,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #efif ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #bh1 #bjbj,mr4 ,pappas 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,lipinski1 and ,mr4 ,huffman7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,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 communities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,connecting ,america's ,active ,transportation ,system ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,nearly half of the trips taken in the ,united ,states are within a #bj-minute bicycle ride1 and nearly a quarter of such trips are within a #bj-minute walk4 7#b7 ,approximately #ij percent of public transportation trips are accessible by walking or bicycling4 7#c7 ,communities that invest in active transportation infrastructure experience significant increases in bicycling and walking rates over time1 and such investments are in strong demand because they lead to a higher quality of life1 better health1 a stronger economy1 and increased mobility in communities where investments are made4 7#d7 ,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 basis4 7#e7 ,achieving a mode shift to active transportation within a community requires intensive1 concentrated funding of active transportation systems rather than discrete1 piecemeal projects4 7#f7 ,increased use of active transportation reduces traffic congestion1 greenhouse gas emissions1 vehicle miles traveled1 and rates of obesity and chronic disease associated with physical inactivity4 7#g7 ,given the contribution that active transportation makes to national policy goals1 and the opportunity active transportation provides to accommodate short trips at the least cost to the public and individuals1 funding of active transportation is one of the most strategic and cost effective ,federal transportation investments available4 7#h7 ,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 boundaries4 #c4 ,active transportation infrastructure investment program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall carry out an active transportation infrastructure investment program to make grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible organizations to construct eligible projects to provide safe and connected active transportation facilities in an active transportation network or active transportation spine4 7b7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible organization shall submit to the ,secretary an application in such manner and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,eligible projects partially on ,federal land ,with respect to an application for an eligible project that is located in part on ,federal lands1 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 7#a74 7c7 ,application considerations ,in making a grant for construction of an active transportation network or active transportation spine under this section1 the ,secretary shall consider the following3 7#a7 ,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 bicycling1 including effective plans to-- 7,a7 create an active transportation network connecting destinations within or between communities1 including schools1 workplaces1 residences1 businesses1 recreation areas1 and other community areas1 or create an active transportation spine connecting two or more communities1 metropolitan regions1 or ,states2 and 7,b7 integrate active transportation facilities with transit services1 where available1 to improve access to public transportation4 7#b7 ,whether the eligible organization demonstrates broad community support through-- 7,a7 the use of public input in the development of transportation plans2 and 7,b7 the commitment of community leaders to the success and timely implementation of an eligible project4 7#c7 ,whether the eligible organization provides evidence of commitment to traffic safety1 regulations1 financial incentives1 or community design policies that facilitate significant increases in walking and bicycling4 7#d7 ,the extent to which the eligible organization demonstrates commitment of ,state1 local1 or eligible ,federal matching funds1 and land or in-kind contributions1 in addition to the local match required under subsection 7f77#a71 unless the applicant qualifies for an exception under subsection 7f77#b74 7#e7 ,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 color4 7#f7 ,whether the eligible organization demonstrates how investment in active transportation will advance safety for pedestrians and cyclists1 accessibility to jobs and key destinations1 economic competitiveness1 environmental protection1 and quality of life4 7d7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,of the amounts made available to carry out this section and except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary shall obligate-- 7,a7 not less than #cj percent to eligible projects that construct active transportation networks that connect people with public transportation1 businesses1 workplaces1 schools1 residences1 recreation areas1 and other community activity centers2 and 7,b7 not less than #cj percent to eligible projects that construct active transportation spines4 7#b7 ,planning and design grants ,each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall set aside not less than #c1jjj1jjj from 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 spines4 7#c7 ,administrative costs ,each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall set aside not more than #b1jjj1jjj of the funds made available to carry out this section to cover the costs of administration1 research1 technical assistance1 communications1 and training activities under the program4 7#d7 ,limitation on statutory construction ,nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit an eligible organization