I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1289 
To require States to establish complete streets programs, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 24, 2021 
Mr. COHEN (for himself, Mr. ESPAILLAT, and Mr. GALLEGO) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To require States to establish complete streets programs, 
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 ‘‘Complete Streets Act 
of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMPLETE STREET.—The term ‘‘complete 
street’’ means a public road that provides safe and 
accessible options for multiple travel modes for peo-
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ple of all ages and abilities, including modes such as 
walking, cycling, transit, automobiles, and freight. 
(2) COMPLETE
STREETS
POLICY.—The term 
‘‘complete streets policy’’ means a complete streets 
policy adopted by an eligible entity under subsection 
(d)(1). 
(3) COMPLETE STREETS PRINCIPLE.—The term 
‘‘complete streets principle’’ means a principle at the 
local, State, or regional level that ensures— 
(A) the safe and adequate accommodation, 
in all phases of project planning and develop-
ment, of all users of the transportation system, 
including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit 
users, children, older individuals, individuals 
with disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles; 
and 
(B) the consideration of the safety and 
convenience of all users of the transportation 
system in all phases of project planning and de-
velopment. 
(4) 
COMPLETE
STREETS
PRIORITIZATION 
PLAN.—The term ‘‘complete streets prioritization 
plan’’ means a complete streets prioritization plan 
developed by an eligible entity under subsection 
(f)(1). 
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(5) COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘complete streets program’’ means a complete 
streets program established by a State under sub-
section (b)(1). 
(6) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a unit of local government; 
(B) a regional planning organization; 
(C) a metropolitan planning organization; 
(D) a transit agency; 
(E) a natural resource or public land agen-
cy; 
(F) a Tribal government; 
(G) a nonprofit entity responsible for the 
administration of local transportation safety 
programs; or 
(H) any other local or regional govern-
mental entity, other than a State agency, with 
responsibility for or oversight of transportation 
or recreational trails that the State in which the 
project will occur determines to be eligible, con-
sistent with the goals of this section. 
(7) 
METROPOLITAN
PLANNING
ORGANIZA-
TION.—The term ‘‘metropolitan planning organiza-
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tion’’ means a metropolitan planning organization 
designated under— 
(A) section 134 of title 23, United States 
Code; or 
(B) section 5303 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than October 1 of 
the second full fiscal year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, each State shall establish a pro-
gram for a competitive process for an eligible entity 
to seek— 
(A) technical assistance for a project to de-
sign and construct a project included in the 
complete streets prioritization plan of the eligi-
ble entity under subsection (f)(5); and 
(B) grants for the design and construction 
of complete streets under subsection (g). 
(2) FUNDING.—Not later than October 1 of the 
third full fiscal year that begins after the date of en-
actment of this Act, each State shall begin to pro-
vide grants for the design and construction of com-
plete streets under subsection (g)(1). 
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(3) GOALS.—The goals of a complete streets 
program are— 
(A) to provide technical assistance and in-
centives for the adoption of complete streets 
policies; 
(B) to encourage eligible entities to adopt 
a strategic and comprehensive approach for the 
development of complete streets; 
(C) to facilitate better pedestrian, bicycle, 
and public transit travel for users of all ages 
and abilities by addressing critical gaps in pe-
destrian, bicycle, and public transit infrastruc-
ture; 
(D) to distribute funding to reward eligible 
entities that have committed to adopting com-
plete streets benchmarks developed by the Sec-
retary under subsection (c); and 
(E) to ensure that underserved municipali-
ties, neighborhoods, and people, including low- 
income people and communities of color, are 
served equitably by the complete streets pro-
gram. 
(c) COMPLETE STREETS BENCHMARKS AND GUID-
ANCE.— 
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