1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Connecting America’s Active Transportation System Act”.
Connecting America’s Active Transportation System Act
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.
2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
Nearly half of the trips taken in the United States are within a 20-minute bicycle ride, and nearly a quarter of such trips are within a 20-minute walk.
Approximately 90 percent of public transportation trips are accessible by walking or bicycling.
Communities that invest in active transportation 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.
The communities that perform best in encouraging active transportation create interconnected systems that make it convenient and safe to travel on foot or by bicycle to destinations on a routine basis.
Achieving a mode shift to active transportation within a community requires intensive, concentrated funding of active transportation systems rather than discrete, piecemeal projects.
Increased use of active transportation reduces traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle miles traveled, and rates of obesity and chronic disease associated with physical inactivity.
Given the contribution that active transportation makes to national policy goals, and the opportunity active transportation provides to accommodate 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.
The Federal Government is uniquely qualified to facilitate interstate connections necessary to build long distance active transportation spines and regional connections in communities that span State boundaries.
3. Active transportation infrastructure investment program
In general— Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall carry out an active transportation infrastructure investment program to make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible organizations to construct eligible projects to provide safe and connected active transportation facilities in an active transportation network or active transportation spine.
Application—
In general— To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible organization shall submit to the Secretary an application in such manner and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
Eligible projects partially on Federal land— With respect to an application for an eligible project that is located in part on Federal land, an eligible organization shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the appropriate Federal agency with jurisdiction over such land to submit an application described in paragraph (1).
Application considerations— In making a grant for construction of an active transportation network or active transportation spine under this section, the Secretary shall consider the following:
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 walking and bicycling, including effective plans—
to create an active transportation network 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 communities, metropolitan regions, or States; and
to integrate active transportation facilities with transit services, where available, to improve access to public transportation.
Whether the eligible organization demonstrates broad community support through—
the use of public input in the development of transportation plans; and
the commitment of community leaders to the success and timely implementation of an eligible project.
Whether the eligible organization provides evidence of commitment to traffic safety, regulations, financial incentives, or community design policies that facilitate significant increases in walking and bicycling.
The extent to which the eligible organization demonstrates commitment of State, local, or eligible Federal matching funds, and land or in-kind contributions, in addition to the local match required under subsection (f)(1), unless the applicant qualifies for an exception under subsection (f)(2).
The extent to which the eligible organization demonstrates that the grant will address existing 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.
Whether the eligible organization demonstrates how investment in active transportation will advance safety for pedestrians and cyclists, accessibility to jobs and key destinations, economic competitiveness, environmental protection, and quality of life.
Use of funds—
In general— Of the amounts made available to carry out this section and subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary shall obligate—
not less than 30 percent to eligible projects that construct active transportation networks that connect people with public transportation, businesses, workplaces, schools, residences, recreation areas, and other community activity centers; and
not less than 30 percent to eligible projects that construct active transportation spines.
Planning and design grants— Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall set aside not less than $3,000,000 of the funds made available to carry out this section to provide planning grants for eligible organizations to develop plans for active transportation networks and active transportation spines.
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, research, technical assistance, communications, and training activities under the program.
Limitation on statutory construction— Nothing in this subsection prohibits an eligible organization from receiving research or other funds under title 23 or 49, United States Code.
Grant timing—
Request for application— Not later than 30 days after funds are made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a request for applications for grants under this section for that fiscal year.
Selection of grant recipients— Not later than 150 days after funds are made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall select grant recipients of grants under this section for that fiscal year.
Federal share—
In general— Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal share of the cost of an eligible project carried out using a grant under this section shall not exceed 80 percent of the total project cost.
Exception for disadvantaged communities— For eligible projects serving communities with a poverty rate of over 40 percent based on the majority of census tracts served by the eligible project, the Secretary may increase the Federal share of the cost of the eligible project up to 100 percent of the total project cost.
Assistance to Indian tribes— In carrying out this section, the Secretary may enter into grant agreements, self-determination contracts, and self-governance compacts under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) with Indian tribes that are eligible organizations, and such agreements, contracts, and compacts shall be administered in accordance with that Act.
Reports—
Interim report— Not later than September 30, 2024, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the information described in paragraph (3).
Final report— Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the information described in paragraph (3).
Report information— A report submitted under this subsection shall contain the following, with respect to the period covered by the applicable report:
A list of grants made under this section.
Best practices of eligible organizations that receive grants under this section in implementing eligible projects.
Impediments experienced by eligible organizations that receive grants under this section in developing and shifting to active transportation.
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, and other best practices to facilitate productive and timely expenditures for eligible projects that are small, low-impact, and constructed within an existing built environment.
Authorization of appropriations—
In general— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
Availability— The amounts made available to carry out this section shall remain available until expended.
Definitions— In this Act:
Active transportation— The term active transportation means mobility options powered primarily by human energy, including bicycling and walking.
Active transportation network— The term active transportation network means facilities built for active transportation, including sidewalks, bikeways, and pedestrian and bicycle trails, that connect between destinations within a community or metropolitan region.
Active transportation spine— The term active transportation spine means facilities built for active transportation, including sidewalks, bikeways, and pedestrian and bicycle trails that connect between communities, metropolitan regions, or States.
Community— The term community means a geographic area that is socioeconomically interdependent and may include rural, suburban, and urban jurisdictions.
Eligible organization— The term eligible organization means—
a local or regional governmental organization, including a metropolitan planning organization or regional planning organization or council;
a multicounty special district;
a State;
a multistate group of governments; or
an Indian tribe.
Eligible project— The term eligible project means an active transportation project or group of projects—
within or between a community or group of communities, at least one of which falls within the jurisdiction of an eligible organization, which has submitted an application under this section; and
that has—
a total cost of not less than $15,000,000; or
with respect to planning and design grants, planning and design costs of not less than $100,000.
Indian tribe— The term Indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.
Total project cost— The term total project cost means the sum total of all costs incurred in the development of an eligible project that are approved by the Secretary as reasonable and necessary, including—
the cost of acquiring real property;
the cost of site preparation, demolition, and development;
expenses related to the issuance of bonds or notes;
fees in connection with the planning, execution, and financing of the eligible project;
the cost of studies, surveys, plans, permits, insurance, interest, financing, tax, and assessments;
the cost of construction, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and equipping the eligible project;
the cost of land improvements;
contractor fees;
the cost of training and education related to the safety of users of any bicycle or pedestrian network or spine constructed as part of an eligible project; and
any other cost that the Secretary determines is necessary and reasonable.