,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dfaj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #h1 #bjad ,mr4 ,cohen introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,transportation to establish a grant program to assist the development of aerotropolis transportation systems1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,leading and ,expediting ,aerotropolis ,development ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,aerotropolis grant program 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #f months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall establish and carry out an aerotropolis grant program 7in this section referred to as the program7 to assist the development of aerotropolis transportation systems in accordance with this section4 7b7 ,grant authority ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary is authorized to make a grant to an eligible entity to assist planning1 design1 environmental review1 or land acquisition activities for any of the following to benefit an aerotropolis transportation system3 7#a7 ,a project for the development or improvement of a highway or bridge4 7#b7 ,a project for the development or improvement of a public transportation system4 7#c7 ,a project to expand the capacity of or otherwise improve freight or passenger rail transportation4 7#d7 ,a project for the development or improvement of a port4 7#e7 ,a project that improves access to a port or terminal facility4 7#f7 ,a project for the development or improvement of a multimodal terminal facility4 7#g7 ,a project for the development or improvement of an intelligent transportation system that-- 7,a7 is primarily for the benefit of freight movement2 and 7,b7 reduces congestion or improves safety4 7c7 ,availability of grant funding ,grant funding awarded to a grant recipient under the program shall remain available to be obligated by the recipient during the fiscal year in which the grant funding is disbursed and the three fiscal years following that fiscal year4 ,grant funding not obligated by a grant recipient during the period provided under this subsection shall be returned to the ,secretary and made available for making other grants under the program4 7d7 ,application process ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary shall establish a process for eligible entities to apply for grants1 which shall include the submission to the ,secretary of an application containing the following3 7#a7 ,a description of the aerotropolis transportation system to be assisted with the grant1 including-- 7,a7 the geographic scope of the system2 and 7,b7 the components that comprise the system4 7#b7 ,a description of the projects to be assisted with the grant4 7#c7 ,with respect to each of the projects described under paragraph 7#b71 a description of-- 7,a7 the status of the project2 7,b7 how the project will develop the applicable aerotropolis transportation system2 7,c7 the jobs to be created by the project2 7,d7 the costs and benefits of the project2 and 7,e7 the plans and timeline for moving the project to completion4 7e7 ,grant selection 7#a7 ,considerations ,in making grants under the program1 the ,secretary shall consider1 with respect to a proposed project1 whether the project facilitates any of the following3 7,a7 ,improvement of the mobility of goods or passengers4 7,b7 ,enhancement of intermodal connectivity with respect to freight or passenger transportation4 7,c7 ,improvement of the condition of freight or passenger transportation infrastructure1 including bringing such infrastructure into a state of good repair4 7,d7 ,reductions in congestion4 7,e7 ,improvement of safety1 including through reductions in transportation accidents1 injuries1 and fatalities4 7,f7 ,incorporation of new and innovative technologies into the transportation system1 including intelligent transportation systems4 7,g7 ,enhancement of national or regional economic development1 growth1 and competitiveness4 7,h7 ,non-,federal contributions to the project1 including contributions from public-private partnerships4 7,i7 ,reductions in dependence on foreign oil4 7,j7 ,reductions in air or water pollution4 7#b7 ,priorities ,in making grants under the program1 the ,secretary shall give priority to applicants that demonstrate any of the following3 7,a7 ,a strategic plan for the development of an aerotropolis transportation system and funding directed to that development4 7,b7 ,existing infrastructure and services sufficient for the development of an aerotropolis transportation system4 7,c7 ,a capacity for using grant funds to efficiently and effectively develop an aerotropolis transportation system4 7,d7 ,public-private partnerships that will assist in completing proposed projects4 7,e7 ,an inability to complete pre-construction activities for proposed projects without grant assistance4 7f7 ,reports ,in each year in which a grant recipient receives funding under the program1 that recipient shall submit to the ,secretary a report that includes a description of the following3 7#a7 ,the activities carried out by that recipient with grant funds in the preceding year4 7#b7 ,the impact of those activities1 including in comparison to the objectives for those activities4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section1 the following definitions apply3 7#a7 ,aerotropolis transportation system ,the term aerotropolis transportation system means a planned and coordinated multimodal freight and passenger transportation network that1 as determined by the ,secretary1 provides efficient1 cost-effective1 sustainable1 and intermodal connectivity to a defined region of economic significance centered around a major airport4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means any of the following3 7,a7 ,a ,state government or political subdivision thereof4 7,b7 ,a local government or political subdivision thereof4 7,c7 ,a metropolitan planning organization4 7,d7 ,a regional planning organization4 7,e7 ,an organization comprised of more than one entity specified in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d74