[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2008 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2008

       To enhance transportation programs in order to achieve an 
  interconnected transportation system which connects people to jobs, 
schools, and other essential services through a multimodal network, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 6, 2015

  Mr. Merkley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
    referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
       To enhance transportation programs in order to achieve an 
  interconnected transportation system which connects people to jobs, 
schools, and other essential services through a multimodal network, 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 ``Transportation, Access, and 
Opportunity Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN PLAN DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Section 134 Amendment.--Section 134(i) of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) Public involvement.--A metropolitan planning 
                organization shall offer interested parties, such as 
                the interested parties described in paragraph (6), a 
                reasonable opportunity to participate in the 
                development and consideration of scenarios.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (6)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``comment on 
                the transportation plan'' and inserting ``provide input 
                during the development and implementation of the 
                transportation plan''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``comment 
                on the contents of the transportation plan'' and 
                inserting ``provide input during the development and 
                implementation of the transportation plan''.
    (b) Section 135 Amendment.--Section 135(f)(3)(A)(ii) of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``comment on the 
transportation plan'' and inserting ``provide input during the 
development and implementation of the transportation plan''.
    (c) Section 5303 Amendment.--Section 5303(i) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) Public involvement.--A metropolitan planning 
                organization shall offer interested parties, such as 
                those described in paragraph (6), a reasonable 
                opportunity to participate in the development and 
                consideration of scenarios.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (6), by striking ``comment on the 
        transportation plan'' and inserting ``provide input during the 
        development and implementation of the transportation plan''.
    (d) Section 5304 Amendment.--Section 5304(f)(3)(A)(ii) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``comment on the proposed 
plan'' and inserting ``provide input during the development and 
implementation of the transportation plan''.

SEC. 3. CONNECTION TO OPPORTUNITIES NATIONAL GOAL AND POTENTIAL 
              PERFORMANCE MEASURE.

    (a) Transportation Connections to Opportunities.--Section 150(b) of 
title 23, United States Codes, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``highway infrastructure 
        asset system'' and inserting ``infrastructure asset system 
        under title 23''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) Multimodal connectivity.--To achieve an 
        interconnected transportation system which connects people to 
        jobs, schools, and other essential services through a 
        multimodal network.''.
    (b) Establishment of Performance Measures.--Section 150(c) of title 
23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``as listed in 
        paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6)'' before the period at the 
        end; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Transportation connectivity.--The Secretary may, in 
        accordance with the framework established in sections 134 and 
        135 of this title, establish a Performance Measure to be used 
        by metropolitan planning organizations to assess the degree to 
        which the transportation system provides multimodal connections 
        to economic opportunities, including job concentration areas, 
        health care services, child care services, and education and 
        workforce training services, particularly for disadvantaged 
        populations.''.

