Mobility Options, Resiliency, and Efficiency (MORE) through TDM Act
Bill: H.R.2514 | Sponsor: Rep. Garcia, Jesus G. "Chuy" (D-IL)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Mobility Options, Resiliency, and Efficiency (MORE) through TDM Act
This bill addresses supporting transportation demand management (TDM) expectations and goals that will serve the mobility needs of the people and freight, foster economic growth and development within and between states and urbanized areas. Transportation demand management is the use of strategies to inform and encourage travelers to maximize the efficiency of a transportation system leading to improved mobility, reduced congestion, and lower vehicle emissions.
Each state and metropolitan planning organization must include TDM targets in the development of their long-range transportation plans.
The bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a program to encourage and assist the development and funding of TDM related projects.
Additionally, DOT must provide grants to nonprofit institutions of higher education to establish and operate a university transportation center for research and development related to TDM and TDM strategies. TDM strategies means the use of planning, programs, policy, marketing, communications, incentives, pricing, data, and technology to shift travel mode, routes used, departure times, number of trips, and location and design of work spaces or public attractions.
The bill establishes a National Advisory Committee under the Federal Highways Administration to strategically direct federal resources and policies toward implementation of TDM objectives. Additionally, each state must establish advisory committees focused on the development and furthering of the principles of TDM.

To amend title 23, United States Code, to encourage and promote the 
 safe and efficient management, operation, and development of surface 
            transportation systems, 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.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Mobility Options, 
Resiliency, and Efficiency (MORE) through TDM Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
          TITLE I--ADOPTING THE NATIONAL PLANS TO SECTION 134

Sec. 1001. Policy.
Sec. 1002. Definitions.
Sec. 1003. Requirements.
Sec. 1004. Planning.
           TITLE II--ADOPTING THE STATE PLANS TO SECTION 135

Sec. 2001. Requirements.
Sec. 2002. Planning.
Sec. 2003. Relationship to long-range plan.
              TITLE III--APPROPRIATIONS AND GRANT PROGRAMS

Sec. 3001. Authorizations of appropriations.
Sec. 3002. Grants.
  TITLE IV--NATIONAL AND STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEES ON TRANSPORTATION 
                           DEMAND MANAGEMENT

Sec. 4001. National and State advisory committees on transportation 
                            demand management.

          TITLE I--ADOPTING THE NATIONAL PLANS TO SECTION 134

SEC. 1001. POLICY.

    Section 134(a)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
            ``(1) to encourage and promote the safe and efficient 
        management, operation, and development of surface 
        transportation systems and support Transportation demand 
        management expectations and goals that will serve the mobility 
        needs of the people and freight, foster economic growth and 
        development within and between States and urbanized areas, and 
        to take into consideration resiliency needs while minimizing 
        transportation related fuel consumption, congestion, and air 
        pollution through metropolitan and Statewide transportation 
        planning processes in this chapter; and''.

SEC. 1002. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(35) Transportation demand management; tdm.--The terms 
        `Transportation Demand Management' and `TDM' mean the use of 
        strategies to inform and encourage travelers to maximize the 
        efficiency of a transportation system leading to improved 
        mobility, reduced congestion, and lower vehicle emissions.
            ``(36) Transportation demand management strategies.--The 
        term `Transportation Demand Management Strategies' means the 
        use of planning, programs, policy, marketing, communications, 
        incentives, pricing, data, and technology to shift travel mode, 
        routes used, departure times, number of trips, and location and 
        design of work spaces or public attractions.''.

SEC. 1003. REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 134(c) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Contents.--The plans and TIPs for each metropolitan 
        area shall provide for the development and integrated 
        management, including transportation demand management, and 
        operation of transportation systems and facilities (including 
        accessible pedestrian walkways, bicycle transportation 
        facilities, and intermodal facilities that support intercity 
        transportation and reduce the need of single-occupancy vehicles 
        and intercity bus facilities and commuter vanpool providers) 
        that will function as an intermodal transportation system for 
        the metropolitan planning area and as an integral part of an 
        intermodal transportation system for the State and the United 
        States.''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
            ``(3) Process of development.--The process for developing 
        the plans and TIPs shall provide for consideration of all modes 
        of transportation and transportation demand management and 
        shall be continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive to the 
        degree appropriate, based on the complexity of the 
        transportation problems to be addressed.''.

