Transportation, Access, and Opportunity Act of 2015

To enhance transportation programs in order to achieve an interconnected transportation system which connects people to jobs, schools, and other essential services through a multimodal network, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transportation, Access, and Opportunity Act of 2015 2. Public involvement in plan development (a) Section 134 amendment Section 134(i) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following: (D) Public involvement A metropolitan planning organization shall offer interested parties, such as the interested parties described in paragraph (6), a reasonable opportunity to participate in the development and consideration of scenarios. ; and (2) in paragraph (6)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking comment on the transportation plan provide input during the development and implementation of the transportation plan (B) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking comment on the contents of the transportation plan provide input during the development and implementation of the transportation plan (b) Section 135 amendment Section 135(f)(3)(A)(ii) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking comment on the transportation plan provide input during the development and implementation of the transportation plan (c) Section 5303 amendment Section 5303(i) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following: (D) Public involvement A metropolitan planning organization shall offer interested parties, such as those described in paragraph (6), a reasonable opportunity to participate in the development and consideration of scenarios. ; and (2) in paragraph (6), by striking comment on the transportation plan provide input during the development and implementation of the transportation plan (d) Section 5304 amendment Section 5304(f)(3)(A)(ii) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking comment on the proposed plan provide input during the development and implementation of the transportation plan 3. Connection to opportunities national goal and potential performance measure (a) Transportation connections to opportunities Section 150(b) of title 23, United States Codes, is amended— (1) in paragraph (2), by striking highway infrastructure asset system infrastructure asset system under title 23 (2) by adding at the end the following: (8) Multimodal connectivity To achieve an interconnected transportation system which connects people to jobs, schools, and other essential services through a multimodal network. . (b) Establishment of performance measures Section 150(c) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting as listed in paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) (2) by adding at the end the following: (7) Transportation connectivity The Secretary may, in accordance with the framework established in sections 134 and 135 of this title, establish a Performance Measure to be used by metropolitan planning organizations to assess the degree to which the transportation system provides multimodal connections to economic opportunities, including job concentration areas, health care services, child care services, and education and workforce training services, particularly for disadvantaged populations. . 4. Measuring transportation connectivity pilot activities (a) Title 23 Section 134 of title 23, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting at the end, the following: (r) Measuring transportation connections to opportunity (1) Definitions For purposes of this subsection— (A) the term covered metropolitan planning organization (B) the term opportunity (C) the term pilot location (D) the term pilot program (E) the term transportation-disadvantaged (i) face challenges in securing or accessing transportation due to age, disability, or income constraints, including lack of access to public transportation or a private vehicle; or (ii) are members of a protected class listed in section 601 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d (2) Connection to Opportunity Pilot Program (A) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a pilot program, to be known as the Connection to Opportunity Pilot Program (B) Pilot locations (i) In general The Secretary shall select not more than 10 metropolitan planning organizations, each of which is a metropolitan planning organization serving an urbanized area with a population of more than 200,000 individuals, which shall include— (I) metropolitan planning organizations that can demonstrate previous successful use of performance measurements and performance-based planning efforts, which the Secretary shall designate as mentor grantees; and (II) metropolitan planning organizations that have limited or no successful previous experience in performance measurements and performance-based planning efforts, which the Secretary shall designate as novice grantees. (ii) Varying population sizes The Secretary shall ensure that the metropolitan planning organizations selected under clause (i) serve urbanized areas with varying population sizes. (C) Pilot program activities (i) Transportation connectivity inventory Not later than 6 months after the date on which the Secretary selects a pilot location and awards a grant under this subsection, and in consultation with appropriate States, transit agencies, and local governments, a covered metropolitan planning organization in the pilot location shall develop from existing data an inventory of transportation assets within the urbanized area served by the covered metropolitan planning organization, which shall describe— (I) the condition and quality of service of key highway, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and carshare facilities; (II) the degree to which the facilities described in subclause (I) provide residents with connections to economic opportunities, including high job concentration areas, health care services, child care services, and education and workforce training services; (III) the identity and location of transportation-disadvantaged populations within the urbanized area and the disparity of services and facilities between those transportation-disadvantaged populations and non-transportation-disadvantaged populations; and (IV) local challenges to multimodal connectivity, such as— (aa) zoning or land use issues; (bb) availability of affordable housing; (cc) availability of accessible vehicles and accessible transportation