Better PLAN Act
Bill: S.768 | Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine (D-NV)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Better Planning and Land-Use for Accessible Neighborhoods Act or the Better PLAN Act
This bill revises the metropolitan transportation planning process for a metropolitan area to consider projects and strategies that will enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system by better connecting housing to employment.
Additionally, the transportation planning process must address the integration of housing, transportation, and economic development strategies through a process that provides for effective integration, based on a cooperatively developed and implemented strategy, of new and existing transportation facilities.
In carrying out the planning process, a metropolitan planning organization must (1) consult with state and local entities responsible for land use, economic development, housing, management of road networks, or public transportation; and (2) coordinate with such entities to align the goals of the process with the goals of any comprehensive housing affordability strategies established within the metropolitan planning area.

To amend section 5303 of title 49, United States Code, to consider 
    housing in metropolitan transportation planning, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Better Planning and Land-Use for 
Accessible Neighborhoods Act'' or the ``Better PLAN Act''.

SEC. 2. METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.

    Section 5303 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``and better connect 
        housing and employment'' after ``urbanized areas'';
            (2) in subsection (g)(3)(A), by inserting ``housing,'' 
        after ``economic development,'';
            (3) in subsection (h)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``, 
                housing,'' after ``growth'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (C) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(J) enhance the integration and connectivity of 
                the transportation system by better connecting housing 
                to employment.'';
            (4) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4)(B)--
                            (i) by redesignating clauses (iii) through 
                        (vi) as clauses (iv) through (vii), 
                        respectively; and
                            (ii) by inserting after clause (ii) the 
                        following:
                            ``(iii) assumed distribution of population 
                        and housing;'';
                    (B) in paragraph (5)(A), by inserting ``housing,'' 
                after ``conservation,''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (6)(A), by inserting ``affordable 
                housing organizations,'' after ``disabled,''; and
            (5) in subsection (k)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
                paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) Housing coordination process.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Within a metropolitan planning 
                area serving a transportation management area, the 
                transportation planning process under this section 
                shall address the integration of housing, 
                transportation, and economic development strategies 
                through a process that provides for effective 
                integration, based on a cooperatively developed and 
                implemented strategy, of new and existing 
                transportation facilities eligible for funding under 
                this chapter and title 23.
                    ``(B) Coordination in integrated planning 
                process.--In carrying out the process described in 
                subparagraph (A), a metropolitan planning organization 
                shall--
                            ``(i) consult with--
                                    ``(I) State and local entities 
                                responsible for land use, economic 
                                development, housing, management of 
                                road networks, or public 
                                transportation; and
                                    ``(II) other appropriate public or 
                                private entities; and
                            ``(ii) coordinate, to the extent 
                        practicable, with applicable State and local 
                        entities to align the goals of the process with 
                        the goals of any comprehensive housing 
                        affordability strategies established within the 
                        metropolitan planning area pursuant to section 
                        105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
                        Affordable Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 12705) and 
                        plans developed under section 5A of the United 
                        States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c-1).
                    ``(C) Schedule.--The Secretary shall establish an 
                appropriate phase-in schedule for compliance with the 
                requirements of this paragraph, but no sooner than--
                            ``(i) 1 year after the identification of a 
                        transportation management area; or
                            ``(ii) with respect to a transportation 
                        management area in existence on the day before 
                        the date of enactment of this paragraph, 1 year 
                        after the date of enactment of this paragraph.
                    ``(D) Housing coordination plan.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A metropolitan planning 
                        organization serving a transportation 
                        management area may develop a housing 
                        coordination plan that includes projects and 
                        strategies that will be considered in the 
                        metropolitan transportation plan of the 
                        metropolitan planning organization.
                            ``(ii) Contents.--A plan described in 
                        clause (i) may--
                                    ``(I) develop regional goals for 
                                the integration of housing, 
                                transportation, and economic 
                                development strategies to--
                                            ``(aa) better connect 
                                        housing and employment while 
                                        mitigating commuting times;
                                            ``(bb) align transportation 
                                        improvements with housing 
                                        needs, such as housing supply 
                                        shortages, and proposed housing 
                                        development;
                                            ``(cc) align planning for 
                                        housing and transportation to 
                                        address needs in relationship 
                                        to household incomes within the 
                                        metropolitan planning area;
                                            ``(dd) expand housing and 
                                        economic development within the 
                                        catchment areas of existing 
                                        transportation facilities and 
                                        public transportation services 
                                        when appropriate, including 
                                        higher-density development, as 
                                        locally determined;
                                            ``(ee) manage effects of 
                                        growth of vehicle miles 
                                        traveled experienced in the 
                                        metropolitan planning area 
                                        related to housing development 
                                        and economic development;
                                            ``(ff) increase share of 
                                        households with sufficient and 
                                        affordable access to the 
                                        transportation networks of the 
                                        metropolitan planning area;
                                    ``(II) identify the location of 
                                existing and planned housing and 
                                employment, and transportation options 
                                that connect housing and employment; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) include a comparison of 
                                transportation plans to land use 
                                management plans, including zoning 
                                plans, that may affect road use, public 
                                transportation ridership and housing 
                                development.''.
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