SEC. 1004. PLANNING.

    Section 134(h) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (I);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of 
                subparagraph (J) and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end, the following:
                    ``(K) summarize the issues, problems, barriers and 
                existing policies and programs of transportation demand 
                management;
                    ``(L) incentivize equitable and lower-cost options 
                for transportation systems, including transportation 
                demand management;
                    ``(M) identify strategies which provide multimodal 
                choices to single-occupancy vehicle travel on the road; 
                and
                    ``(N) mitigate congestion-related issues and 
                identify alternative transportation routes and options 
                during times of severe weather storms and other natural 
                disasters declared local, State, and Federal state of 
                emergencies.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting after clause (ii) the 
        following:
                            ``(iii) Transportation demand management 
                        targets.--Each Metropolitan planning 
                        organization that is considered to be in 
                        nonattainment or maintenance areas for at least 
                        one National Ambient Air Quality Standard as 
                        defined under the Clean Air Act shall establish 
                        demand management targets that address the 
                        objectives, issues, and goals of transportation 
                        demand management described in subsection (b), 
                        where applicable, to use in tracking progress 
                        toward attainment of such critical outcomes for 
                        the region of the metropolitan planning 
                        organization.''.

           TITLE II--ADOPTING THE STATE PLANS TO SECTION 135

SEC. 2001. REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 135(a)(2) of title 23, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
            ``(2) Contents.--The statewide transportation plan and the 
        transportation improvement program developed for each State 
        shall provide for transportation demand management issues, 
        objectives development, and integrated management and operation 
        of transportation systems and facilities (including accessible 
        pedestrian walkways, bicycle transportation facilities, and 
        intermodal facilities that support intercity transportation, 
        including intercity buses and intercity bus facilities and 
        commuter van pool providers) that will function as an 
        intermodal transportation system and reduce the need of single 
        occupancy vehicles for the State and an integral part of an 
        intermodal transportation system for the United States.''.

SEC. 2002. PLANNING.

    Section 135(d)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (I);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (J) 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(K) resolve issues, problems, and barriers of 
                transportation demand management;
                    ``(L) guide transportation investment decisions 
                including transportation demand management policies, 
                strategies, and performance measures of the State;
                    ``(M) enhance private-sector and disadvantaged 
                community involvement in providing multimodal and 
                multioccupancy transportation programs and services 
                that promote environmental, safety, and equity goals 
                and increase economic activity; and
                    ``(N) improve operations and facilities with 
                mobility issues within the State, and a description of 
                the strategies the State is employing to address them, 
                considering the objectives of transportation demand 
                management.''.

SEC. 2003. RELATIONSHIP TO LONG-RANGE PLAN.

    Section 135(f)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
            ``(1) Development.--Each State shall develop a long-range 
        Statewide transportation plan, with a minimum 20-year forecast 
        period for all areas of the State, that provides for the 
        development and implementation of the intermodal transportation 
        system and supports the objectives of transportation demand 
        management of the State.''.

