[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5752-S5753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2369. Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mr. Markey, and Ms. Smith)
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2137
proposed by Mr. Schumer (for Ms. Sinema (for herself, Mr. Portman, Mr.
Manchin, Mr. Cassidy, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Collins, Mr. Tester, Ms.
Murkowski, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Romney)) to the bill H.R. 3684, to
authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and
transit programs, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on
the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place in division C, insert the
following:
SEC. 3____. 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.
(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; and
(D) any other community that the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
(3) Disproportionate burden of adverse human health or
environmental effects.--The term ``disproportionate burden of
adverse human health or environmental effects'' means a
situation where there exists higher or more adverse human
health or environmental effects on communities of color, low-
income communities, and Tribal and Indigenous communities.
(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
experience, 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 microtransits, bus lines, bus rails, light rail,
rapid transits, or personal rapid transits.
[[Page S5753]]
(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, inland and
coastal 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, inland and coastal 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.
(iii) Consultation; approval or disapproval.--The Secretary
shall, with respect to each project proposal submitted under
this subparagraph, as appropriate--
(I) consult with the government of each State in which the
proposed project is to be conducted;
(II) after taking into consideration any comments resulting
from the consultation under subclause (I), approve or
disapprove the proposal; and
(III) provide written notification of the approval or
disapproval to--
(aa) the individual or entity that submitted the proposal;
and
(bb) each State consulted under subclause (I).
(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, inland
and coastal waters, parkland, monuments, or recreational
opportunities;
(ii) use low- or zero-emission vehicles;
(iii) provide free or discounted rates for low-income
riders of transportation connectors;
(iv) provide opportunities for youth engagement;
(v) give employment preference to individuals living in the
community in which the project is carried out;
(vi) are carried out in--
(I) a community of color;
(II) a low-income community;
(III) a Tribal or Indigenous community; or
(IV) a rural community;
(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.--All projects carried out under the
program shall be developed in cooperation with States and
metropolitan planning organizations.
(4) ADA compliance.--The Secretary shall ensure that all
new transportation connectors and routes developed under the
program are accessible to people with disabilities in
accordance with accessibility specifications for
transportation vehicles under the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).
(5) Stakeholder engagement.--In carrying out the program,
the Secretary shall--
(A) meaningfully engage with relevant stakeholders,
particularly--
(i) impacted community members;
(ii) transportation partners;
(iii) existing potential passengers of the transportation
connectors;
(iv) Indian Tribes and Tribal representatives; and
(v) faith-based and community-based organizations; and
(B) ensure that the input of the stakeholders described in
subparagraph (A) is central to the determination of new
transportation connectors and routes.
(6) 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.
(7) 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, inland and coastal 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.
(8) Grant amount.--A grant provided under the program shall
be--
(A) not less than $25,000; and
(B) not more than $500,000.
(9) 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.
(10) Public information.--The Secretary shall ensure that
current schedules and routes for transportation systems
developed after the receipt of a grant under the program are
available to the public, including on a website maintained by
the recipient of a grant.
(c) Reporting Requirement.--
(1) Reports by grant recipients.--The Secretary shall
require a recipient of a grant under the program to submit to
the Secretary at least 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 required
under paragraph (1), the Secretary may require additional
reports from a recipient, 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 fiscal years 2022 and 2023;
(2) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025; and
(3) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
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