Transit to Trails Act

Subjects: Transportation and Public Works


<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1440 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






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.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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