Promoting Advancement Through Transit Help to College Act

To 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 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 (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 (D) a minority-serving institution. (2) Eligible recipient The term eligible recipient chapter 53 (3) Historically black college or university The term historically Black college or university part B institution 20 U.S.C. 1061 (4) Minority-serving institution The term minority-serving institution 20 U.S.C. 1067q (5) Secretary The term Secretary (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.

Summary: Promoting Advancement Through Transit Help to College Act or the PATH to College ActThis bill authorizes Department of Transportation (DOT) grants for improving transit connections for students at institutions of higher education.Specifically, grants must be used for projects such as (1) adding transit stops that serve campuses and connect to surrounding areas or other cities, (2) increasing the frequency of service or adjusting the transit time to allow students to get to and from their classes, or (3) providing for service operating costs. DOT may award the grants to partnerships of public transit providers and one or more community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, or other minority-serving institutions.