,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #agdh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #i1 #bjae,mrs4 ,murray 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,collins1 and ,mr4 ,durbin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to provide for improved investment in national transportation infrastructure4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,transportation ,infrastructure ,grants and ,economic ,reinvestment ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state2 7,b7 an ,indian tribe2 7,c7 the ,district of ,columbia2 7,d7 a territory of the ,united ,states2 7,e7 a local government2 7,f7 a port authority2 7,g7 a metropolitan planning organization2 7,h7 a transit agency2 7,i7 another political subdivision of a ,state or local government2 and 7,j7 #b or more of the entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,i71 working in collaboration4 7#b7 ,eligible project 7,a7 ,in general ,the term eligible project means a transportation project that1 as determined by the ,secretary1 would have a significant beneficial impact on a ,state1 a metropolitan area1 a region1 or the ,united ,states4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term eligible project includes-- 7i7 a highway or bridge project eligible for funding under chapter #a of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code 7including a project related to bicycles or pedestrians72 7ii7 a public transportation project eligible for funding under chapter #ec of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code2 7iii7 a passenger or freight rail transportation project2 7iv7 a port infrastructure project2 and 7v7 an intermodal project4 7#c7 ,eligible project costs 7,a7 ,in general ,the term eligible project costs means costs relating to an eligible project1 such as the costs of-- 7i7 development phase activities1 including planning1 feasibility analysis1 revenue forecasting1 environmental review1 permitting1 preliminary engineering and design work1 and other preconstruction activities2 7ii7 construction1 reconstruction1 rehabilitation1 replacement1 and acquisition of real property 7including land related to the eligible project and improvements to land71 environmental mitigation1 construction contingencies1 and acquisition of equipment2 and 7iii7 capitalized interest necessary to meet market requirements1 reasonably required reserve funds1 capital issuance expenses1 and other carrying costs during construction4 7,b7 ,dredging activities ,the term eligible project costs-- 7i7 includes the costs of dredging activities that are part of a berth reconstruction or rehabilitation project2 and 7ii7 does not include the costs of dredging activities that are the responsibility of the ,army ,corps of ,engineers4 7#d7 ,rural area ,the term rural area means any area not in an urbanized area 7as that term is defined by the ,census ,bureau74 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7#f7 ,state ,the term ,state means-- 7,a7 any of the #ej ,states2 or 7,b7 the ,district of ,columbia4 7#g7 ,substantial completion ,the term substantial completion means the opening of an eligible project to vehicular or passenger traffic4 #c4 ,national infrastructure investment program 7a7 ,program ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall by regulation establish a program under which the ,secretary shall provide competitive grants to eligible entities for use in carrying out eligible projects4 7b7 ,grant requirements 7#a7 ,amount ,except as provided in paragraph 7#e77;,b77i71 a grant under this ,act shall be in an amount that is not less than #aj1jjj1jjj and not greater than #bjj1jjj1jjj4 7#b7 ,geographical distribution2 balance2 investment ,in providing grants under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall take such measures as are necessary to ensure1 to the maximum extent practicable-- 7,a7 an equitable geographical distribution of funds2 7,b7 an appropriate balance in addressing the needs of urban and rural areas2 and 7,c7 investment in a variety of transportation modes4 7#c7 ,maximum percentage per ,state ,not more than #be percent of the amounts made available to provide grants under this ,act for a fiscal year may be provided for eligible projects in a ,state4 7#d7 ,federal share 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#e77;,b77ii71 the ,federal share of the cost of carrying out any eligible project funded by a grant under this ,act shall be1 at the option of the eligible entity receiving the grant1 up to #hj percent4 7,b7 ,priority ,in providing grants under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible projects that require a contribution of ,federal funds in order to complete an overall financing package for the eligible projects4 7#e7 ,eligible projects in rural areas 7,a7 ,in general ,not less than #bj percent of the amounts made available to provide grants under this ,act for a fiscal year shall be provided for eligible projects located in rural areas4 7,b7 ,minimum