Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2015

To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure credit assistance pilot program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2015 (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Purposes. Sec. 3. Authority to provide assistance. Sec. 4. Eligible entities. Sec. 5. Projects eligible for assistance. Sec. 6. Applications. Sec. 7. Determination of eligibility and project selection. Sec. 8. Secured loans and loan guarantees. Sec. 9. Program administration. Sec. 10. State and local permits. Sec. 11. Definitions. Sec. 12. Regulations. Sec. 13. Funding. Sec. 14. Report to Congress. 2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are as follows: (1) To promote investment in bicycling and walking infrastructure to create and connect transportation networks. (2) To improve access to employment, business districts, and transit in communities traditionally underserved by existing transportation systems by establishing additional opportunities for financing nonmotorized infrastructure projects. (3) To attract new investment to business districts and neighborhoods in low-income communities. (4) To leverage Federal funds and private investment in low-income communities and those traditionally underserved by existing transportation systems. 3. Authority to provide assistance The Secretary of Transportation may provide financial assistance under this Act to eligible entities to carry out bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects selected for such assistance under this Act. 4. Eligible entities In this Act, the term eligible entity (1) A corporation. (2) A public/private partnership. (3) A joint venture. (4) A trust. (5) A State infrastructure financing authority. 5. Projects eligible for assistance Financial assistance may be provided under this Act only for the following types of projects: (1) A project for the construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road pathways for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorized forms of transportation to create a comprehensive and connected transportation system, including sidewalks, bicycling infrastructure and parking, pedestrian and bicycle signals, traffic calming techniques, lighting and other safety-related infrastructure, and transportation projects to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. (2) A project for the construction, planning, and design of infrastructure-related projects and systems that connect existing infrastructure to create a network and improve safety and access for nonmotorized users to transit, schools, and commercial areas. (3) Innovative infrastructure for bicycling and walking, such as designs included in the National Association of City Transportation Officials guide for urban street design, to enhance the ability of communities to develop solutions to increase nonmotorized travel. (4) A project for the conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, or other nonmotorized transportation users to connect to or expand an existing network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities. (5) A bike share program as a standalone project or in conjunction with other infrastructure projects. 6. Applications (a) In general The Secretary shall provide for eligible entities to submit applications for selection of eligible projects to receive financial assistance under this Act at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (b) Combined projects The Secretary shall provide, only in the case of a State infrastructure financing authority, that such an entity may submit a single application for a combination of projects, each of which is an eligible project under section 8(b). 7. Determination of eligibility and project selection (a) Selection of projects Using the selection criteria under subsection (d), the Secretary shall select, from applications submitted pursuant under this Act, eligible projects that meet the criteria under subsections (b) and (c) for financial assistance under this Act. (b) Activities eligible for assistance Amounts from a loan made or guaranteed under this Act provided for an eligible project may be used to pay the costs of carrying out such project, including costs of— (1) development-phase activities, including planning, feasibility analysis, revenue forecasting, environmental review, permitting, preliminary engineering and design work, and other preconstruction activities; (2) construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and replacement activities; (3) the acquisition of real property (including land relating to the project and improvements to land), environmental mitigation, construction contingencies, and acquisition of equipment; (4) capitalized interest necessary to meet market requirements, reasonably required reserve funds, capital issuance expenses, and other carrying costs during construction; and (5) refinancing interim construction funding, long-term project obligations, or a secured loan or loan guarantee made under this Act. (c) Project requirements An eligible project may not be selected to receive financial assistance under this Act unless the Secretary determines that the project meets all of the following criteria: (1) Creditworthiness (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the project shall be creditworthy, as determined by the Secretary as applicable, to ensure that any financing for the project has appropriate security features, such as a rate covenant, to ensure repayment. (B) Preliminary rating opinion letter The Secretary shall require an applicant for each project to provide, as part of the application for the project under this section, a preliminary rating opinion letter from at least one rating agency indicating that the senior project obligations of the project (which may be the Federal credit instrument) have the potential to achieve an investment-grade rating. (C) Special rule for certain combined projects The Secretary shall develop a credit evaluation process for a Federal credit instrument provided to a State infrastructure financing authority for a project described in subsection (b), which may include requiring the provision of a preliminary rating opinion letter from at least one rating agency. (2) Eligible project costs The costs of an eligible project shall be reasonably anticipated to be not less than $2,000,000. (3) Dedicated revenue sources The Federal credit instrument for the project shall be repayable, in whole or in part, from dedicated revenue sources that also secure the project obligations. (4) Public sponsorship of private entities In the case of a project carried out by an entity that is not a State or local government or an agency or instrumentality of a State or local government, the project shall be publicly sponsored. (5) Public involvement process The applicant shall show evidence of having incorporated a public involvement process in the application, and plans for continued public involvement through the implementation of the process. The public involvement processes shall be proactive and provide complete information, timely public notice, full public access to key decisions, and opportunities for early and continuing