I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 765 

To authorize programs and activities to support transportation options in 

areas that are undergoing extensive repair or reconstruction of transportation infrastructure, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 31, 2017 

Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ (for herself, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. MEEKS, and Mr. JEFFRIES) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 

Transportation and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To authorize programs and activities to support transportation options in areas that are undergoing extensive 

repair or reconstruction of transportation infrastructure, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Increase Transpor5 tation Alternatives Investment Act of 2017’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT PRO2 GRAM. 

3 Section 133 of title 23, United States Code, is 

4 amended by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(j) TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES FOR AREAS

6 UNDERGOING EXTENSIVE REPAIR OR RECONSTRUCTION

7 OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.—The Secretary 

8 shall issue regulations to ensure that States give pref9 erence to eligible projects under this section that— 

10 ‘‘(1) are located in areas that are undergoing 

11 extensive repair or reconstruction of transportation 

12 infrastructure, including Federal-aid highways, fed13 erally owned roads open for public travel, passenger 

14 rail facilities, and public transportation facilities; 

15 and 

16 ‘‘(2) will provide transportation alternatives re17 lated to the full or partial closure of the transpor18 tation infrastructure in such areas.’’. 

19 SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 

21 shall carry out a grant program to support community ef22 forts to invest in transportation alternatives. 

23 (b) AWARD OF GRANTS.—Not later than 1 year after 

24 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

25 award grants under the program on a competitive basis. 


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1 (c) PREFERENCE.—In awarding the grants, the Sec2 retary shall give preference to projects located in areas 

3 that are undergoing extensive repair or reconstruction of 

4 transportation infrastructure, including Federal-aid high5 ways, federally owned roads open for public travel, pas6 senger rail facilities, and public transportation facilities. 

7 (d) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The following entities 

8 shall be eligible to receive grants under the program: 

9 (1) State and local governments. 

10 (2) Metropolitan planning organizations. 

11 (3) Rural planning organizations. 

12 (e) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.—Amounts received in 

13 grants under the program may be used to plan for, facili14 tate, and provide initial support for any of the following 

15 activities: 

16 (1) Transportation demand management pro17 grams, including support for transportation manage18 ment associations. 

19 (2) Carpool or telecommuting projects. 

20 (3) Planning, design, acquisition of rights-of21 way, construction, improvement, and management of 

22 streets, pathways, and public transportation facilities 

23 to facilitate expanded bicycle and pedestrian mobility 

24 and access. 


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1 (f) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under the pro2 gram, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 

3 application in such form and manner as the Secretary pre4 scribes. 

Æ 


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