              TITLE III--APPROPRIATIONS AND GRANT PROGRAMS

SEC. 3001. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 170 the following:
``Sec. 171. Transportation Demand Management implementation program
    ``The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program to 
encourage and assist the development and funding of Transportation 
Demand Management related projects in accordance with this section and 
to further direct Federal resources, as authorized in this section, 
towards implementation of Transportation Demand Management objectives 
described in section 134(b).''.
    (b) In General.--The following sums are authorized to be 
appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit 
Account): $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, to 
carry out section 171 of title 23, United States Code.
    (c) Division of Funds Among States.--The Secretary shall distribute 
the funds authorized in subsection (b) to the 50 States and the 
District of Columbia in accordance with the formula described in 
subsection (d).
    (d) Calculation of State Amounts.--For each of fiscal years 2022 
through 2026, funds shall be distributed to each State and the District 
of Columbia in a formula that mirrors the allocation/apportionment 
percentage each State or the District of Columbia receives under 
section 104(c) of title 23, United States Code.
    (e) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--States shall distribute funds authorized 
        under the TDM Implementation Program in the form of competitive 
        grants to eligible entities to support the implementation of 
        projects and programs identified within a State adopted 
        Transportation Demand Management plan to support the movement 
        of people and result in reduced congestion, environmental 
        benefits, improved equity within transportation systems, and 
        support economic activity.
            (2) Eligible projects.--Funds apportioned to the State 
        under this section for the TDM Implementation program may be 
        obligated to carry out one or more of the following:
                    (A) Technologies designed to inform and promote the 
                use of non-single occupancy vehicles.
                    (B) Technologies designed to inform and promote 
                alternative trip mode options that improve and assist 
                the movement of all people.
                    (C) Marketing and promotional efforts to promote 
                mode choice and reduce the environmental impacts of 
                commuter movement.
                    (D) Real-time traffic and multimodal transportation 
                information systems that aim to influence travel mode 
                decisions and behavior.
                    (E) Work zone management and information systems 
                that aim to shift travel modes during construction.
                    (F) Support the development of plans that enhance 
                disaster preparedness and mitigate congestion along 
                major travel routes during times of emergency, natural 
                disasters, and construction that impacts existing road 
                capacity.
                    (G) Any other multimodal surface transportation 
                project to improve the equitable flow of all people and 
                goods within the existing national highway 
                infrastructure network.
            (3) Eligible entities.--States are authorized to award 
        competitive grant funds, as identified in this section, to the 
        following organizations or entities:
                    (A) Transportation Demand Management product and 
                service providers, and related Transportation Demand 
                Management associations.
                    (B) Transportation Management Associations and 
                Transportation Management Organizations.
                    (C) Metropolitan Organizations.
                    (D) Regional Planning Organizations.
                    (E) Public transportation Agencies.
                    (F) Local governments.
    (f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms 
``Transportation Management Associations'' or ``TMAs'' and 
``Transportation Management Organizations'' or ``(TMOs)'' mean 
associations, organizations, or cooperatives that provide 
transportation services and education to businesses, property owners, 
residents, and employees in a defined geographic area, combining their 
efforts to expand transportation options and reduce program costs. TMAs 
and TMOs are not-for-profit collaborations of private and public sector 
entities working together toward common goals, such as congestion 
mitigation, transportation services, and pollution reduction.
    (g) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 1 of 
title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 170 the following:

``171. Transportation Demand Management implementation program.''.

SEC. 3002. GRANTS.

    (a) Authorization.--The Secretary shall make grants under this 
section to eligible nonprofit institutions of higher education to 
establish and operate a university transportation center for research 
and development related to Transportation Demand Management and 
Transportation Demand Management Strategies.
    (b) Authorized Funds.--The Secretary may distribute $3,000,000 for 
the creation of a University Transportation Center dedicated towards 
the advancement of transportation demand management, the understanding 
of behavior in mobility decisions, and the development of mobility as a 
service applications.
    (c) Eligible Use of Funds.--The funds authorized in this section 
shall be used for the establishment of university transportation 
dedicated towards the research and development of transportation demand 
management and transportation demand management strategies. Funds may 
be used for the research of TDM related topics, as defined under 
section 1002.
    (d) Eligible Applicants.--To receive a grant under this section, 
applicants must be in accordance with requirements outlined in title 
49, United States Code.
    (e) Competitive Selection Process.--To receive a grant under this 
section--
            (1) a consortium of nonprofit institutions of higher 
        education shall submit to the Secretary an application that is 
        in such form and contains such information as the Secretary may 
        require; and
            (2) the awardee must follow and be in accordance with the 
        process as described in section 5505(b) of title 49, United 
        States Code.