facilities that meet the standards contained in sections 37.7 and 37.9, respectively, of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor thereto); and (dd) barriers that obstruct access from residential areas to economic opportunities, such as— (AA) the amount of time it takes to reach economic opportunities; (BB) the average cost of commuting for transportation-disadvantaged populations compared to income levels; and (CC) the number of people served, by income level. (ii) Performance indicators Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary selects a pilot location, a covered metropolitan planning organization in the pilot location shall apply the baseline data developed in the transportation connectivity inventory under clause (i) to adopt not less than 1 provisional indicator— (I) to measure multimodal connectivity in the transportation system to economic opportunities, including measurements of multimodal connectivity improvements available to populations identified in clause (i)(III); and (II) to appropriate to local assets and needs. (iii) Data collection and reporting A covered metropolitan planning organization in a pilot location shall— (I) collect baseline and annual performance data on multimodal transportation connectivity to opportunity; and (II) submit the data described in subclause (I) to the Secretary for the duration of the pilot project. (iv) Knowledge-sharing A covered metropolitan planning organization designated as a mentor grantee under subparagraph (B)(i)(I) shall, to the extent feasible, engage in knowledge-sharing activities with novice grantees designated under subparagraph (B)(i)(II), which may include peer exchanges and technical assistance, as appropriate to the level of performance measurement capacity of the mentor grantee. (v) Project implementation Notwithstanding section 120 of this title, a covered metropolitan planning organization may use funds remaining after the completion of the transportation connectivity inventory under clause (i), the adoption of provisional indicators under clause (ii), and related tracking activities to implement pilot projects within the urbanized area served by the covered metropolitan planning organization that are reasonably anticipated to address system gaps and improve performance according to the locally adopted provisional multimodal transportation connectivity measures. (D) Termination The pilot program shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date on which the Secretary establishes the pilot program. (3) National performance measure development activities (A) In general The Secretary, using not more than $5,000,000 of the amount authorized to be appropriated under section 7(a) of the Transportation, Access, and Opportunity Act of 2015 (i) evaluate multimodal connectivity measures developed by covered metropolitan planning organizations in pilot locations; and (ii) consider development of a national indicator to measure the multimodal connections to opportunities provided by the transportation network. (B) Activities To carry out the requirements under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall perform the following activities: (i) National technical assistance and peer exchange forums The Secretary shall— (I) support the measure development and data collection of covered metropolitan planning organizations in pilot locations through— (aa) technical assistance and peer exchanges; and (bb) workshops with States, transit agencies, and covered metropolitan planning organizations to discuss pilot program findings; and (II) establish an online collaboration center for local jurisdictions to share ideas and challenges and document lessons learned. (ii) Connection to Opportunity final report (I) In general Not later than 180 days after the date on which the pilot program terminates, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall seek public comment on and submit to Congress a final report detailing the results of the pilot program. (II) Contents The final report submitted under subclause (I) shall include— (aa) recommendations on the establishment of 1 or more national multimodal connectivity measures; (bb) the results of the efforts of covered metropolitan planning organizations to measure and improve multimodal connectivity; (cc) the recommendations of the Secretary on the establishment of 1 or more national multimodal connectivity measures and the integration of those measures into the Federal transportation performance management framework in accordance with section 150 of this title; and (dd) an assessment of the impact of the pilot projects, including— (AA) social outcomes and economic impacts that may result from the pilot projects; (BB) estimated savings to Federal, State, and local social service subsidy programs; and (CC) other costs avoided and new tax revenues attributable to increased connectivity. (iii) Potential rulemaking After the Secretary submits the final report to Congress under clause (ii), the Secretary, in consultation with State Departments of Transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, and other stakeholders, may promulgate a rulemaking that establishes performance measures and standards as described in section 150(c)(8) of this title. . (b) Chapter 53 Section 5303 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (r) Measuring transportation connections to opportunity (1) Definitions For purposes of this subsection— (A) the term covered metropolitan planning organization (B) the term opportunity (C) the term pilot location (D) the term pilot program (E) the term transportation-disadvantaged (i) face challenges in securing or accessing transportation due to age, disability, or income constraints, including lack of access to public transportation or a private vehicle; or (ii) are members of a protected class listed in section 601 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d (2) Connection to Opportunity Pilot Program (A) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a pilot program, to be known as the Connection to Opportunity Pilot Program (B) Pilot locations (i) In general The Secretary shall select not more than 10 metropolitan planning organizations, each of which is a metropolitan planning organization serving an urbanized area with a population of more than 200,000 individuals, which shall include— (I) metropolitan planning organizations that can demonstrate previous successful use of performance measurements