[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1440 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1440
To establish a program to award grants to entities that provide
transportation connectors from critically underserved communities to
green spaces, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 4, 2023
Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Van
Hollen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Duckworth, and Mr. Blumenthal)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program to award grants to entities that provide
transportation connectors from critically underserved communities to
green spaces, 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 ``Transit to Trails Act''.
SEC. 2. TRANSIT TO TRAILS GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Community of color.--The term ``community of color''
means a geographically distinct area in which the population of
any of the following categories of individuals is higher than
the average population of that category for the State in which
the community is located:
(A) Black.
(B) African American.
(C) Asian.
(D) Pacific Islander.
(E) Other non-White race.
(F) Hispanic.
(G) Latino.
(H) Linguistically isolated.
(I) Middle Eastern and North African.
(2) Critically underserved community.--The term
``critically underserved community'' means--
(A) a community that can demonstrate to the
Secretary that the community has inadequate,
insufficient, or no park space or recreation
facilities, including by demonstrating--
(i) quality concerns relating to the
available park space or recreation facilities;
(ii) the presence of recreational
facilities that do not serve the needs of the
community; or
(iii) the inequitable distribution of park
space for high-need populations, based on
income, age, or other measures of vulnerability
and need;
(B) a community in which at least 50 percent of the
population is not located within \1/2\ mile of park
space;
(C) an environmental justice community; or
(D) any other community that the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(3) Designated service area.--The term ``designated service
area'' means a geographical area recommended by a designated
official planning agency that defines the community in which
coordinated transportation services are provided to the
transportation disadvantaged.
(4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State;
(B) a political subdivision of a State (including a
city or a county) that represents or otherwise serves
an urban area or a rural area;
(C) a special purpose district (including a park
district);
(D) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
(25 U.S.C. 5304)) that represents or otherwise serves
an urban area or a rural area; or
(E) a metropolitan planning organization (as
defined in section 134(b) of title 23, United States
Code).
(5) Environmental justice community.--The term
``environmental justice community'' means a community with
significant representation of communities of color, low-income
communities, or Tribal and Indigenous communities that
experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, a disproportionate
burden of adverse human health or environmental effects.
(6) Low-income community.--The term ``low-income
community'' means any census block group in which 30 percent or
more of the population are individuals with an annual household
income equal to, or less than, the greater of--
(A) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median
income of the area in which the household is located,
as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development; and
(B) 200 percent of the Federal poverty line.
(7) Program.--The term ``program'' means the Transit to
Trails Grant Program established under subsection (b)(1).
(8) Rural area.--The term ``rural area'' means a community
that is not an urban area.
(9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(10) Transportation connector.--
(A) In general.--The term ``transportation
connector'' means a system that--
(i) connects 2 ZIP Codes or communities
within a 175-mile radius of a designated
service area; and
(ii) offers rides available to the public.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``transportation
connector'' includes microtransit, bus lines, bus
rails, light rail, rapid transit, and personal rapid
transit.
(11) Urban area.--The term ``urban area'' means a community
that--
(A) is densely developed;
(B) has residential, commercial, and other
nonresidential areas; and
(C)(i) is an urbanized area with a population of
50,000 or more; or
(ii) is an urban cluster with a population of--
(I) not less than 2,500; and
(II) not more than 50,000.
(b) Grant Program.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a grant
program, to be known as the ``Transit to Trails Grant
Program'', under which the Secretary shall award grants to
eligible entities for--
(A) projects that develop transportation connectors
or routes in or serving, and related culturally and
linguistically appropriate education materials for,
critically underserved communities to increase access
and mobility to Federal or non-Federal public land,
waters, parkland, or monuments; or
(B) projects that facilitate transportation
improvements to enhance access to Federal or non-
Federal public land and recreational opportunities in
critically underserved communities.
(2) Administration.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the
program to assist eligible entities in the development
of transportation connectors or routes in or serving,
and related culturally and linguistically appropriate
education materials for, critically underserved
communities and Federal or non-Federal public land,
waters, parkland, and monuments.
(B) Joint partnerships.--The Secretary shall
encourage joint partnership projects under the program,
if available, among multiple agencies, including school
districts, nonprofit organizations, metropolitan
planning organizations, regional transportation
authorities, transit agencies, and State and local
governmental agencies (including park and recreation
agencies and authorities) to enhance investment of
public sources.
(C) Annual grant project proposal solicitation,
review, and approval.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall--
(I) annually solicit the submission
of project proposals for grants from
eligible entities under the program;
and
(II) review each project proposal
submitted under subclause (I) on a
timeline established by the Secretary.
