Safe Routes to School Expansion Act

To amend title 23, United States Code, with respect to funding for certain safety projects, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safe Routes to School Expansion Act 2. Highway safety improvement program Section 148 of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (4)(B)— (i) by striking clause (xviii) and inserting the following: (xviii) Safe Routes to School infrastructure related projects described in section 211(e). ; (ii) in clause (xxvi) by inserting or leading pedestrian intervals beacons (iii) by redesignating clause (xxviii) as clause (xxix); (iv) by inserting after clause (xxvii) the following: (xxviii) Installation of infrastructure improvements, including sidewalks, crosswalks, signage, and bus stop shelters or protected waiting areas. ; and (v) in clause (xxix), as redesignated, by striking (xxvii) (xxviii) (B) by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (12) as paragraphs (11) through (13), respectively; (C) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following: (10) Safety project under any other section (A) In general The term safety project under any other section (B) Inclusion The term safety project under any other section (i) promotes public awareness and informs the public regarding highway safety matters (including motorcycle safety and school bus stop safety); (ii) facilitates enforcement of traffic safety laws; and (iii) supports Safe Routes to School non-infrastructure projects, as described in section 211(e). ; and (D) in paragraph (12)(A), as so redesignated— (i) in clause (ix) by striking and (ii) by redesignating clause (x) as clause (xi); and (iii) by inserting after clause (ix) the following: (x) State or local representatives of educational agencies to address Safe Routes to School and school bus safety; and ; (2) in subsection (c)(1)(A) by striking (11) (12) (3) in subsection (d)(2)(B)(i) by striking (11) (12) (4) in subsection (e) by adding at the end the following: (3) Flexible funding for safety projects under any other section (A) In general To advance the implementation of a State strategic highway plan, a State may use not more than 25 percent of the amounts apportioned to the State under section 104(b)(3) for a fiscal year to carry out safety projects under any other section. (B) Other transportation and safety plans Nothing in this paragraph requires a State to revise any State process, plan, or program in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph. (C) Effect of paragraph (i) Requirements A project funded under this paragraph shall be subject to all requirements under this section that apply to a highway safety improvement project. (ii) Other apportioned programs Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to amounts that may be obligated for non-infrastructure projects apportioned under any other paragraph of section 104(b). . 3. Federal share payable Section 120(c)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting an improvement for pedestrian or bicyclist safety or safety of people with disabilities, Safe Routes to School improvements, utility poles, 4. Safe routes to school program (a) In general Chapter 2 section 210 211. Safe routes to school program (a) Program The Secretary shall carry out a safe routes to school program for the benefit of children in primary, middle, and high schools. (b) Purposes The purposes of the program shall be— (1) to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school; (2) to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age; and (3) to facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools. (c) Use of funds Amounts apportioned to a State under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 104(b) may be used to carry out projects, programs, and other activities under this section. (d) Eligible entities Projects, programs, and activities funded under this section may be carried out by eligible entities described under section 133(h)(4)(B) that demonstrate an ability to meet the requirements of this section. (e) Eligible projects and activities (1) Infrastructure-related projects (A) In general A State may obligate funds under this section for the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure-related projects that will substantially improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school, including sidewalk improvements, traffic calming and speed reduction improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, on-street bicycle facilities, off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities, secure bicycle parking facilities, and traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools. (B) Location of projects Infrastructure-related projects under subparagraph (A) may be carried out on any public road or any bicycle or pedestrian pathway or trail in the vicinity of schools. (2) Noninfrastructure-related activities In addition to projects described in paragraph (1), a State may obligate funds under this section for noninfrastructure-related activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, including— (A) public awareness campaigns and outreach to press and community leaders; (B) traffic education and enforcement in the vicinity of schools; (C) student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety, health, and environment; (D) programs that address personal safety; and (E) funding for training, volunteers, and managers of safe routes to school programs. (3) Safe routes to school coordinator Each State receiving an apportionment under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 104(b) shall use a sufficient amount of the apportionment to fund a full-time position of coordinator of the State’s safe routes to school program. (4) Rural school district outreach A coordinator described in paragraph (3) shall conduct outreach to ensure that rural school districts in the State are aware of such State’s safe routes to school program and any funds authorized by this section. (f) Federal share The Federal share of the cost of a project, program, or activity under this section shall be 100 percent. (g) Clearinghouse (1) In general The Secretary shall maintain a national safe routes to school clearinghouse to— (A) develop information and educational programs on safe routes to school; and (B) provide technical assistance and disseminate techniques and strategies used for successful safe routes to school programs. (2) Funding The Secretary shall carry out this subsection using amounts authorized to be appropriated for administrative expenses under section 104(a). (h) Treatment of projects Notwithstanding any other provision of law, projects carried out under this section shall be treated as projects on a Federal-aid highway under chapter 1 of this title. (i) Definitions In this section, the following definitions apply: (1) In the vicinity of schools The term in the vicinity of schools (2) Primary, middle, and high schools The term primary, middle, and high schools . (b) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Repeal Section 1404 of SAFETEA–LU ( Public Law 109–59 (2) Analysis The analysis for chapter 2 section 210 211. Safe routes to school program. .

Summary: Safe Routes to School Expansion Act This bill expands eligibility under the Highway Safety Improvement Program to include certain safety projects related to safe routes to school infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks, crosswalks, signage, bus stop shelters or protected waiting areas. The bill increases the federal share for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to fund improvements for pedestrian or bicyclist safety, safety of people with disabilities, and safe routes to school infrastructure. DOT must also carry out a safe routes to school program for the benefit of children in primary, middle, and high schools.