and performance-based planning efforts, which the Secretary shall designate as mentor grantees; and (II) metropolitan planning organizations that have limited or no successful previous experience in performance measurements and performance-based planning efforts, which the Secretary shall designate as novice grantees. (ii) Varying population sizes The Secretary shall ensure that the metropolitan planning organizations selected under clause (i) serve urbanized areas with varying population sizes. (C) Pilot program activities (i) Transportation connectivity inventory Not later than 6 months after the date on which the Secretary selects a pilot location and awards a grant under this subsection, and in consultation with appropriate States, transit agencies, and local governments, a covered metropolitan planning organization in the pilot location shall develop from existing data an inventory of transportation assets within the urbanized area served by the covered metropolitan planning organization, which shall describe— (I) the condition and quality of service of key highway, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and carshare facilities; (II) the degree to which the facilities described in subclause (I) provide residents with connections to economic opportunities, including high job concentration areas, health care services, childcare services, and education and workforce training services; (III) the identity and location of transportation-disadvantaged populations within the urbanized area and the disparity of services and facilities between those transportation-disadvantaged populations and non-transportation-disadvantaged populations; and (IV) local challenges to multimodal connectivity, such as— (aa) zoning or land use issues; (bb) availability of affordable housing; (cc) availability of accessible vehicles and accessible transportation facilities that meet the standards contained in sections 37.7 and 37.9, respectively, of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor thereto); and (dd) barriers that obstruct access from residential areas to economic opportunities, such as— (AA) the amount of time it takes to reach economic opportunities; (BB) the average cost of commuting for transportation-disadvantaged populations compared to income levels; and (CC) the number of people not adequately served, by income level. (ii) Performance indicators Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary selects a pilot location, a covered metropolitan planning organization in the pilot location shall apply the baseline data developed in the transportation connectivity inventory under clause (i) to adopt not less than 1 provisional indicator— (I) to measure multimodal connectivity in the transportation system to economic opportunities, including measurements of multimodal connectivity improvements available to populations identified in clause (i)(III); and (II) appropriate to local assets and needs. (iii) Data collection and reporting A covered metropolitan planning organization in a pilot location shall— (I) collect baseline and annual performance data on multimodal transportation connectivity to opportunity; and (II) submit the data described in subclause (I) to the Secretary for the duration of the pilot project. (iv) Knowledge-sharing A covered metropolitan planning organization designated as a mentor grantee under subparagraph (B)(i)(I) shall, to the extent feasible, engage in knowledge-sharing activities with novice grantees designated under subparagraph (B)(i)(II), which may include peer exchanges and technical assistance, as appropriate to the level of performance measurement capacity of the mentor grantee. (v) Project implementation Notwithstanding section 120 of title 23, a covered metropolitan planning organization may use funds remaining after the completion of the transportation connectivity inventory under clause (i), the adoption of provisional indicators under clause (ii), and related tracking activities to implement pilot projects within the urbanized area served by the covered metropolitan planning organization that are reasonably anticipated to address system gaps and improve performance according to the locally adopted provisional multimodal transportation connectivity measures. (D) Termination The pilot program shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date on which the Secretary establishes the pilot program. (3) National performance measure development activities (A) In general The Secretary, using not more than $5,000,000 of the amount authorized to be appropriated under section 7(a) of the Transportation, Access, and Opportunity Act of 2015 (i) evaluate multimodal connectivity measures developed by covered metropolitan planning organizations in pilot locations; and (ii) consider development of a national indicator to measure the multimodal connections to opportunities provided by the transportation network. (B) Activities To carry out the requirements under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall perform the following activities: (i) National technical assistance and peer exchange forums The Secretary shall— (I) support the measure development and data collection of covered metropolitan planning organizations in pilot locations through— (aa) technical assistance and peer exchanges; and (bb) workshops with States, transit agencies, and covered metropolitan planning organizations to discuss pilot program findings; and (II) establish an online collaboration center for local jurisdictions to share ideas and challenges and document lessons learned. (ii) Connection to Opportunity final report (I) In general Not later than 180 days after the date on which the pilot program terminates, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall seek public comment on and submit to Congress a final report detailing the results of the pilot program. (II) Contents The final report submitted under subclause (I) shall include— (aa) recommendations on the establishment of 1 or more national multimodal connectivity measures; (bb) the results of the efforts of covered metropolitan planning organizations to measure and improve multimodal connectivity; (cc) the recommendations of the Secretary on the establishment of 1 or more national multimodal connectivity measures and the integration of those measures into the Federal transportation performance management framework in accordance with section 150 of title 23; and (dd) an assessment of the impact of the pilot projects, including— (AA) social outcomes and economic impacts that may result from the pilot projects; (BB) estimated savings to Federal, State, and local social service subsidy programs; and (CC) other costs avoided and new tax revenues attributable to increased connectivity. (iii) Potential rulemaking After the Secretary submits the final report to Congress under clause (ii), the Secretary, in consultation with State Departments of Transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, and other stakeholders, may promulgate a rulemaking that establishes performance measures and standards as described in section 150(c)(8) of title 23. . 