Fair Transportation Act

To review equity best practices in relation to transportation funding and to reinstitute the transportation equity research program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fair Transportation Act 2. Definition of covered populations In this Act: (1) Affordability The term affordability (2) Covered populations The term covered populations (A) communities of color; (B) low-income communities; (C) individuals with disabilities; (D) LGBTQ people; (E) people experiencing homelessness; (F) youth and elderly populations; (G) formerly incarcerated individuals; (H) women; and (I) individuals who are members of Indian tribes. 3. GAO review of equity considerations at State departments of transportation (a) Review required (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall undertake a review, to the extent practicable, of the extent to which State departments of transportation consider equity and improve equity outcomes in the use of Federal surface transportation funds at all phases of project delivery, including— (A) the transportation planning, project selection, and project delivery; and (B) considerations of the diverse transportation needs of covered populations. (2) Considerations In carrying out the review under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall— (A) consider relevant State department of transportation practices and transportation equity measures and the impacts of such measures and practices on covered populations experiencing differential impacts in the surface transportation sector; (B) evaluate, to the extent possible, whether any such equity measures and practices consider the access, affordability, safety, convenience, resilience, and reliability of transportation in covered populations; and (C) evaluate, to the extent possible, whether such measures and practices consider the impact of surface transportation funding on the distribution of economic benefits such as from job creation and receipts of Federal funding by the community, of transportation in covered populations. (b) Final report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and make available on a publicly accessible website, a report detailing— (1) the findings based on the review in subsection (a); (2) any recommendations for State departments of transportation to improve equity considerations and incorporate equity considerations into all phases of project delivery, including the planning, bidding, project design, and project selection process as well as how bids are advertised and awarded, which may be in the form of model legislation, best practices, or guidance; and (3) recommended actions the Secretary of Transportation could take, if any, to effectively address the recommendations provided under paragraph (2) to improve equity considerations in the surface transportation sector. 4. Transportation equity research program (a) In general The Secretary of Transportation shall carry out a transportation equity research program for research and demonstration activities that focus on the impacts that surface transportation planning, investment, and operations have on covered populations. (b) Activities Demonstration activities referred to in subsection (a) shall include research on surface transportation equity issues such as infrastructure barriers that cut off individuals and communities from essential jobs and services, (including inadequate services rendered during natural and man-made disasters), access to publicly-owned and public benefit data, data gathering and analyzing particularly to support the development of equity measures, as well as the development of strategies to advance economic and community development in public transportation-dependent populations. (c) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025. (d) Information collection (1) Datasets and data analysis tools In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall collect, develop, use, and maintain datasets and data analysis tools as necessary for the development of evidence for evaluation purposes, in support of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–435 (2) Application of chapter 35 Any survey, questionnaire, or interview that the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out reporting requirements relating to this subsection, including customer satisfaction assessments, shall not be subject to chapter 35 5. GAO review of discretionary grant programs (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations and Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a review of covered discretionary grant programs, as selected by the Comptroller General, to determine the extent to which the Secretary is considering the needs of and awarding funding through such programs to projects that serve any group or population experiencing differential impacts in the transportation sector. (b) Recommendations The Comptroller General shall include as part of the review under subsection (a) recommendations to the Secretary on possible means to consider equity and improve equity outcomes. (c) Definition of covered discretionary grant program In this section, the term covered discretionary grant programs chapter 53 6. Guidance on equity in disbursing funding (a) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue guidance on how to consider equity in disbursing funding, including the equity measures and best practices the Secretary shall use to consider equity. (b) Considerations In issuing guidance under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure transportation equity measures, if applicable, consider— (1) the impact of transportation planning, investment, and operations on covered populations; and (2) the access, affordability, safety, convenience, and reliability of transportation in underserved communities.

Summary: Fair Transportation Act This bill addresses the disbursement of surface transportation funding in an equitable way by federal, state, and local entities. Specifically, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must review the extent to which states consider equity and improve equity outcomes in the use of federal surface transportation funds at all phases of project delivery, including the diverse transportation needs of economically disadvantaged and underserved populations. Additionally, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must carry out a transportation equity research program for research and demonstration activities that focus on the impacts that surface transportation planning, investment, and operations have on economically disadvantaged and underserved populations, including communities of color, low-income communities, and individuals with disabilities. The GAO must also review discretionary grant programs for surface transportation projects to determine the extent to which DOT is awarding funding through such programs to projects that serve groups or populations experiencing differential impacts in the transportation sector. Further, DOT must issue guidance on equity consideration metrics and best practices while disbursing federal funds.