[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5086 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5086
To amend chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, to provide
competitive grants to assist State and local governmental authorities
in addressing accessibility needs of legacy rail fixed guideway public
transportation systems.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 22, 2026
Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mr. McCormick) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, to provide
competitive grants to assist State and local governmental authorities
in addressing accessibility needs of legacy rail fixed guideway public
transportation systems.
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 ``All Stations Accessibility Program
Reauthorization Act'' or the ``ASAP Act''.
SEC. 2. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR ACCESSIBILITY UPGRADES TO LEGACY RAIL
FIXED GUIDEWAY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 5315 the following:
``Sec. 5316. Accessibility grants for legacy rail fixed guideway public
transportation systems
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Center for independent living.--The term `center for
independent living' has the meaning given the term in section
702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796a).
``(2) Disability.--The term `disability' has the meaning
given the term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).
``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
State or local governmental authority.
``(4) Legacy rail fixed guideway public transportation
system.--The term `legacy rail fixed guideway public
transportation system'--
``(A) means a rail fixed guideway public
transportation system that was in operation before July
26, 1990; and
``(B) includes a commuter rail system that uses
stations or facilities for passenger use constructed
before July 26, 1990.
``(5) Protection and advocacy system.--The term `protection
and advocacy system' means such a system established in
accordance with section 143 of the Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15043).
``(b) Grants.--The Secretary may make grants under this section to
assist eligible entities in financing capital projects to upgrade the
accessibility of legacy rail fixed guideway public transportation
systems for persons with disabilities, including those who use
wheelchairs, by increasing the number of existing (as of the date of
enactment of the ASAP Act) stations or facilities for passenger use
that meet (including exceeding) the new construction standards of title
II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et
seq.).
``(c) Eligible Costs.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible
entity may use a grant awarded under this section--
``(A) for a project to repair, improve, modify,
retrofit, or relocate infrastructure of stations or
facilities for passenger use, including load-bearing
members that are an essential part of the structural
frame;
``(B) to develop or modify a plan for pursuing
public transportation accessibility projects,
including--
``(i) assessments of accessibility or
assessments of planned modifications to
stations or facilities for passenger use,
performed by the protection and advocacy system
for persons with disabilities in the applicable
State, a center for independent living, or a
similar nonprofit organization focused on
ensuring people with disabilities are able to
live in and participate in their communities;
or
``(ii) coordination by the recipient with
such protection and advocacy system, center for
independent living, or similar nonprofit
organization; or
``(C) to carry out other legacy rail stations or
passenger facility projects that meet (including
exceeding) the new construction standards of title II
of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12131 et seq.).
``(2) Limitation.--Eligible costs for a project funded with
a grant awarded under this section shall be limited to the
costs associated with carrying out the purpose authorized under
subsection (b).
``(d) Eligible Stations or Facilities for Passenger Use.--An
eligible entity may use a grant awarded under this section to upgrade
the accessibility of legacy rail fixed guideway public transportation
systems, by increasing the number of existing (as of the date of
enactment of the ASAP Act) stations or facilities for passenger use
that are accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities,
including individuals who use wheelchairs, consistent with current (as
of the date of the upgrade) new construction standards under title II
of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et
seq.), even if the related service, program, or activity, when viewed
in its entirety, is readily accessible and usable as so described.
``(e) Accessibility Commitment.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this section shall adopt a plan under which the entity
commits to pursuing public transportation accessibility projects that--
``(1) enhance the customer experience and maximize
accessibility of rolling stock and stations or facilities for
passenger use for individuals with disabilities, including--
``(A) accessibility for individuals with physical
disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs;
``(B) accessibility for individuals with sensory
disabilities; and
``(C) accessibility for individuals with
intellectual or developmental disabilities;
``(2) improve the operations of, provide efficiencies of
service to, and enhance the public transportation system for
individuals with disabilities; and
``(3) address equity of service to all riders regardless of
income, age, race, or ability, taking into account historical
and current service gaps for low-income riders, older
individuals, riders from communities of color, and riders with
disabilities.
``(f) Coordination With Disability Advocacy Entities.--In
administering grants under this section, the Secretary shall
encourage--
``(1) coordination between recipients and disability
advocacy entities such as the protection and advocacy system
for persons with disabilities in the applicable State, a center
for independent living, or a similar nonprofit organization
focused on ensuring people with disabilities are able to live
in and participate in their communities; and
``(2) assessments of accessibility or assessments of
planned modifications to stations or facilities for passenger
use, performed by such an advocacy entity, to the extent
merited by the scope of the capital project of the recipient
proposed to be assisted under this section.
``(g) Government Share of Costs.--A grant for a project under this
section shall be for not more than 80 percent of the net project cost
of the project. The recipient may provide additional local matching
amounts.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 5338 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Accessibility Grants for Legacy Rail Fixed Guideway Public
Transportation Systems.--
``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated
the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to carry out
section 5316 $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal
year thereafter.
``(2) Adjustment.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated
under paragraph (1) for fiscal year 2028 and each fiscal year
thereafter shall be adjusted annually for inflation based on
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by
the Department of Labor.''.
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for
chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 5315 the following:
``5316. Accessibility grants for legacy rail fixed guideway public
transportation systems.''.
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