  TITLE IV--NATIONAL AND STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEES ON TRANSPORTATION 
                           DEMAND MANAGEMENT

SEC. 4001. NATIONAL AND STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEES ON TRANSPORTATION 
              DEMAND MANAGEMENT.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 171 the following:
``Sec. 172. National and State advisory committees on transportation 
              demand management
    ``(a) Establishment of National Advisory Committee of 
Transportation Demand Management.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator of Federal Highways 
        Administration shall establish a National Advisory Committee 
        for Transportation Demand Management in accordance with this 
        section to strategically direct Federal resources and policies 
        toward implementation of Transportation Demand Management 
        objectives described in section 134(b).
            ``(2) Committee membership.--The National Advisory 
        Committee of Transportation Demand Management shall include no 
        fewer than 11 representatives with at least one Transportation 
        Demand Management--Certified Professional and the others chosen 
        from--
                    ``(A) the transportation industry, product and 
                service providers, and related Transportation Demand 
                Management associations;
                    ``(B) large corporations, large nonprofits, and 
                universities who need to move large numbers of students 
                and employees;
                    ``(C) organizations representing commuters;
                    ``(D) State Transportation Demand Management 
                workforce;
                    ``(E) State departments of transportation;
                    ``(F) public transportation entities;
                    ``(G) regional and metropolitan planning 
                organizations; and
                    ``(H) local governments.
            ``(3) Transportation demand management conditions and 
        performance reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this section, and every 5 years thereafter, the 
        Administrator shall prepare and submit to Congress a report 
        that describes the conditions and performance of the National 
        Transportation Demand Management Program in the United States.
    ``(b) Establishment of State Advisory Committees on Transportation 
Demand Management.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each State shall develop advisory 
        committees focused on the development and furthering of the 
        principles of transportation demand management within their 
        respective jurisdiction.
            ``(2) Purpose.--The State Transportation Demand Management 
        Advisory Committees shall Serve as a body of transportation 
        demand management experts from within a State that will draft 
        and approve State Transportation Demand management plans.
            ``(3) Submission.--Approved State Transportation Demand 
        Management plans shall be submitted to the Administrator of the 
        Federal Highways Administration before a State is eligible to 
        receive funds authorized under section 104(b).
            ``(4) Role.--The State Transportation Demand Management 
        Advisory Committees shall--
                    ``(A) advise the State on transportation demand 
                management-related priorities, issues, projects, and 
                funding needs;
                    ``(B) serve as a forum for discussion for State 
                transportation decisions affecting the movement of 
                people;
                    ``(C) communicate and coordinate regional 
                priorities with other organizations;
                    ``(D) promote the sharing of information between 
                the private and public sectors on efficiency of 
                transportation infrastructure systems and 
                transportation demand management best practices;
                    ``(E) facilitate coordination and collaboration 
                between public and private organizations; and
                    ``(F) participate in the development of the 
                transportation demand management plan of the State and 
                region.
            ``(5) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A State Transportation Demand 
                Management Advisory Committee shall consist of 
                representatives from a cross-section of public and 
                private sector transportation stakeholders.
                    ``(B) Representatives.--A State Advisory Committee 
                shall consist of not fewer than 11 eligible 
                representatives.
                    ``(C) Eligible appointees.--Eligible State Advisory 
                Committee appointees includes representatives from--
                            ``(i) transportation product and service 
                        providers;
                            ``(ii) large nonprofits and universities 
                        who need to move large numbers of students and 
                        employees;
                            ``(iii) large corporations with large 
                        numbers of employees;
                            ``(iv) transportation demand management-
                        related associations;
                            ``(v) organizations representing commuters;
                            ``(vi) regional and metropolitan planning 
                        organizations;
                            ``(vii) the transportation department of 
                        the State;
                            ``(viii) public transportation entities;
                            ``(ix) association representing commuters; 
                        and
                            ``(x) local governments.
            ``(6) Appointment of advisory committee.--The head of the 
        department of transportation for a State shall have the power 
        to appoint the members of the applicable State Transportation 
        Demand Management Advisory Committee.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 1 of 
title 23, United States Code, is further amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 171 the following:

``172. National and State advisory committees on transportation demand 
                            management.''.
                                 <all>