involvement. The processes shall provide for— (A) reasonable public access to technical and policy information used in the development of the application; (B) adequate public notice of public involvement activities and time for public review and comment at key decision points; (C) a process for demonstrating explicit consideration and response to public input during the planning and program development process; and (D) a process for seeking out and considering the needs of those traditionally underserved by existing transportation systems, such as low-income and minority households which may face challenges accessing employment and other amenities. (d) Selection Among Eligible Projects (1) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a rolling application process in which projects that are eligible to receive credit assistance under subsection (a) shall receive credit assistance on terms acceptable to the Secretary, if adequate funds are available to cover the subsidy costs associated with the Federal credit instrument. (2) Adequate funding not available If the Secretary fully obligates funding to eligible projects in a given fiscal year, and adequate funding is not available to fund a credit instrument, a project sponsor of an eligible project may elect to enter into a master credit agreement and wait until the following fiscal year or until additional funds are available to receive credit assistance. (e) Low-Income communities The Secretary shall ensure that not less that 25 percent of funds under this section are used to support projects in low-income communities. (f) Federal requirements Nothing in this section may be construed to alter, affect, or annul the applicability of any other Federal law. 8. Secured loans and loan guarantees (a) Authority The Secretary may enter into agreements with eligible entities to make, and may make, secured loans to such entities as provided under this section for eligible projects selected under section 8. (b) Use (1) In general The proceeds of a secured loan under this section shall be used only— (A) to finance project costs of an eligible project selected under section 8; (B) subject to paragraph (2), to refinance interim construction financing of eligible project costs of an eligible project selected under section 8; or (C) to refinance long-term project obligations or Federal credit instruments, if such refinancing provides additional funding capacity for the completion, enhancement, or expansion of a project that— (i) is selected under section 8; or (ii) was originally financed, in whole or in part, with amounts provided other than under this Act, if the project otherwise meets the requirements of section 8. (2) Limitation on refinancing of interim construction financing The proceeds of a secured loan under this section made for an eligible project may not be used for the purpose under paragraph (1)(B) after the expiration of the 12-month period beginning on the date of substantial completion of the project. (c) Risk assessment Before entering into an agreement under this subsection for a secured loan, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and each rating agency providing a preliminary rating opinion letter under section 8(c)(1)(B), shall determine an appropriate capital reserve subsidy amount for the secured loan, taking into account each such preliminary rating opinion letter. (d) Investment-Grade rating requirement for senior obligations The execution of a secured loan under this section shall be contingent on receipt by the senior obligations of the project of an investment-grade rating. (e) Terms and limitations (1) Maximum amount The amount of a secured loan under this section shall not exceed the lesser of— (A) an amount equal to 49 percent of the reasonably anticipated eligible project costs; or (B) if the secured loan does not receive an investment-grade rating, the amount of the senior project obligations of the project. (2) Payment A secured loan under this section— (A) shall be payable, in whole or in part, from State or local taxes, user fees, or other dedicated revenue sources that also secure the senior project obligations of the relevant project; (B) shall include a rate covenant, coverage requirement, or similar security feature supporting the project obligations; and (C) may have a lien on revenues described in subparagraph (A), subject to any lien securing project obligations. (3) Interest rate The interest rate on a secured loan under this section shall be— (A) equal to the yield on marketable United States Treasury securities of a similar maturity to the maturity of the secured loan on the date of execution of the loan agreement; and (B) fixed for the term of the loan. (4) Maturity date (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the final maturity date of a secured loan under this section for an eligible project shall be not later than 35 years after the date of substantial completion of the project. (B) Special rule for state infrastructure financing authorities The final maturity date of a secured loan under this section made to a State infrastructure financing authority shall be not later than 35 years after the date on which loan amounts are first disbursed. (5) Nonsubordination A secured loan under this section shall not be subordinated to the claims of any holder of project obligations in the event of bankruptcy, insolvency, or liquidation of the obligor. (6) Fees The Secretary may establish fees in connection with a secured loan under this section, in amounts sufficient to cover all or a portion of the costs to the Federal Government of secured loans under this section. (7) Use of proceeds for payment of non-federal share The proceeds of a secured loan under this section may be used to pay any non-Federal share required with respect to other funding obtained for project costs, but only if such secured loan is repaid using non-Federal funds. (8) Maximum federal involvement For any project for which assistance is provided under this Act, the total amount of Federal assistance from all sources, including this Act, shall not exceed 80 percent of the total project cost. (9) Other terms and conditions A secured loan provided for a project under this section shall be subject to such other terms and conditions, and contain such covenants, representations, warranties, and requirements (including requirements for audits), as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (f) Repayment (1) Schedule The Secretary shall establish a repayment schedule for each secured loan provided under this section, based on the projected cash flow from project revenues and other repayment sources. (2) Commencement (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), scheduled loan repayments of principal or interest on a secured loan under this section for an eligible project shall commence not later than 5 years after the date of substantial completion of the project. (B) Special rule for state infrastructure financing authorities Scheduled loan repayments of principal or interest on a secured loan made under this section to a State infrastructure financing authority shall commence not later than 5 years after the date on which amounts are first