SEC. 4. MEASURING TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIVITY PILOT ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Title 23.--Section 134 of title 23, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting at the end, the 
following:
    ``(r) Measuring Transportation Connections to Opportunity.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
                    ``(A) the term `covered metropolitan planning 
                organization' means a metropolitan planning 
                organization selected by the Secretary under paragraph 
                (2)(B)(i).
                    ``(B) the term `opportunity' means job 
                concentration areas, schools, workforce training, child 
                care services, and health care services;
                    ``(C) the term `pilot location' means a location 
                selected by the Secretary under paragraph (2)(B)(i);
                    ``(D) the term `pilot program' means the Connection 
                to Opportunity Pilot Program established under 
                paragraph (2)(A); and
                    ``(E) the term `transportation-disadvantaged', with 
                respect to an individual or population, means any 
                individual or population of individuals who--
                            ``(i) face challenges in securing or 
                        accessing transportation due to age, 
                        disability, or income constraints, including 
                        lack of access to public transportation or a 
                        private vehicle; or
                            ``(ii) are members of a protected class 
                        listed in section 601 of the Civil Rights Act 
                        of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d).
            ``(2) Connection to opportunity pilot program.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish 
                a pilot program, to be known as the `Connection to 
                Opportunity Pilot Program', under which not more than 
                10 metropolitan planning organizations shall each 
                develop and deploy not less than 1 pilot project to 
                improve multimodal connectivity and increase 
                connections for transportation-disadvantaged 
                individuals and neighborhoods with limited 
                transportation options.
                    ``(B) Pilot locations.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                        select not more than 10 metropolitan planning 
                        organizations, each of which is a metropolitan 
                        planning organization serving an urbanized area 
                        with a population of more than 200,000 
                        individuals, which shall include--
                                    ``(I) metropolitan planning 
                                organizations that can demonstrate 
                                previous successful use of performance 
                                measurements and performance-based 
                                planning efforts, which the Secretary 
                                shall designate as mentor grantees; and
                                    ``(II) metropolitan planning 
                                organizations that have limited or no 
                                successful previous experience in 
                                performance measurements and 
                                performance-based planning efforts, 
                                which the Secretary shall designate as 
                                novice grantees.
                            ``(ii) Varying population sizes.--The 
                        Secretary shall ensure that the metropolitan 
                        planning organizations selected under clause 
                        (i) serve urbanized areas with varying 
                        population sizes.
                    ``(C) Pilot program activities.--
                            ``(i) Transportation connectivity 
                        inventory.--Not later than 6 months after the 
                        date on which the Secretary selects a pilot 
                        location and awards a grant under this 
                        subsection, and in consultation with 
                        appropriate States, transit agencies, and local 
                        governments, a covered metropolitan planning 
                        organization in the pilot location shall 
                        develop from existing data an inventory of 
                        transportation assets within the urbanized area 
                        served by the covered metropolitan planning 
                        organization, which shall describe--
                                    ``(I) the condition and quality of 
                                service of key highway, transit, 
                                bicycle, pedestrian, and carshare 
                                facilities;
                                    ``(II) the degree to which the 
                                facilities described in subclause (I) 
                                provide residents with connections to 
                                economic opportunities, including high 
                                job concentration areas, health care 
                                services, child care services, and 
                                education and workforce training 
                                services;
                                    ``(III) the identity and location 
                                of transportation-disadvantaged 
                                populations within the urbanized area 
                                and the disparity of services and 
                                facilities between those 
                                transportation-disadvantaged 
                                populations and non-transportation-
                                disadvantaged populations; and
                                    ``(IV) local challenges to 
                                multimodal connectivity, such as--
                                            ``(aa) zoning or land use 
                                        issues;
                                            ``(bb) availability of 
                                        affordable housing;
                                            ``(cc) availability of 
                                        accessible vehicles and 
                                        accessible transportation 
                                        facilities that meet the 
                                        standards contained in sections 
                                        37.7 and 37.9, respectively, of 
                                        title 49, Code of Federal 
                                        Regulations (or any successor 
                                        thereto); and
                                            ``(dd) barriers that 
                                        obstruct access from 
                                        residential areas to economic 
                                        opportunities, such as--

                                                    ``(AA) the amount 
                                                of time it takes to 
                                                reach economic 
                                                opportunities;

                                                    ``(BB) the average 
                                                cost of commuting for 
                                                transportation-
                                                disadvantaged 
                                                populations compared to 
                                                income levels; and

                                                    ``(CC) the number 
                                                of people served, by 
                                                income level.

