118 S3477 IS: Promoting Advancement Through Transit Help to College Act U.S. Senate 2023-12-12 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 3477IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESDecember 12, 2023Mr. Casey (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Van Hollen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsA BILLTo increase access to higher education by providing public transit grants.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Promoting Advancement Through Transit Help to College Act or the PATH to College Act.

2.

Increasing access to higher education through public transit grants

(a)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Eligible institution

The term eligible institution means—(A)a community college;(B)a historically Black college or university;(C)a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c)); or(D)a minority-serving institution.(2)

Eligible recipient

The term eligible recipient means a public transit provider that is an eligible recipient under chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, in partnership with 1 or more eligible institutions.(3)

Historically black college or university

The term historically Black college or university has the meaning given the term part B institution in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).(4)

Minority-serving institution

The term minority-serving institution means an eligible institution under section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q).(5)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.(b)

In general

The Secretary may make grants under this section to eligible recipients to enable those eligible recipients to carry out projects described in subsection (c) to better connect students with transportation to eligible institutions.(c)

Eligible projects

An eligible recipient receiving a grant under this section shall use grant funds to carry out one or more of the following activities to better connect students with transportation to one or more of the eligible institutions that are part of the eligible recipient partnership:(1)Adding bus or rail stops or routes and complementary paratransit service that serve campuses and connect to surrounding areas or other cities.(2)Increasing the frequency of service or adjusting the time of bus, rail, or paratransit routes to allow students to get to and from their classes.(3)Operating costs for service described in paragraphs (1) and (2) if such costs are eligible under section 5307 or section 5311 of title 49, United States Code.(d)

Application

(1)

In general

An eligible recipient that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including information on the extent to which the proposed projects using grant funds will improve the availability of transit access for students.(2)

Priority

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible recipient whose partnership includes an eligible institution with respect to which more than 25 percent of students enrolled in that eligible institution receive a Federal Pell Grant.(e)

Federal share

(1)

Capital project

Except as provided in section 5323(i) of title 49, United States Code, the Federal share of the net project cost of a capital project carried out using a grant under this section shall be not more than 80 percent.(2)

Operating costs

The Federal share of net operating costs for a project carried out using a grant under this section shall be not more than 50 percent.(f)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—(1)$2,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; (2)$4,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; (3)$6,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; (4)$8,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and(5)$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2029 through 2031.