixed route system or from a fixed
route system to a destination of the individual.
(B) A hub-to-hub zone-based service.
(C) A service that is a commingling of a general
transit service and a paratransit or other special
transportation service provided in accordance with
section 223 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12143).
(D) A point-to-point service within a specific zone
or limited geographic area.
(E) Any other similar service, as determined by the
Secretary of Transportation.
(6) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization''
has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304).
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