                            ``(ii) Performance indicators.--Not later 
                        than 1 year after the date on which the 
                        Secretary selects a pilot location, a covered 
                        metropolitan planning organization in the pilot 
                        location shall apply the baseline data 
                        developed in the transportation connectivity 
                        inventory under clause (i) to adopt not less 
                        than 1 provisional indicator--
                                    ``(I) to measure multimodal 
                                connectivity in the transportation 
                                system to economic opportunities, 
                                including measurements of multimodal 
                                connectivity improvements available to 
                                populations identified in clause 
                                (i)(III); and
                                    ``(II) to appropriate to local 
                                assets and needs.
                            ``(iii) Data collection and reporting.--A 
                        covered metropolitan planning organization in a 
                        pilot location shall--
                                    ``(I) collect baseline and annual 
                                performance data on multimodal 
                                transportation connectivity to 
                                opportunity; and
                                    ``(II) submit the data described in 
                                subclause (I) to the Secretary for the 
                                duration of the pilot project.
                            ``(iv) Knowledge-sharing.--A covered 
                        metropolitan planning organization designated 
                        as a mentor grantee under subparagraph 
                        (B)(i)(I) shall, to the extent feasible, engage 
                        in knowledge-sharing activities with novice 
                        grantees designated under subparagraph 
                        (B)(i)(II), which may include peer exchanges 
                        and technical assistance, as appropriate to the 
                        level of performance measurement capacity of 
                        the mentor grantee.
                            ``(v) Project implementation.--
                        Notwithstanding section 120 of this title, a 
                        covered metropolitan planning organization may 
                        use funds remaining after the completion of the 
                        transportation connectivity inventory under 
                        clause (i), the adoption of provisional 
                        indicators under clause (ii), and related 
                        tracking activities to implement pilot projects 
                        within the urbanized area served by the covered 
                        metropolitan planning organization that are 
                        reasonably anticipated to address system gaps 
                        and improve performance according to the 
                        locally adopted provisional multimodal 
                        transportation connectivity measures.
                    ``(D) Termination.--The pilot program shall 
                terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date on 
                which the Secretary establishes the pilot program.
            ``(3) National performance measure development 
        activities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, using not more 
                than $5,000,000 of the amount authorized to be 
                appropriated under section 7(a) of the Transportation, 
                Access, and Opportunity Act of 2015, shall--
                            ``(i) evaluate multimodal connectivity 
                        measures developed by covered metropolitan 
                        planning organizations in pilot locations; and
                            ``(ii) consider development of a national 
                        indicator to measure the multimodal connections 
                        to opportunities provided by the transportation 
                        network.
                    ``(B) Activities.--To carry out the requirements 
                under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall perform the 
                following activities:
                            ``(i) National technical assistance and 
                        peer exchange forums.--The Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) support the measure 
                                development and data collection of 
                                covered metropolitan planning 
                                organizations in pilot locations 
                                through--
                                            ``(aa) technical assistance 
                                        and peer exchanges; and
                                            ``(bb) workshops with 
                                        States, transit agencies, and 
                                        covered metropolitan planning 
                                        organizations to discuss pilot 
                                        program findings; and
                                    ``(II) establish an online 
                                collaboration center for local 
                                jurisdictions to share ideas and 
                                challenges and document lessons 
                                learned.
                            ``(ii) Connection to opportunity final 
                        report.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Not later than 
                                180 days after the date on which the 
                                pilot program terminates, the 
                                Secretary, in consultation with the 
                                Secretary of Housing and Urban 
                                Development, the Secretary of Commerce, 
                                and the Administrator of the 
                                Environmental Protection Agency, shall 
                                seek public comment on and submit to 
                                Congress a final report detailing the 
                                results of the pilot program.
                                    ``(II) Contents.--The final report 
                                submitted under subclause (I) shall 
                                include--
                                            ``(aa) recommendations on 
                                        the establishment of 1 or more 
                                        national multimodal 
                                        connectivity measures;
                                            ``(bb) the results of the 
                                        efforts of covered metropolitan 
                                        planning organizations to 
                                        measure and improve multimodal 
                                        connectivity;
                                            ``(cc) the recommendations 
                                        of the Secretary on the 
                                        establishment of 1 or more 
                                        national multimodal 
                                        connectivity measures and the 
                                        integration of those measures 
                                        into the Federal transportation 
                                        performance management 
                                        framework in accordance with 
                                        section 150 of this title; and
                                            ``(dd) an assessment of the 
                                        impact of the pilot projects, 
                                        including--

                                                    ``(AA) social 
                                                outcomes and economic 
                                                impacts that may result 
                                                from the pilot 
                                                projects;

                                                    ``(BB) estimated 
                                                savings to Federal, 
                                                State, and local social 
                                                service subsidy 
                                                programs; and

                                                    ``(CC) other costs 
                                                avoided and new tax 
                                                revenues attributable 
                                                to increased 
                                                connectivity.