(ii) Required elements for project
proposal.--A project proposal submitted under
clause (i)(I) shall include--
(I) a statement of the purposes of
the project;
(II) the name of the entity or
individual with overall responsibility
for the project;
(III) a description of the
qualifications of the entity or
individuals identified under subclause
(II);
(IV) a description of--
(aa) staffing and
stakeholder engagement for the
project;
(bb) the logistics of the
project; and
(cc) anticipated outcomes
of the project;
(V) a proposed budget for the funds
and time required to complete the
project;
(VI) information regarding the
source and amount of matching funding
available for the project;
(VII) information that demonstrates
the clear potential of the project to
contribute to increased access to
parkland for critically underserved
communities; and
(VIII) any other information that
the Secretary considers to be necessary
for evaluating the eligibility of the
project for funding under the program.
(D) Priority.--To the extent practicable, in
determining whether to approve project proposals under
the program, the Secretary shall prioritize projects
that--
(i) are designed to increase access and
mobility to local or neighborhood Federal or
non-Federal public land, waters, parkland,
monuments, or recreational opportunities;
(ii) use low- or no-emission vehicles;
(iii) provide free or discounted rates for
low-income riders;
(iv) provide opportunities for youth
engagement;
(v) provide employment preference to
individuals who reside in the community in
which the project is located;
(vi) are established in communities of
color, low-income communities, Tribal or
indigenous communities, or rural areas;
(vii) would capitalize on existing
established public-private partnerships; and
(viii) comply with applicable provisions of
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).
(3) Transportation planning procedures.--
(A) Procedures.--In consultation with the head of
each appropriate Federal land management agency, the
Secretary shall develop, by rule, transportation
planning procedures for projects conducted under the
program that are consistent with metropolitan and
statewide planning processes.
(B) Requirements.--In carrying out the program, the
Secretary shall ensure the following:
(i) All projects carried out under the
program shall comply with sections 5303 and
5304 of title 49, United States Code.
(ii) All new transportation connectors and
routes established under a project carried out
under the program shall be accessible in
accordance with the accessibility
specifications for transportation vehicles
under the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).
(iii) State department of transportation
agencies shall engage with relevant
stakeholders consistent with subsections (f)(3)
and (g)(3) of section 5304 of title 49, United
States Code, and metropolitan planning
organizations shall engage with relevant
stakeholders consistent with subsections
(g)(3)(B), (i)(5), and (i)(6) of section 5303
of that title, in addition to faith-based and
community-based organizations.
(iv) Except as otherwise provided under
this section, a grant provided under this
section shall be subject to the requirements of
section 5307 of title 49, United States Code.
(4) Non-federal contributions.--
(A) In general.--The Federal share of the cost of
an eligible project provided a grant under the program
shall not exceed 80 percent.
(B) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of
the cost of an eligible project provided a grant under
the program may be in the form of in-kind
contributions.
(5) Eligible uses.--Grant funds provided under the program
may be used--
(A) to develop transportation connectors or routes
in or serving, and related culturally and
linguistically appropriate education materials for,
critically underserved communities to increase access
and mobility to Federal and non-Federal public land,
waters, parkland, and monuments; and
(B) to create or significantly enhance access to
Federal or non-Federal public land and recreational
opportunities in an urban area or a rural area.
(6) Grant amount.--A grant provided under the program shall
be in an amount that is--
(A) not less than $25,000; and
(B) not more than $500,000.
(7) Technical assistance.--It is the intent of Congress
that grants provided under the program deliver project funds to
areas of greatest need while offering technical assistance to
all applicants and potential applicants for grant preparation
to encourage full participation in the program.
(8) Public information.--The Secretary shall ensure that
current schedules and routes for transportation systems
developed with funds from a grant under the program are
available to the public, including on a website maintained by
the eligible entity.
(c) Reporting Requirement.--
(1) Reports by grant recipients.--The Secretary shall
require an eligible entity that receives a grant under the
program to submit to the Secretary not less than 1 performance
and financial report that--
(A) includes--
(i) demographic data on communities served
by the project; and
(ii) a summary of project activities
conducted after receiving the grant; and
(B) describes the status of each project funded by
the grant as of the date of the report.
(2) Additional reports.--In addition to the report under
paragraph (1), the Secretary may require additional reports
from an eligible entity that receives a grant under the
program, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate,
including a final report.
(3) Deadlines.--The Secretary shall establish deadlines for
the submission of each report required under paragraph (1) or
(2).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section--
(1) $10,000,000 for each of the first and second fiscal
years that begin after the date of enactment of this Act;
(2) $20,000,000 for each of the third and fourth fiscal
years that begin after that date; and
(3) $40,000,000 for the fifth fiscal year that begins after
that date.
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