,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hbfb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ae1 #bjbj ,ms4 ,velzquez 7for herself and ,ms4 ,moore7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 to establish a grant program for infrastructure improvement projects at transportation access points to facilitate or increase the use of transportation facilities by individuals with limited mobility4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,accessible ,transit ,for ,all ,act of #bjbj or the ,,atfa ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 public transportation systems1 including those that service the ,nation's largest cities1 are currently unable to provide individuals with ambulatory disabilities equal access to public transportation infrastructure2 and 7#b7 in many cases1 public transportation infrastructure on subway or rail service is inadequately equipped to enable access for individuals with mobility impairments4 #c4 ,grant program for accessible transportation access points ,subtitle ,,iii of chapter #ec of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is modified by adding at the end1 the following3 #ecda4 ,grants for accessible public transportation access 7a7 ,establishment of grant program ,the ,secretary of ,transportation shall establish a program to provide public transportation agencies with technical assistance1 and funding opportunities to provide infrastructure improvements at transportation access points to facilitate or increase the use of transportation facilities by individuals with limited mobility4 7b7 ,criteria for eligible agencies ,a public transportation agency is eligible to participate in the program if the agency-- 7#a7 receives1 or is eligible for1 funds pursuant to the surface transportation block grant program described in section #acc of title #bc during the fiscal year in which the applicant applies2 7#b7 for each fiscal year beginning with the year that is #c years before the date of application1 has received funding for a public transportation project under chapter #ec of title #di2 and 7#c7 submits an application as described in subsection 7c74 7c7 ,application ,in accordance with such requirements as the ,secretary may by rule establish1 each application for a grant under this section shall-- 7#a7 include a description of the strategy and detailed implementation plan that reflects consultation with community groups and appropriate stakeholders1 and shall specify the demographics of the immediate geographic area where the project will serve1 including a summary of accessible transportation access points 7or lack thereof7 within one mile of the project2 7#b7 identify how the grant will improve the agency's compliance in providing access to public accommodations under the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act2 7#c7 demonstrate a gap in current accessibility coverage2 7#d7 describe the modifications that will be undertaken by the public transportation agency to resolve the gap in coverage identified in paragraph 7#c72 7#e7 identify related governmental and community initiatives which compliment or will be coordinated with the proposal2 7#f7 certify that there has been appropriate coordination with all appropriate agencies2 7#g7 detail for which eligible uses under subsection 7d7 the applicant is seeking funds2 and 7#h7 additional information as required by the ,secretary4 7d7 ,forms of assistance ,funds provided under this section may be used for the following3 7#a7 ,construction1 rehabilitation or modification of transportation access points to facilitate use for persons with limited mobility4 ,modifications receiving funding under this paragraph must facilitate entrance1 departure1 or mobility throughout a transportation access point4 ,such modifications include-- 7,a7 wheelchair-accessible ramps in or surrounding a transportation access point1 including projects replacing stairs with such ramps2 7,b7 elevator infrastructure inside or immediately adjacent to a transportation access point that provide access to such access point2 and 7,c7 replacement of stairs with escalators within a transportation access point if such access point has multiple levels or platforms4 7#b7 ,repair or maintenance of infrastructure described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,c7 of paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,technical assistance and information on best practices with respect to modifications described in subparagraph 7,a7 through 7,c7 of paragraph 7#a74 7#d7 ,provision of new or supplemental public transportation service bus routes1 or bus rapid transit systems1 in areas where no accessible transportation access point is available within one mile of such bus route or system4 7e7 ,grant requirements 7#a7 ,amount ,a grant awarded under this section may not exceed #e1jjj1jjj1jjj4 7#b7 ,grant duration ,grants awarded under this section shall be #e years in duration4 7#c7 ,renewals of certain grants 7,a7 ,in general ,a grant that meets the criteria under subsection 7g7 may be renewed1 and awarded an equivalent funding amount1 for an additional #e years1 provided the public transportation agency includes1 in the report required under subsection 7j71 the project's progress on meeting the requirements of subsection 7g77#a77;,a7 and-- 7i7 submits to the ,secretary an application for renewal at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require2 and 7ii7 demonstrates in such application for renewal that-- 7,i7 all grant funds were used in the manner required under the most recently approved application2 and 7,,ii7 the public transportation agency has made significant progress in achieving the objectives of the initial application approved for the public transportation agency under this section4 7f7 ,federal ,share 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 the ,federal share of the costs of a project assisted with a grant under the ,program may not exceed #hj percent4 7#b7 ,exception ,the ,secretary may waive paragraph 7#a7 if a public transportation agency demonstrates1 as determined by the ,secretary1 financial hardship4 7#c7 ,in-kind contributions ,the non-,federal share of the costs of a project assisted with a grant under the ,program may be derived in whole or in part from in-kind contributions4 7g7 ,prioritization of certain applications 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall prioritize applications from public transportation agencies that-- 7,a7 present projects described under subsection 7d77#a7 that would meet the requirements of title ,,iii of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq47 if such transportation access point 7in its entirety7 were a public accommodation under such title2 7,b7 are for projects in urbanized areas2 and 7,c7 are for projects located in areas where there is no accessible transportation access point within one mile of such point4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #dj1jjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjcj4 7#b7 ,availability ,funds authorized to be appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended4 7#c7 ,minimum allocation amounts for priority applications ,not less than #ge percent of the total funds appropriated under this subsection shall be designated for projects under subsection 7g74 7i7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a project from receiving a grant under this section for a project otherwise receiving ,federal funds for associated transit improvement or capital projects4 7j7 ,evaluation report ,a public transportation agency that receives funds under this section during a fiscal year shall submit to the ,secretary a description and an evaluation report on a date specified by the ,secretary regarding the progress such projects have made to make transportation access points accessible to persons with limited mobility4 7k7 ,definition of transportation access point ,in this section1 the term transportation access point means a public transportation facility1 including-- 7#a7 a ferry terminal2 7#b7 a bus terminal2 7#c7 a train1 subway1 or rail station2 and 7#d7 any other similar fixed rail infrastructure used by passengers to embark and disembark mass-transit service4 4