                            ``(iii) Potential rulemaking.--After the 
                        Secretary submits the final report to Congress 
                        under clause (ii), the Secretary, in 
                        consultation with State Departments of 
                        Transportation, metropolitan planning 
                        organizations, and other stakeholders, may 
                        promulgate a rulemaking that establishes 
                        performance measures and standards as described 
                        in section 150(c)(8) of this title.''.
    (b) Chapter 53.--Section 5303 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(r) Measuring Transportation Connections to Opportunity.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
                    ``(A) the term `covered metropolitan planning 
                organization' means a metropolitan planning 
                organization selected by the Secretary under paragraph 
                (2)(B)(i);
                    ``(B) the term `opportunity' means job 
                concentration areas, schools, workforce training, child 
                care services, and health care services;
                    ``(C) the term `pilot location' means a location 
                selected by the Secretary under paragraph (2)(B)(i);
                    ``(D) the term `pilot program' means the Connection 
                to Opportunity Pilot Program established under 
                paragraph (2)(A); and
                    ``(E) the term `transportation-disadvantaged', with 
                respect to an individual or population, means any 
                individual or population of individuals who--
                            ``(i) face challenges in securing or 
                        accessing transportation due to age, 
                        disability, or income constraints, including 
                        lack of access to public transportation or a 
                        private vehicle; or
                            ``(ii) are members of a protected class 
                        listed in section 601 of the Civil Rights Act 
                        of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d).
            ``(2) Connection to opportunity pilot program.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish 
                a pilot program, to be known as the `Connection to 
                Opportunity Pilot Program', under which not more than 
                10 metropolitan planning organizations shall each 
                develop and deploy not less than 1 pilot project to 
                improve multimodal connectivity and increase 
                connections for transportation-disadvantaged 
                individuals and neighborhoods with limited 
                transportation options.
                    ``(B) Pilot locations.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                        select not more than 10 metropolitan planning 
                        organizations, each of which is a metropolitan 
                        planning organization serving an urbanized area 
                        with a population of more than 200,000 
                        individuals, which shall include--
                                    ``(I) metropolitan planning 
                                organizations that can demonstrate 
                                previous successful use of performance 
                                measurements and performance-based 
                                planning efforts, which the Secretary 
                                shall designate as mentor grantees; and
                                    ``(II) metropolitan planning 
                                organizations that have limited or no 
                                successful previous experience in 
                                performance measurements and 
                                performance-based planning efforts, 
                                which the Secretary shall designate as 
                                novice grantees.
                            ``(ii) Varying population sizes.--The 
                        Secretary shall ensure that the metropolitan 
                        planning organizations selected under clause 
                        (i) serve urbanized areas with varying 
                        population sizes.
                    ``(C) Pilot program activities.--
                            ``(i) Transportation connectivity 
                        inventory.--Not later than 6 months after the 
                        date on which the Secretary selects a pilot 
                        location and awards a grant under this 
                        subsection, and in consultation with 
                        appropriate States, transit agencies, and local 
                        governments, a covered metropolitan planning 
                        organization in the pilot location shall 
                        develop from existing data an inventory of 
                        transportation assets within the urbanized area 
                        served by the covered metropolitan planning 
                        organization, which shall describe--
                                    ``(I) the condition and quality of 
                                service of key highway, transit, 
                                bicycle, pedestrian, and carshare 
                                facilities;
                                    ``(II) the degree to which the 
                                facilities described in subclause (I) 
                                provide residents with connections to 
                                economic opportunities, including high 
                                job concentration areas, health care 
                                services, childcare services, and 
                                education and workforce training 
                                services;
                                    ``(III) the identity and location 
                                of transportation-disadvantaged 
                                populations within the urbanized area 
                                and the disparity of services and 
                                facilities between those 
                                transportation-disadvantaged 
                                populations and non-transportation-
                                disadvantaged populations; and
                                    ``(IV) local challenges to 
                                multimodal connectivity, such as--
                                            ``(aa) zoning or land use 
                                        issues;
                                            ``(bb) availability of 
                                        affordable housing;
                                            ``(cc) availability of 
                                        accessible vehicles and 
                                        accessible transportation 
                                        facilities that meet the 
                                        standards contained in sections 
                                        37.7 and 37.9, respectively, of 
                                        title 49, Code of Federal 
                                        Regulations (or any successor 
                                        thereto); and
                                            ``(dd) barriers that 
                                        obstruct access from 
                                        residential areas to economic 
                                        opportunities, such as--

                                                    ``(AA) the amount 
                                                of time it takes to 
                                                reach economic 
                                                opportunities;

                                                    ``(BB) the average 
                                                cost of commuting for 
                                                transportation-
                                                disadvantaged 
                                                populations compared to 
                                                income levels; and

                                                    ``(CC) the number 
                                                of people not 
                                                adequately served, by 
                                                income level.