from receiving research or other funds under titles #bc or #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 7e7 ,grant timing 7#a7 ,request for application ,not later than #cj days after funds are made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall publish in the ,federal ,register a request for applications for grants under this section4 7#b7 ,selection of grant recipients ,not later than #aej days after funds are made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall select grant recipients for grants under this section4 7f7 ,federal share 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 the ,federal share of a grant under this section shall not exceed #hj percent of the total project cost4 7#b7 ,exception for disadvantaged communities ,for projects serving communities with a poverty rate of over #dj percent based on the majority of census tracts served by such project1 the ,secretary may increase the ,federal share of a grant under this section up to #ajj percent of the total project cost4 7g7 ,contract authority ,funds made available to carry out this section shall be available for obligation and administered in the same manner as if such funds were apportioned under chapter #a of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 except that the funds shall remain available until expended and shall not be transferrable4 7h7 ,assistance to ,indian tribes ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary may enter into grant agreements1 self determination contracts and self-governance compacts under the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecja et seq47 with eligible ,indian tribes and such agreements1 contracts1 and compacts shall be administered in accordance with such ,act4 7i7 ,reports 7#a7 ,interim report ,not later than ,september #cj1 #bjbc1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report containing the information described in paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,final report ,not later than ,september #cj1 #bjbe1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report containing the information described in paragraph 7#c74 7#c7 ,report information ,a report submitted under this subsection shall contain the following3 7,a7 ,a list of grants made under this section4 7,b7 ,best practices of recipients in implementing active transportation projects4 7,c7 ,impediments experienced by recipients of grants under this section in developing and shifting to active transportation4 7j7 ,rule required ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall issue a final rule that encourages the use of the programmatic categorical exclusion1 expedited procurement techniques1 and other best practices to facilitate productive and timely expenditures for projects that are small1 low impact1 and constructed within an existing built environment4 7k7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated out of the ,highway ,trust ,fund 7other than the ,mass ,transit ,account7 #ejj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd to carry out this section4 7l7 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,active transportation ,the term active transportation means mobility options powered primarily by human energy1 including bicycling and walking4 7#b7 ,active transportation network ,the term active transportation network means facilities built for active transportation1 including sidewalks1 bikeways1 and pedestrian and bicycle trails1 that connect between destinations within a community or metropolitan region4 7#c7 ,active transportation spine ,the term active transportation spine means facilities built for active transportation1 including sidewalks1 bikeways1 and pedestrian and bicycle trails that connect between communities1 metropolitan regions1 or ,states4 7#d7 ,community ,the term community means a geographic area that is socioeconomically interdependent and may include rural1 suburban1 and urban jurisdictions4 7#e7 ,eligible organization ,the term eligible organization means-- 7,a7 a local or regional governmental organization1 including a metropolitan planning organization or regional planning organization or council2 7,b7 a multi-county special district2 7,c7 a ,state2 7,d7 a multi-state group of governments2 or 7,e7 an ,indian tribe4 7#f7 ,eligible project ,the term eligible project means an active transportation project or group of projects-- 7,a7 within or between a community or group of communities1 at least one of which falls within the jurisdiction of an eligible organization1 which has submitted an application under this section2 and 7,b7 that has-- 7i7 a total cost of not less than #ae1jjj1jjj2 or 7ii7 with respect to planning and design grants1 planning and design costs of not less than #ajj1jjj4 7#g7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d7;e7 of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd7;e774 7#h7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7#i7 ,total project cost ,the term total project cost means the sum total of all costs incurred in the development of a project that are approved by the ,secretary as reasonable and necessary1 including-- 7,a7 the cost of acquiring real property2 7,b7 the cost of site preparation1 demolition1 and development2 7,c7 expenses related to the issuance of bonds or notes2 7,d7 fees in connection with the planning1 execution1 and financing of the project2 7,e7 the cost of studies1 surveys1 plans1 permits1 insurance1 interest1 financing1 tax1 and assessment costs2 7,f7 the cost of construction1 rehabilitation1 reconstruction1 and equipping the project2 7,g7 the cost of land improvements2 7,h7 contractor fees2 7,i7 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 project2 and 7,j7 any other cost that the ,secretary determines is necessary and reasonable4