I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5696 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out an active transpor-
tation investment program to make grants to eligible applicants to build 
safe and connected options for bicycles and walkers within and between 
communities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 28, 2020 
Mr. PAPPAS (for himself, Mr. LIPINSKI, and Mr. HUFFMAN) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out an 
active transportation investment program to make grants 
to eligible applicants to build safe and connected options 
for bicycles and walkers within and between communities, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Connecting America’s 
Active Transportation System Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Nearly half of the trips taken in the United 
States are within a 20-minute bicycle ride, and near-
ly a quarter of such trips are within a 20-minute 
walk. 
(2) Approximately 90 percent of public trans-
portation trips are accessible by walking or bicycling. 
(3) Communities that invest in active transpor-
tation infrastructure experience significant increases 
in bicycling and walking rates over time, and such 
investments are in strong demand because they lead 
to a higher quality of life, better health, a stronger 
economy, and increased mobility in communities 
where investments are made. 
(4) The communities that perform best in en-
couraging 
active 
transportation 
create 
inter-
connected systems that make it convenient and safe 
to travel on foot or by bicycle to destinations on a 
routine basis. 
(5) Achieving a mode shift to active transpor-
tation within a community requires intensive, con-
centrated funding of active transportation systems 
rather than discrete, piecemeal projects. 
(6) Increased use of active transportation re-
duces traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, 
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vehicle miles traveled, and rates of obesity and 
chronic disease associated with physical inactivity. 
(7) Given the contribution that active transpor-
tation makes to national policy goals, and the oppor-
tunity active transportation provides to accommo-
date short trips at the least cost to the public and 
individuals, funding of active transportation is one 
of the most strategic and cost effective Federal 
transportation investments available. 
(8) The Federal Government is uniquely quali-
fied to facilitate interstate connections necessary to 
build long distance active transportation spines and 
regional connections in communities that span State 
boundaries. 
SEC. 3. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN-
VESTMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out an 
active transportation infrastructure investment program 
to make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible organi-
zations to construct eligible projects to provide safe and 
connected active transportation facilities in an active 
transportation network or active transportation spine. 
(b) APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this section, an eligible organization 
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shall submit to the Secretary an application in such 
manner and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(2) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS PARTIALLY ON FED-
ERAL LAND.—With respect to an application for an 
eligible project that is located in part on Federal 
lands, an eligible organization shall enter into a co-
operative agreement with the appropriate Federal 
agency with jurisdiction over such land to submit an 
application described in paragraph (1). 
(c) APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS.—In making a 
grant for construction of an active transportation network 
or active transportation spine under this section, the Sec-
retary shall consider the following: 
(1) Whether the eligible organization submitted 
a plan for an eligible project for the development of 
walking and bicycling infrastructure that is likely to 
provide substantial additional opportunities for walk-
ing and bicycling, including effective plans to— 
(A) create an active transportation net-
work connecting destinations within or between 
communities, including schools, workplaces, 
residences, businesses, recreation areas, and 
other community areas, or create an active 
transportation spine connecting two or more 
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communities, metropolitan regions, or States; 
and 
(B) integrate active transportation facili-
ties with transit services, where available, to im-
prove access to public transportation. 
(2) Whether the eligible organization dem-
onstrates broad community support through— 
(A) the use of public input in the develop-
ment of transportation plans; and 
(B) the commitment of community leaders 
to the success and timely implementation of an 
eligible project. 
(3) Whether the eligible organization provides 
evidence of commitment to traffic safety, regula-
tions, financial incentives, or community design poli-
cies that facilitate significant increases in walking 
and bicycling. 
(4) The extent to which the eligible organiza-
tion demonstrates commitment of State, local, or eli-
gible Federal matching funds, and land or in-kind 
contributions, in addition to the local match required 
under subsection (f)(1), unless the applicant quali-
fies for an exception under subsection (f)(2). 
(5) The extent to which the eligible organiza-
tion demonstrates that the grant will address exist-
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ing disparities in bicyclist and pedestrian fatality 
rates based on race or income level or provide access 
to jobs and services for low-income communities and 
communities of color. 
(6) Whether the eligible organization dem-
onstrates how investment in active transportation 
will advance safety for pedestrians and cyclists, ac-
cessibility to jobs and key destinations, economic 
competitiveness, environmental protection, and qual-
ity of life. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts made avail-
able to carry out this section and except as provided 
in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall obligate— 
(A) not less than 30 percent to eligible 
projects that construct active transportation 
networks that connect people with public trans-
portation, businesses, workplaces, schools, resi-
dences, recreation areas, and other community 
activity centers; and 
(B) not less than 30 percent to eligible 
projects that construct active transportation 
spines. 
(2) PLANNING AND DESIGN GRANTS.—Each fis-
cal year, the Secretary shall set aside not less than 
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$3,000,000 from the funds made available to carry 
out this section to provide planning grants for eligi-
ble organizations to develop plans for active trans-
portation networks and active transportation spines. 
(3) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Each fiscal year, 
the Secretary shall set aside not more than 
$2,000,000 of the funds made available to carry out 
this section to cover the costs of administration, re-
search, technical assistance, communications, and 
training activities under the program. 
(4) LIMITATION
ON
STATUTORY
CONSTRUC-
TION.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 
to prohibit an eligible organization from receiving re-
search or other funds under titles 23 or 49, United 
States Code. 
(e) GRANT TIMING.— 
(1) REQUEST
FOR
APPLICATION.—Not later 
than 30 days after funds are made available to carry 
out this section, the Secretary shall publish in the 
Federal Register a request for applications for 
grants under this section. 
(2) SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS.—Not 
later than 150 days after funds are made available 
to carry out this section, the Secretary shall select 
grant recipients for grants under this section. 
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(f) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Federal share of a grant under this 
section shall not exceed 80 percent of the total 
project cost. 
(2) EXCEPTION FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMU-
NITIES.—For projects serving communities with a 
poverty rate of over 40 percent based on the major-
ity of census tracts served by such project, the Sec-
retary may increase the Federal share of a grant 
under this section up to 100 percent of the total 
project cost. 
(g) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—Funds made available 
to carry out this section shall be available for obligation 
and administered in the same manner as if such funds 
were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United 
States Code, except that the funds shall remain available 
until expended and shall not be transferrable. 
(h) ASSISTANCE TO INDIAN TRIBES.—In carrying 
out this section, the Secretary may enter into grant agree-
ments, self determination contracts and self-governance 
compacts under the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) with eligi-
ble Indian tribes and such agreements, contracts, and 
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compacts shall be administered in accordance with such 
Act. 
(i) REPORTS.— 
(1) INTERIM
REPORT.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30, 2023, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report containing the information described 
in paragraph (3). 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than September 
30, 2025, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
report containing the information described in para-
graph (3). 
(3) REPORT
INFORMATION.—A report sub-
mitted under this subsection shall contain the fol-
lowing: 
(A) A list of grants made under this sec-
tion. 
(B) Best practices of recipients in imple-
menting active transportation projects. 
(C) Impediments experienced by recipients 
of grants under this section in developing and 
shifting to active transportation. 
(j) RULE REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
a final rule that encourages the use of the programmatic 
categorical exclusion, expedited procurement techniques, 
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