                            ``(ii) Performance indicators.--Not later 
                        than 1 year after the date on which the 
                        Secretary selects a pilot location, a covered 
                        metropolitan planning organization in the pilot 
                        location shall apply the baseline data 
                        developed in the transportation connectivity 
                        inventory under clause (i) to adopt not less 
                        than 1 provisional indicator--
                                    ``(I) to measure multimodal 
                                connectivity in the transportation 
                                system to economic opportunities, 
                                including measurements of multimodal 
                                connectivity improvements available to 
                                populations identified in clause 
                                (i)(III); and
                                    ``(II) appropriate to local assets 
                                and needs.
                            ``(iii) Data collection and reporting.--A 
                        covered metropolitan planning organization in a 
                        pilot location shall--
                                    ``(I) collect baseline and annual 
                                performance data on multimodal 
                                transportation connectivity to 
                                opportunity; and
                                    ``(II) submit the data described in 
                                subclause (I) to the Secretary for the 
                                duration of the pilot project.
                            ``(iv) Knowledge-sharing.--A covered 
                        metropolitan planning organization designated 
                        as a mentor grantee under subparagraph 
                        (B)(i)(I) shall, to the extent feasible, engage 
                        in knowledge-sharing activities with novice 
                        grantees designated under subparagraph 
                        (B)(i)(II), which may include peer exchanges 
                        and technical assistance, as appropriate to the 
                        level of performance measurement capacity of 
                        the mentor grantee.
                            ``(v) Project implementation.--
                        Notwithstanding section 120 of title 23, a 
                        covered metropolitan planning organization may 
                        use funds remaining after the completion of the 
                        transportation connectivity inventory under 
                        clause (i), the adoption of provisional 
                        indicators under clause (ii), and related 
                        tracking activities to implement pilot projects 
                        within the urbanized area served by the covered 
                        metropolitan planning organization that are 
                        reasonably anticipated to address system gaps 
                        and improve performance according to the 
                        locally adopted provisional multimodal 
                        transportation connectivity measures.
                    ``(D) Termination.--The pilot program shall 
                terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date on 
                which the Secretary establishes the pilot program.
            ``(3) National performance measure development 
        activities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, using not more 
                than $5,000,000 of the amount authorized to be 
                appropriated under section 7(a) of the Transportation, 
                Access, and Opportunity Act of 2015, shall--
                            ``(i) evaluate multimodal connectivity 
                        measures developed by covered metropolitan 
                        planning organizations in pilot locations; and
                            ``(ii) consider development of a national 
                        indicator to measure the multimodal connections 
                        to opportunities provided by the transportation 
                        network.
                    ``(B) Activities.--To carry out the requirements 
                under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall perform the 
                following activities:
                            ``(i) National technical assistance and 
                        peer exchange forums.--The Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) support the measure 
                                development and data collection of 
                                covered metropolitan planning 
                                organizations in pilot locations 
                                through--
                                            ``(aa) technical assistance 
                                        and peer exchanges; and
                                            ``(bb) workshops with 
                                        States, transit agencies, and 
                                        covered metropolitan planning 
                                        organizations to discuss pilot 
                                        program findings; and
                                    ``(II) establish an online 
                                collaboration center for local 
                                jurisdictions to share ideas and 
                                challenges and document lessons 
                                learned.
                            ``(ii) Connection to opportunity final 
                        report.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Not later than 
                                180 days after the date on which the 
                                pilot program terminates, the 
                                Secretary, in consultation with the 
                                Secretary of Housing and Urban 
                                Development, the Secretary of Commerce, 
                                and the Administrator of the 
                                Environmental Protection Agency, shall 
                                seek public comment on and submit to 
                                Congress a final report detailing the 
                                results of the pilot program.
                                    ``(II) Contents.--The final report 
                                submitted under subclause (I) shall 
                                include--
                                            ``(aa) recommendations on 
                                        the establishment of 1 or more 
                                        national multimodal 
                                        connectivity measures;
                                            ``(bb) the results of the 
                                        efforts of covered metropolitan 
                                        planning organizations to 
                                        measure and improve multimodal 
                                        connectivity;
                                            ``(cc) the recommendations 
                                        of the Secretary on the 
                                        establishment of 1 or more 
                                        national multimodal 
                                        connectivity measures and the 
                                        integration of those measures 
                                        into the Federal transportation 
                                        performance management 
                                        framework in accordance with 
                                        section 150 of title 23; and
                                            ``(dd) an assessment of the 
                                        impact of the pilot projects, 
                                        including--

                                                    ``(AA) social 
                                                outcomes and economic 
                                                impacts that may result 
                                                from the pilot 
                                                projects;

                                                    ``(BB) estimated 
                                                savings to Federal, 
                                                State, and local social 
                                                service subsidy 
                                                programs; and

                                                    ``(CC) other costs 
                                                avoided and new tax 
                                                revenues attributable 
                                                to increased 
                                                connectivity.

