,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bifh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,august #a1 #bjac ,mr4 ,sires introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to amend titles #bc and #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 with respect to congestion mitigation and metropolitan transportation planning1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,commute ,less ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,metropolitan transportation planning 7a7 ,definitions ,section #ecjc7;b7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraph 7#g7 as paragraph 7#i72 7#b7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#f7 as paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#g71 respectively2 7#c7 by inserting before paragraph 7#b7 7as so redesignated by paragraph 7#b7 of this subsection7 the following3 7#a7 ,employer-based commuter program ,the term employer-based commuter program means a program implemented by an employer that provides employees of that employer with alternatives to driving to and from work in a vehicle occupied by a single individual1 including the following3 7,a7 ,a carpool program4 7,b7 ,a vanpool program4 7,c7 ,a transit benefit program4 7,d7 ,a parking cash-out program4 7,e7 ,a shuttle program4 7,f7 ,a telework program4 2 and 7#d7 by inserting before paragraph 7#i7 7as so redesignated by paragraph 7#a7 of this subsection7 the following3 7#h7 ,transportation management organization ,the term transportation management organization means a local1 regional1 or statewide association of employers established for the purpose of providing employees of those employers with alternatives to driving to and from work in a vehicle occupied by a single individual4 4 7b7 ,development of transportation plan 7#a7 ,transportation plan ,section #ecjc7;i77#b7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,i7 ,employer outreach activities and strategies ,proposed activities and strategies to provide outreach to employers and transportation management organizations to facilitate the creation and expansion of employer-based commuter programs4 4 7#b7 ,participation by interested parties ,section #ecjc7;i77#f77;,a7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after the disabled1 the following3 representatives of employers and transportation management organizations14 7c7 ,metropolitan ,,tip ,section #ecjc7;j77#b77;,a7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting 1 including projects identified in a relevant commuter trip reduction plan developed under subsection 7r744 7d7 ,transportation management areas ,section #ecjc7k77#c7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 ,employer involvement ,a process for addressing congestion management under subparagraph 7,a7 shall be developed in coordination with any relevant employer advisory council established under subsection 7r7 and shall include projects identified in the commuter trip reduction plan of that council4 4 7e7 ,employer advisory councils and information clearinghouse ,section #ecjc of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7r7 ,employer advisory councils 7#a7 ,in general ,each metropolitan planning organization serving a transportation management area shall establish an employer advisory council that consists of representatives of employers in the area served by the metropolitan planning organization4 7#b7 ,membership 7,a7 ,in general ,an employer advisory council shall consist of not less than #g representatives of employers and representatives of identified transportation management organizations in the area served by the relevant metropolitan planning organization4 7,b7 ,ensuring a diverse cross-section of employers ,in establishing an employer advisory council1 a metropolitan planning organization1 to the extent practicable1 shall ensure that the membership of the council includes a diverse cross-section of employers from the area served by the organization4 7#c7 ,commuter trip reduction plan ,an employer advisory council established under paragraph 7#a7 shall develop and maintain a commuter trip reduction plan that identifies-- 7,a7 commuting patterns in the area served by the relevant metropolitan planning organization2 7,b7 area goals for the reduction of vehicle miles traveled during peak commuting hours2 7,c7 existing and proposed employer-based commuter programs in the area2 7,d7 a series of projects and activities to facilitate achievement of the goals identified under subparagraph 7,b72 and 7,e7 a financing plan for the projects and activities identified under subparagraph 7,d74 7s7 ,information clearinghouse ,the ,secretary is authorized to make a grant to a national nonprofit organization engaged in efforts relating to employer-based commuter programs or another entity to-- 7#a7 establish and operate an information clearinghouse relating to employer investment in transportation and employer-based commuter programs2 7#b7 develop an education program with respect to employer investment in transportation and employer-based commuter programs2 and 7#c7 provide technical assistance relating to employer-based commuter programs and disseminate techniques and strategies used by successful employer-based commuter programs4 4 #c4 ,congestion mitigation during project construction ,section #ajf of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7k7 ,congestion mitigation plans 7#a7 ,requirement ,a recipient of ,federal financial assistance under this title for a project with an estimated total cost of #ge1jjj1jjj or more or that will reduce traffic flow 7as defined by the ,secretary7 for more than #abj days shall prepare a congestion mitigation plan for such project that includes funding for projects to reduce vehicle miles traveled during peak commuting hours along the impacted corridor4 7#b7 ,coordination ,a recipient shall prepare a congestion mitigation plan under paragraph 7#a7 in coordination with any relevant employer advisory council established under section #ecjc7r7 of title #di4 7#c7 ,review by ,secretary ,a congestion mitigation plan prepared under paragraph 7#a7 shall be made available to the ,secretary for review upon the request of the ,secretary4 4 #d4 ,employer-based commuter programs action plan 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,transportation shall develop and implement a plan to expand and promote employer-based commuter programs 7as defined in section #ecjc7;b7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code74 7b7 ,contents ,the plan developed under subsection 7a7 shall include plans-- 7#a7 to amend existing regulations and guidance and1 if necessary1 develop new regulations and guidance to ensure that employer-based commuter programs are integrated1 to the extent possible1 into all appropriate ,federal transportation programs2 7#b7 to identify best practices with respect to employer-based commuter programs2 7#c7 to research the effectiveness and efficiency of employer-based commuter programs2 and 7#d7 to create a national and regional peer exchange program to ensure that developments with respect to employer-based commuter programs are shared and issues are addressed4 7c7 ,timing ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall finalize and begin implementation of the plan developed under subsection 7a74 7d7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs and the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate a report on the implementation and impact of the plan developed under subsection 7a74 #e4 ,disaster preparedness report 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall submit to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs and the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate a report with recommendations on how to better integrate employer-based commuter programs 7as defined in section #ecjc7;b7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code7 into emergency planning1 preparedness1 and response activities4 7b7 ,coordination ,in preparing the report under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall consult with-- 7#a7 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency2 and 7#b7 stakeholders1 including national and regional organizations and experts that promote employer-based commuter programs4