[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1266 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1266
To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to assist
units of local government in developing and implementing plans, known
as Vision Zero plans, to eliminate transportation-related fatalities
and serious injuries, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 1, 2017
Mr. Blumenauer (for himself and Mr. Buchanan) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
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A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to assist
units of local government in developing and implementing plans, known
as Vision Zero plans, to eliminate transportation-related fatalities
and serious injuries, 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 ``Vision Zero Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. VISION ZERO PLANNING GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to
award grants to eligible entities to develop a plan, known as a Vision
Zero plan, to eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious
injuries in the jurisdiction of such entity within a specified
timeframe, not to exceed 20 years.
(b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, an
eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such
time, in such form, and containing such information and assurances as
the Secretary may require.
(c) Plan Contents.--The Vision Zero plan described in subsection
(a) shall include--
(1) a description of projects or policies intended to
eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious
injuries within a specified timeframe, not to exceed 20 years,
using existing transportation and health data and consideration
of risk factors, which may include--
(A) an examination of how development and
implementation of safety-focused automotive
technologies, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and
vehicle-to-infrastructure communication can help
eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious
injuries; and
(B) roadway design guidance that prioritizes the
safety of all users, with a focus on reducing speeds to
the extent practicable within State law and separating
modes of transportation;
(2) plans for implementation of, education of the public
about, and enforcement of such projects or policies;
(3) a description of how such policies, projects, and
enforcement will--
(A) equitably address the safety needs of low-
income and minority communities;
(B) ensure that such communities are not
disproportionately targeted by law enforcement; and
(C) protect the rights of members of such
communities with respect to title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.);
(4) a description of the required involvement of various
subdivisions of a unit of local government in the
implementation of the plan, including subdivisions in charge of
law enforcement, public health, and public works; and
(5) a description of a mechanism to evaluate progress of
the implementation of the plan, including the gathering and use
of transportation safety and demographic data.
SEC. 3. VISION ZERO IMPLEMENTATION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation may award grants to not
more than 5 eligible entities to support the implementation of a Vision
Zero plan to eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious
injuries in the jurisdiction of such entity within a specified
timeframe, not to exceed 20 years.
(b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, an
eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such
time, in such form, and containing such information and assurances as
the Secretary may require.
(c) Vision Zero Plan Required.--To be eligible for a grant under
this section, an eligible entity shall have in effect a Vision Zero
plan that meets the requirements of section 2(c) and has been approved
by local resolution, ordinance, or law.
(d) Selection Criteria.--In selecting from among eligible entities
to receive grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider,
at a minimum, the extent to which an entity--
(1) provided an opportunity for public input in the
development of the plan, including documented engagement with
low-income and minority communities;
(2) considered existing plans and planning processes in the
drafting of the vision zero plan;
(3) structured the plan to meet performance measures as
described in section 150(c) of title 23, United States Code;
(4) demonstrates broad community support for the plan,
including the commitment of community leaders to successful
implementation of the plan; and
(5) demonstrates the availability of State, local, or
Federal funds, in addition to Federal funds made available
under this section, for implementation of the plan.
(e) Funding Limitations.--
(1) Population limitation.--Not less than 25 percent of the
funds made available to carry out this section shall be used to
make grants to eligible entities that serve a jurisdiction with
a population of fewer than 200,000 individuals.
(2) Federal share.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided by subparagraph
(B), the Federal share of the cost of a project or
activity carried out using grant funds made available
under this section may not exceed 80 percent.
(B) Funds from other federal sources.--Amounts made
available to an eligible entity under another Federal
program may be credited toward the non-Federal share of
the cost of a project or activity described in
subparagraph (A), at the option of the eligible entity.
SEC. 4. ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``eligible entity'' means a unit of local
government including a city, town, township, borough, county, parish,
district, village, or other political subdivision of a State.
SEC. 5. REPORT.
Not later than 2 years after the final grant is awarded under this
Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make available to the
public, a report on the progress of the projects and activities carried
out using the grants including--
(1) a breakdown of infrastructure and noninfrastructure
projects;
(2) demographic data, in the aggregate, with respect to
individuals charged with a violation of law referenced in the
vision zero plan of an eligible entity that received a grant
under this Act; and
(3) best practices from the eligible entities that received
a grant under section 3.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated, for each of fiscal years
2018 through 2022, $5,000,000 to carry out section 2 and $25,000,000 to
carry out section 3.
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