H.R. 1615 — Introduced in House

I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1615 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 8, 2021Mr. Brown (for himself, Mr. San Nicolas, Ms. Barragán, Mr. Blumenauer, and Ms. Moore of Wisconsin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend title 49, United States Code, to expand and codify the transit oriented development planning grant program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Maximizing Our Redevelopment and Efficiency for Transit Oriented Development Act of 2021 or the More TOD Act. 2. Transit oriented development planning grant program (a) In general Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5327 the following: 5328. Transit oriented development planning grant program (a) Definition In this section the term eligible project means— (1) a new fixed guideway capital project or a core capacity improvement project as defined in section 5309; or (2) an existing fixed guideway system, or an existing station that is served by a fixed guideway system. (b) General authority The Secretary may make grants under this section to a State, local governmental authority, or metropolitan planning organization to assist in financing comprehensive planning associated with an eligible project that seeks to— (1) enhance economic development, ridership, and other goals established during the project development and engineering processes or the grant application; (2) facilitate multimodal connectivity and accessibility; (3) increase access to transit hubs for pedestrian and bicycle traffic; (4) enable mixed-use development; (5) identify infrastructure needs associated with the eligible project; and (6) include private sector participation. (c) Eligibility A State, local governmental authority, or metropolitan planning organization that desires to participate in the program under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application that contains at a minimum— (1) an identification of an eligible project; (2) a schedule and process for the development of a comprehensive plan; (3) a description of how the eligible project and the proposed comprehensive plan advance the metropolitan transportation plan of the metropolitan planning organization; (4) proposed performance criteria for the development and implementation of the comprehensive plan; (5) a description of how the project will reduce and mitigate social and economic impacts on existing residents and businesses vulnerable to displacement; and (6) identification of— (A) partners; (B) availability of and authority for funding; and (C) potential State, local or other impediments to the implementation of the comprehensive plan. (d) Cost share A grant under this section shall not exceed an amount in excess of 80 percent of total project costs, except that a grant that includes an affordable housing component shall not exceed an amount in excess of 90 percent of total project costs. . (b) Authorization of appropriations Section 5338 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (i) Transit oriented development planning grant program There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 5328— (1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; (2) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; (3) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; (4) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and (5) $24,000,000 for fiscal year 2026. . (c) Clerical amendment The analysis for chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5327 the following: 5328. Transit oriented development planning grant program. .