grant amount2 ,federal share ,with respect to an eligible project located in a rural area-- 7i7 the minimum amount of a grant under this ,act shall be #a1jjj1jjj2 and 7ii7 the ,secretary may increase the ,federal share of the cost of carrying out the eligible project up to #ajj percent4 7#f7 ,set-asides for certain costs1 projects1 and transfers ,of the amounts made available under this ,act for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary may-- 7,a7 use an amount not to exceed #bj1jjj1jjj for grants that pay for the planning1 preparation1 or design of eligible projects2 and 7,b7 use an amount not to exceed #bj1jjj1jjj to fund the provision and oversight of grants under this ,act1 including transfers of funds from that amount to the ,administrators of the ,federal ,highway ,administration1 the ,federal ,transit ,administration1 the ,federal ,railroad ,administration1 and the ,maritime ,administration to fund the provision and oversight of grants under this ,act for eligible projects under the administrative jurisdiction of those agencies4 7c7 ,selection among eligible projects 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish criteria for use in selecting among eligible projects to receive funding under this ,act4 7#b7 ,selection criteria 7,a7 ,primary selection criteria ,the ,secretary shall select among eligible projects by evaluating the extent to which an eligible project provides significant benefits to a ,state1 a metropolitan area1 a region1 or the ,united ,states1 including the extent to which an eligible project-- 7i7 improves the safety of transportation facilities and systems2 7ii7 improves the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems2 7iii7 contributes to economic competitiveness over the medium- to long-term2 7iv7 improves the environment1 improves energy efficiency1 reduces dependence on oil1 or reduces greenhouse gas emissions2 and 7v7 improves access to transportation facilities and systems4 7,b7 ,secondary selection criteria ,in addition to considering the primary selection criteria described in subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall consider the extent to which a project-- 7i7 uses innovative strategies or technologies to pursue any of those primary selection criteria2 and 7ii7 demonstrates strong collaboration among a broad range of participants1 or the integration of transportation with other public service efforts4 7d7 ,application requirement ,the ,secretary shall require an analysis of project benefits and costs in each application for a construction grant under this ,act4 7e7 ,federal requirements ,the following provisions of law shall apply to funds made available under this ,act and eligible projects carried out using those funds3 7#a7 ,subchapter ,,iv of chapter #ca of title #dj1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,title ,,vi of the ,civil ,rights ,act of #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;d et seq474 7#c7 ,the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq474 7#d7 ,the ,uniform ,relocation ,assistance and ,real ,property ,acquisition ,policies ,act of #aigj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dfja et seq474 7f7 ,transparency 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall include in any notice of funding availability a full description of how applications will be evaluated against all selection criteria4 7#b7 ,consultations on decisions ,after provision of grants and credit assistance under this ,act for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary 7or a designee7 shall be available to meet with any applicant1 at a time and place that is mutually acceptable to the ,secretary and the applicant1 to review the application of the applicant4 #d4 ,,tifia subsidy and administrative costs ,the ,secretary may use up to #bj percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization under section #f to pay the subsidy and administrative costs of projects eligible for ,federal credit assistance under chapter #f of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 if the ,secretary determines that such use of funds would advance the purposes of this ,act4 #e4 ,state and local permits ,financial assistance under this ,act with respect to an eligible project shall not-- 7#a7 relieve any recipient of the assistance of any obligation to obtain any required ,state or local permit or approval with respect to the eligible project2 7#b7 limit the right of any unit of ,state or local government to approve or regulate any rate of return on private equity invested in the eligible project2 or 7#c7 otherwise supersede any ,state or local law 7including any regulation7 applicable to the construction or operation of the eligible project4 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years #bjaf through #bjba4 7b7 ,availability ,amounts appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be available for obligation during the #c-year period beginning on the first day of such fiscal year4