5. Performance Management Data Support Program (a) Performance Management Data Support Program Section 150 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (f) Performance management data support To assist metropolitan planning organizations, States, and the Department in carrying out performance management analyses, including the performance management requirements of this chapter, the Secretary shall create and maintain data sets and data analysis tools. . (b) Federal share Section 120 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following: (l) Performance Management Data Support Program The Federal share payable on account of an activity under the performance management data support program under section 150(f) shall be 100 percent of the cost of the activity. . 6. Multimodal accommodations (a) Design standards Section 109 of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking may take into account shall take into account (ii) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following: (C) access and safety for users of all foreseeable modes of transportation. ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking may develop shall develop (2) in subsection (m), by striking and light motorcycles , safe, convenient, and continuous alternate route (b) Transportation alternatives (1) Federal share Section 120 of title 23, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following: (m) Transportation Alternatives Program The Federal share requirements under this section applicable to the Transportation Alternatives Program under section 213 of this title may be met based on— (1) an individual project or activity under that section; or (2) a program of projects or activities approved under subsection (c)(6)(B) of that section. . (2) Reservation of funds Section 213(a)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking of fiscal years 2013 and 2014 fiscal year (3) Eligible entities Section 213(c)(4)(B) title 23, United States Code, is amended— (A) by redesignating clauses (vi) and (vii) as clauses (viii) and (ix); and (B) inserting after clause (v) the following: (vi) a nonprofit organization; (vii) a metropolitan planning organization that is not developing the competitive process for funding; . (4) Program of projects Section 213(c) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (6) Program of projects Funds may be obligated under this section for— (A) a project or activity eligible under subsection (b); or (B) a program of projects or activities eligible under that subsection. (7) Administration (A) Submission of project agreement For each fiscal year, each State shall submit a project agreement that— (i) certifies that the State will meet all the requirements of this section; and (ii) notifies the Secretary of the amount of obligations needed to carry out the program under this section. (B) Request for adjustments of amounts Each State shall request from the Secretary such adjustments to the amount of obligations referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii) as the State determines to be necessary. (C) Effect of approval by the Secretary Approval by the Secretary of a project agreement under subparagraph (A) shall be deemed a contractual obligation of the United States to pay funds made available under this title. . 7. Authorization of appropriations (a) Connection to Opportunity Pilot Programs There is authorized to be appropriated $70,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019 to carry out the Connection to Opportunity Pilot Programs established under— (1) section 134(r) of title 23, United States Code (as added by section 4 of this Act); and (2) section 5303(r) of title 49, United States Code (as added by section 4 of this Act). (b) Performance Management Data Support Programs There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019 to carry out the Performance Management Data Support Program under section 150(f) of title 23, United States Code, as added by section 5 of this Act.

Summary: Transportation, Access, and Opportunity Act of 2015 This bill modifies transportation programs to establish a goal of achieving an interconnected transportation system that connects people to jobs, schools, and essential services; and to require more data and public input during the planning process. States and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) must permit the public to provide input during the development and implementation of transportation plans. (MPOs are federally required and funded organizations responsible for the regional transportation planning process in certain urban areas.) The bill revises the goals of the federal highway program to include achieving an interconnected transportation system which connects people to jobs, schools, and other essential services through a multimodal network. The Department of Transportation (DOT) may establish a performance measure for MPOs to measure transportation connectivity. DOT must establish the Connection to Opportunity Pilot Program for up to 10 MPOs to develop and implement projects to improve multimodal connectivity and increase connections for transportation-disadvantaged individuals and neighborhoods with limited transportation options. The participating MPOs must submit performance data to DOT, and DOT must use the data to evaluate the programs and consider developing a national indicator to measure multimodal connections to opportunities. DOT must create and maintain data sets and analysis tools to assist MPOs, states, and entities within DOT in carrying out performance management analyses. The bill permanently extends the authorization for the Transportation Alternatives Program, revises federal share requirements, and permits nonprofit organizations and certain MPOs to receive funding under the program.