                            ``(iii) Potential rulemaking.--After the 
                        Secretary submits the final report to Congress 
                        under clause (ii), the Secretary, in 
                        consultation with State Departments of 
                        Transportation, metropolitan planning 
                        organizations, and other stakeholders, may 
                        promulgate a rulemaking that establishes 
                        performance measures and standards as described 
                        in section 150(c)(8) of title 23.''.

SEC. 5. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT DATA SUPPORT PROGRAM.

    (a) Performance Management Data Support Program.--Section 150 of 
title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(f) Performance Management Data Support.--To assist metropolitan 
planning organizations, States, and the Department in carrying out 
performance management analyses, including the performance management 
requirements of this chapter, the Secretary shall create and maintain 
data sets and data analysis tools.''.
    (b) Federal Share.--Section 120 of such title is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
            ``(l) Performance management data support program.--The 
        Federal share payable on account of an activity under the 
        performance management data support program under section 
        150(f) shall be 100 percent of the cost of the activity.''.

SEC. 6. MULTIMODAL ACCOMMODATIONS.

    (a) Design Standards.--Section 109 of title 23, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``may take into account'' 
                        and inserting ``shall take into account''; and
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (C) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(C) access and safety for users of all 
                foreseeable modes of transportation.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``may develop'' 
                and inserting ``shall develop''; and
            (2) in subsection (m), by striking ``and light 
        motorcycles'' and inserting ``, safe, convenient, and 
        continuous'' before ``alternate route''.
    (b) Transportation Alternatives.--
            (1) Federal share.--Section 120 of title 23, United States 
        Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at 
        the end the following:
    ``(m) Transportation Alternatives Program.--The Federal share 
requirements under this section applicable to the Transportation 
Alternatives Program under section 213 of this title may be met based 
on--
            ``(1) an individual project or activity under that section; 
        or
            ``(2) a program of projects or activities approved under 
        subsection (c)(6)(B) of that section.''.
            (2) Reservation of funds.--Section 213(a)(1) of title 23, 
        United States Code, is amended by striking ``of fiscal years 
        2013 and 2014'' and inserting ``fiscal year''.
            (3) Eligible entities.--Section 213(c)(4)(B) title 23, 
        United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating clauses (vi) and (vii) as 
                clauses (viii) and (ix); and
                    (B) inserting after clause (v) the following:
                            ``(vi) a nonprofit organization;
                            ``(vii) a metropolitan planning 
                        organization that is not developing the 
                        competitive process for funding;''.
            (4) Program of projects.--Section 213(c) of title 23, 
        United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
            ``(6) Program of projects.--Funds may be obligated under 
        this section for--
                    ``(A) a project or activity eligible under 
                subsection (b); or
                    ``(B) a program of projects or activities eligible 
                under that subsection.
            ``(7) Administration.--
                    ``(A) Submission of project agreement.--For each 
                fiscal year, each State shall submit a project 
                agreement that--
                            ``(i) certifies that the State will meet 
                        all the requirements of this section; and
                            ``(ii) notifies the Secretary of the amount 
                        of obligations needed to carry out the program 
                        under this section.
                    ``(B) Request for adjustments of amounts.--Each 
                State shall request from the Secretary such adjustments 
                to the amount of obligations referred to in 
                subparagraph (A)(ii) as the State determines to be 
                necessary.
                    ``(C) Effect of approval by the secretary.--
                Approval by the Secretary of a project agreement under 
                subparagraph (A) shall be deemed a contractual 
                obligation of the United States to pay funds made 
                available under this title.''.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Connection to Opportunity Pilot Programs.--There is authorized 
to be appropriated $70,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 
2019 to carry out the Connection to Opportunity Pilot Programs 
established under--
            (1) section 134(r) of title 23, United States Code (as 
        added by section 4 of this Act); and
            (2) section 5303(r) of title 49, United States Code (as 
        added by section 4 of this Act).
    (b) Performance Management Data Support Programs.--There is 
authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 
through 2019 to carry out the Performance Management Data Support 
Program under section 150(f) of title 23, United States Code, as added 
by section 5 of this Act.
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