disbursed. (3) Deferred payments (A) In general If, at any time after the date of substantial completion of a project for which a secured loan is provided under this section, the project is unable to generate sufficient revenues to pay the scheduled loan repayments of principal and interest on the loan, the Secretary may, subject to subparagraph (C), allow the obligor to add unpaid principal and interest to the outstanding balance of the secured loan. (B) Interest Any payment deferred pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall— (i) continue to accrue interest in accordance with subsection (e)(3) until fully repaid; and (ii) be amortized over the remaining term of the secured loan. (C) Criteria Any payment deferral pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be contingent on the project meeting— (i) standards for reasonable assurance of repayment, as the Secretary shall establish; and (ii) such other criteria as the Secretary may establish. (4) Prepayment (A) Use of excess revenues Any excess revenues from an eligible project that remain after satisfying scheduled debt service requirements on the project obligations and secured loan and all deposit requirements under the terms of any trust agreement, bond resolution, or similar agreement securing project obligations may be applied annually to prepay a secured loan under this section without penalty. (B) Use of proceeds of refinancing A secured loan under this section may be prepaid at any time, without penalty, from the proceeds of refinancing from non-Federal funding sources. (g) Sale of secured loans (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), if the Secretary determines that the sale or reoffering of a secured loan under this section for an eligible project can be made on favorable terms, the Secretary may sell the loan to another entity or reoffer the loan into the capital markets as soon as practicable after the date of substantial completion of a project and after providing notice to the obligor. (2) Consent of obligor In making a sale or reoffering under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not change the original terms and conditions of the secured loan without the written consent of the obligor. (h) Loan guarantees (1) In general In lieu of making a secured loan under this section for an eligible project, the Secretary may provide a loan guarantee for a project obligation for a project funded by a qualified lender (as such term is defined in section 12), but only if the Secretary determines that the cost as such term is defined in section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 ( 2 U.S.C. 661a (2) Terms The terms of a loan guarantee provided under this subsection shall be consistent with the terms established in this section for a secured loan, except that the interest rate on the guaranteed loan and any prepayment features shall be negotiated between the obligor and the qualified lender, subject to the consent of the Secretary. 9. Program administration (a) Requirement The Secretary shall establish a uniform system to service the Federal credit instruments made available under this Act. (b) Servicer (1) In general The Secretary may appoint a financial entity to assist the Secretary in servicing Federal credit instruments provided under this Act. (2) Duties A servicer appointed under paragraph (1) shall act as the agent for the Secretary. (c) Assistance from experts The Secretary may retain the services, including counsel, of organizations and entities with expertise in the field of municipal and project finance to assist in the underwriting and servicing of Federal credit instruments provided under this Act. 10. State and local permits The provision of financial assistance under this Act for an eligible project shall not— (1) relieve any recipient of such assistance of any obligation to obtain any required State or local permit or approval with respect to the project; (2) limit the right of any unit of State or local government to approve or regulate any rate of return on private equity invested in the project; or (3) otherwise supersede any State or local law or regulation applicable to the construction or operation of the project. 11. Definitions In this Act, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (2) Eligible project The term eligible project (3) Eligible project costs The term eligible project costs (4) Federal credit instrument The term Federal credit instrument (5) Investment-grade rating The term investment-grade rating (6) Loan guarantee The term loan guarantee (7) Obligor The term obligor (A) with respect to a Federal credit instrument that is a secured loan under section 9, the eligible entity that is primarily liable for payment of the principal of, or interest on, the loan; and (B) with respect to a Federal credit instrument that is a loan guarantee under section 9(h), the eligible entity that is primarily liable for payment of the loan or other debt obligation repayment of which is guaranteed pursuant to such section. (8) Project obligation The term project obligation (9) Qualified lender (A) In general The term qualified lender (B) Inclusions Such term includes— (i) a qualified retirement plan (as defined in section 4974(c) (ii) a governmental plan (as defined in section 414(d) (10) Rating agency The term rating agency 15 U.S.C. 78c(a) (11) Secretary The term Secretary (12) Secured loan The term secured loan (13) State The term State (14) State infrastructure financing authority The term State infrastructure financing authority (15) Subsidy amount The term subsidy amount 2 U.S.C. 661 et seq. (16) Substantial completion The term substantial completion 12. Regulations The Secretary may issue such regulations as the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out this Act. 13. Funding Section 608(a) (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) Set asides Of the total amount of funds made available to carry out this chapter for each fiscal year— (A) $11,000,000 shall be set aside for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects described in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2015 unless and until the pilot program established by that Act is terminated; and (B) $1,000,000 shall be set aside for administrative costs of the program. . 14. Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report summarizing the financial performance of the projects that are receiving, or have received, assistance under this Act, including a recommendation as to whether the objectives of this Act are best served— (1) by continuing the program under the authority of the Secretary; and (2) by phasing out the program and relying on the capital markets to fund the types of infrastructure investments assisted by this Act without Federal participation.

Summary: Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2015 Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program to make loans and loan guarantees to eligible entities to carry out bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects. Prescribes project eligibility requirements. Requires the Secretary to ensure that at least 25% of funds provided under this Act are used to support projects in low-income communities.