,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bdfg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #aa1 #bjai,mr4 ,schumer 7for ,mr4 ,booker 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,ms4 ,harris1 and ,mr4 ,merkley77 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to establish a program to award grants to entities that provide transportation connectors from critically underserved urban communities and rural communities to green spaces4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,transit to ,trails ,act4 #b4 ,transit to trails grant program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,critically underserved community ,the term critically underserved community means-- 7,a7 a community that can demonstrate to the ,secretary that the community has inadequate1 insufficient1 or no park space or recreation facilities1 including by demonstrating-- 7i7 quality concerns relating to the available park space or recreation facilities2 7ii7 the presence of recreational facilities that do not serve the needs of the community2 or 7iii7 the inequitable distribution of park space for high-need populations1 based on income1 age1 or other measures of vulnerability and need2 7,b7 a community in which at least #ej percent of the population is not located within #a_/b mile of park space2 7,c7 a community that is designated as a qualified opportunity zone under section #adjj,z-#a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 or 7,d7 any other community that the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state2 7,b7 a political subdivision of a ,state 7including a city or a county7 that represents or otherwise serves an urban area or a rural area2 7,c7 a special purpose district 7including a park district72 7,d7 an ,indian tribe 7as defined in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd77 that represents or otherwise serves an urban area or a rural area2 or 7,e7 a metropolitan planning organization 7as defined in section #acd7;b7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code74 7#c7 ,program ,the term program means the ,transit to ,trails ,grant ,program established under subsection 7b77#a74 7#d7 ,rural area ,the term rural area means a community that is not an urban area4 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7#f7 ,transportation connector 7,a7 ,in general ,the term transportation connector means a system that-- 7i7 connects #b zip codes or communities within a #age-mile radius of a designated service area2 and 7ii7 offers rides available to the public4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term transportation connector includes microtransits1 bus lines1 bus rails1 light rail1 rapid transits1 or personal rapid transits4 7#g7 ,urban area ,the term urban area means a community that-- 7,a7 is densely developed2 7,b7 has residential1 commercial1 and other nonresidential areas2 and 7,c7 7i7 is an urbanized area with a population of #ej1jjj or more2 or 7ii7 is an urban cluster with a population of-- 7,i7 not less than #b1ejj2 and 7,,ii7 not more than #ej1jjj4 7b7 ,grant program 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a grant program1 to be known as the ,transit to ,trails ,grant ,program1 under which the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible entities for-- 7,a7 projects that develop transportation connectors or routes in or serving1 and related education materials for1 critically underserved communities to increase access and mobility to ,federal or non-,federal public land1 waters1 parkland1 or monuments2 or 7,b7 projects that facilitate transportation improvements to enhance access to ,federal or non-,federal public land and recreational opportunities in critically underserved communities4 7#b7 ,administration 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall administer the program to assist eligible entities in the development of transportation connectors or routes in or serving1 and related education materials for1 critically underserved communities and ,federal or non-,federal public land1 waters1 parkland1 and monuments4 7,b7 ,joint partnerships ,the ,secretary shall encourage joint partnership projects under the program1 if available1 among multiple agencies1 including school districts1 nonprofit organizations1 metropolitan planning organizations1 regional transportation authorities1 transit agencies1 and ,state and local governmental agencies 7including park and recreation agencies and authorities7 to enhance investment of public sources4 7,c7 ,annual grant project proposal solicitation1 review1 and approval 7i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall-- 7,i7 annually solicit the submission of project proposals for grants from eligible entities under the program2 and 7,,ii7 review each project proposal submitted under subclause 7,i7 on a timeline established by the ,secretary4 7ii7 ,required elements for project proposal ,a project proposal submitted under clause 7i77,i7 shall include-- 7,i7 a statement of the purposes of the project2 7,,ii7 the name of the entity or individual with overall responsibility for the project2 7,,iii7 a description of the qualifications of the entity or individuals identified under subclause 7,,ii72 7,,iv7 a description of-- 7aa7 staffing and stakeholder engagement for the project2 7bb7 the logistics of the project2 and 7cc7 anticipated outcomes of the project2 7,v7 a proposed budget for the funds and time required to complete the project2 7,,vi7 information regarding the source and amount of matching funding available for the project2 7,,vii7 information that demonstrates the clear potential of the project to contribute to increased access to parkland for critically underserved communities2 and 7,,viii7 any other information that the ,secretary considers to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project for funding under the program4 7iii7 ,consultation2 approval or disapproval ,the ,secretary shall1 with respect to each project proposal submitted under this subparagraph1 as appropriate-- 7,i7 consult with the government of each ,state in which the proposed project is to be conducted2 7,,ii7 after taking into consideration any comments resulting from the consultation under subclause 7,i71 approve or disapprove the proposal2 and 7,,iii7 provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to-- 7aa7 the individual or entity that submitted the proposal2 and 7bb7 each ,state consulted under subclause 7,i74 7,d7 ,priority ,to the extent practicable1 in determining whether to approve project proposals under the program1 the ,secretary shall prioritize projects that are designed to increase access and mobility to local or neighborhood ,federal or non-,federal public land1 waters1 parkland1 monuments1 or recreational opportunities4 7#c7 ,transportation planning procedures 7,a7 ,procedures ,in consultation with the head of each appropriate ,federal land management agency1 the ,secretary shall develop1 by rule1 transportation planning procedures for projects conducted under the program that are consistent with metropolitan and statewide planning processes4 7,b7 ,requirements ,all projects carried out under the program shall be developed in cooperation with ,states and metropolitan planning organizations4 7#d7 ,non-,federal contributions 7,a7 ,in general ,as a condition of receiving a grant under the program1 an eligible entity shall provide funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount equal to not less than #ajj percent of the amount of the grant4 7,b7 ,sources ,the non-,federal contribution required under subparagraph 7,a7 may include amounts made available from ,state1 local1 nongovernmental1 or private sources4 7#e7 ,eligible uses ,grant funds provided under the program may be used-- 7,a7 to develop transportation connectors or routes in or serving1 and related education materials for1 critically underserved communities to increase access and mobility to ,federal and non-,federal public land1 waters1 parkland1 and monuments2 and 7,b7 to create or significantly enhance access to ,federal or non-,federal public land and recreational opportunities in an urban area or a rural area4 7#f7 ,grant amount ,a grant provided under the program shall be-- 7,a7 not less than #be1jjj2 and 7,b7 not more than #ejj1jjj4 7#g7 ,technical assistance ,it is the intent of ,congress that grants provided under the program deliver project funds to areas of greatest need while offering technical assistance to all applicants and potential applicants for grant preparation to encourage full participation in the program4 7#h7 ,public information ,the ,secretary shall ensure that current schedules and routes for transportation systems developed after the receipt of a grant under the program are available to the public1 including on a website maintained by the recipient of a grant4 7c7 ,reporting requirement 7#a7 ,reports by grant recipients ,the ,secretary shall require a recipient of a grant under the program to submit to the ,secretary at least one performance and financial report that-- 7,a7 includes-- 7i7 demographic data on communities served by the project2 and 7ii7 a summary of project activities conducted after receiving the grant2 and 7,b7 describes the status of each project funded by the grant as of the date of the report4 7#b7 ,additional reports ,in addition to the report required under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary may require additional reports from a recipient1 as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate1 including a final report4 7#c7 ,deadlines ,the ,secretary shall establish deadlines for the submission of each report required under paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b74 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #aj1jjj1jjj for each fiscal year4