1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Creating Opportunities for Military Members to Use Transportation Efficiently Act of 2014” or the “COMMUTE Act of 2014”.
Creating Opportunities for Military Members to Use Transportation Efficiently Act of 2014
A BILL
To establish a Military Community Infrastructure Program to provide grants for transportation infrastructure improvements in military communities, and for other purposes.
2. Military Community Infrastructure Program
Establishment— Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a Military Community Infrastructure Program under which the Secretary may provide grants to eligible entities for transportation infrastructure improvement projects in military communities.
Application— To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
Eligible projects—
In general— Grants awarded under the Program may be used for transportation infrastructure improvement projects, including—
the construction of roads;
the construction of mass transit and parking facilities;
the construction of, or upgrades to, pedestrian access and bicycle access; and
upgrades to public transportation systems.
Location— To be eligible for a grant under the Program, a project described in paragraph (1) shall be—
related to improving access to a military installation, as determined by the Secretary; and
in a location that is—
within or abutting an urbanized area (as designated by the Bureau of the Census); and
designated as a growth community by the Office of Economic Adjustment.
Considerations— In awarding grants under the Program, the Secretary shall give consideration to—
the magnitude of the problem addressed by the project;
the proportion of the problem addressed by the project that is caused by military installation growth since the year 2000;
the number of servicemembers and civilian employees of the Department of Defense affected by the problem addressed by the project;
the size of the community affected by the problem addressed by the project;
the ability of the relevant eligible entity to execute the project; and
the extent to which the project resolves the transportation problem addressed.
Federal Share— The Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using grant amounts made available under the Program may not exceed 80 percent.
3. Traffic Impact Study
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a traffic impact study for any urbanized area (as designated by the Bureau of the Census) that expects a significant increase in traffic related to a military installation within or abutting the urbanized area.
Contents— A traffic impact study under subsection (a) shall determine any transportation improvements needed because of an increase in the number of military personnel, including study of commute sheds affected by installation-related traffic.
Consultation— In developing a traffic impact study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with—
the metropolitan planning organization or regional transportation planning organization with jurisdiction over the urbanized area; and
the commander of the appropriate military installation.
4. Definitions
In this Act:
Eligible entity— The term “eligible entity” means—
a State or political subdivision thereof;
an owner or operator of public transportation;
a local governmental authority (as such term is defined in section 5302 of title 49, United States Code);
a metropolitan planning organization; or
a regional transportation planning organization.
Metropolitan planning organization and regional transportation planning organization— The terms “metropolitan planning organization” and “regional transportation planning organization” have the meanings given those terms in section 134(b) of title 23, United States Code.
Secretary— The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Office of Economic Adjustment.
State— The term “State” means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of the United States.
5. Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated, to carry out this Act, $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 and $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019, to remain available until expended.