,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dfc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #be1 #bjba,mr4 ,espaillat 7for himself and ,mr4 ,larsen of ,washington7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide a set aside for transportation alternatives4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,transportation ,alternatives ,enhancements ,act4 #b4 ,transportation alternatives program ,section #acc7;h7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended to read as follows3 7h7 ,transportation alternatives program set aside 7#a7 ,set aside ,for each fiscal year1 of the total funds apportioned to all ,states under section #ajd7;b77#b7 for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall set aside an amount such that-- 7,a7 the ,secretary sets aside a total amount under this subsection for a fiscal year equal to #aj percent of such total funds2 and 7,b7 the ,state's share of the amount set aside under subparagraph 7,a7 is determined by multiplying the amount set aside under subparagraph 7,a7 by the ratio that-- 7i7 the amount apportioned to the ,state for the transportation enhancement program for fiscal year #bjji under section #acc7;d77#b71 as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of ,,map-#ba2 bears to 7ii7 the total amount of funds apportioned to all ,states for the transportation enhancements program for fiscal year #bjji4 7#b7 ,allocation within a ,state 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 funds set aside for a ,state under paragraph 7#a7 shall be obligated within that ,state in the manner described in subsections 7d7 and 7e71 except that1 for purposes of this paragraph 7after funds are made available under paragraph 7#e77-- 7i7 for each fiscal year1 the percentage referred to in paragraph 7#a77;,a7 of subsection 7d7 shall be deemed to be #ff percent2 and 7ii7 paragraph 7#c7 of subsection 7d7 shall not apply4 7,b7 ,local control 7i7 ,in general ,a ,state may make available up to #ajj percent of the funds set aside under paragraph 7#a7 to the entities described in subclause 7,i7 if the ,state submits to the ,secretary1 and the ,secretary approves1 a plan that describes-- 7,i7 how such funds shall be made available to metropolitan planning organizations1 regional transportation planning organizations1 counties1 or other regional transportation authorities2 7,,ii7 how the entities described in subclause 7,i7 shall select projects for funding and how such entities shall report selected projects to the ,state2 7,,iii7 the legal1 financial1 and technical capacity of such entities2 and 7,,iv7 the procedures in place to ensure such entities comply with the requirements of this title4 7ii7 ,requirement ,a ,state that makes funding available under a plan approved under this subparagraph shall make available an equivalent amount of obligation authority to the entities described in clause 7i77,i74 7#c7 ,eligible projects ,funds set aside under this subsection may be obligated for any of the following projects or activities3 7,a7 ,construction1 planning1 and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians1 bicyclists1 and other nonmotorized forms of transportation1 including sidewalks1 bicycle infrastructure1 pedestrian and bicycle signals1 traffic calming techniques1 lighting and other safety-related infrastructure1 and transportation projects to achieve compliance with the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq474 7,b7 ,construction1 planning1 and design of infrastructure-related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for nondrivers1 including children1 older adults1 and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs4 7,c7 ,conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians1 bicyclists1 or other nonmotorized transportation users4 7,d7 ,construction of turnouts1 overlooks1 and viewing areas4 7,e7 ,community improvement activities1 including-- 7i7 inventory1 control1 or removal of outdoor advertising2 7ii7 historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities2 7iii7 vegetation management practices in transportation rights-of-way to improve roadway safety1 prevent against invasive species1 and provide erosion control2 and 7iv7 archaeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of a transportation project eligible under this title4 7,f7 ,any environmental mitigation activity1 including pollution prevention and pollution abatement activities and mitigation to address stormwater management1 control1 and water pollution prevention or abatement related to highway construction or due to highway runoff1 including activities described in sections #cbh7;a7 and #cbi4 7,g7 ,projects and strategies to reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality related to1 or to restore and maintain connectivity among terrestrial or aquatic habitats affected by1 a transportation facility otherwise eligible for assistance under this subsection4 7,h7 ,the recreational trails program under section #bjf4 7,i7 ,the safe routes to school program under section #baa4 7,j7 ,activities in furtherance of a vulnerable road user assessment described in section #adh4 7,k7 ,any other projects or activities described in section #aja7;a77#bi7 or section #bac1 as such sections were in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the ,,fast ,act 7,public ,law #aad-id74 7#d7 ,access to funds 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state or metropolitan planning organization required to obligate funds in accordance with paragraph 7#b7 shall develop a competitive process to allow eligible entities to submit projects for funding that achieve the objectives of this subsection4 ,a metropolitan planning organization for an area described in subsection 7d77#a77;,a77i7 shall select projects under such process in consultation with the relevant ,state4 ,the competitive process shall include prioritization of project location and impact in low-income1 transit-dependent1 or other high-need areas40 7,b7 ,eligible entity defined ,in this paragraph1 the term eligible entity means-- 7i7 a local government2 7ii7 a regional transportation authority2 7iii7 a transit agency2 7iv7 a natural resource or public land agency2 7v7 a school district1 local education agency1 or school2 7vi7 a tribal government2 7vii7 a metropolitan planning organization that serves an urbanized area with a population of #bjj1jjj or fewer2 7viii7 a nonprofit organization carrying out activities related to transportation2 7ix7 any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for or oversight of transportation or recreational trails 7other than a metropolitan planning organization that serves an urbanized area with a population of over #bjj1jjj or a ,state agency7 that the ,state determines to be eligible1 consistent with the goals of this subsection2 and 7x7 a ,state1 at the request of any entity listed in clauses 7i7 through 7x74 7#e7 ,improving accessibility and efficiency 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state may use an amount equal to not more than #e percent of the funds set aside for the ,state under this subsection1 after allocating funds in accordance with paragraph 7#b77;,a71 to improve the ability of applicants to access funding for projects under this subsection in an efficient and expeditious manner by providing-- 7i7 to applicants for projects under this subsection application assistance1 technical assistance1 and assistance in reducing the period of time between the selection of the project and the obligation of funds for the project2 and 7ii7 funding for #a or more full-time ,state employee positions to administer this subsection4 7,b7 ,use of funds ,amounts used under subparagraph 7,a7 may be expended-- 7i7 directly by the ,state2 or 7ii7 through contracts with ,state agencies1 private entities1 or nonprofit entities4 7#f7 ,federal share 7,a7 ,flexible match 7i7 ,in general ,notwithstanding section #abj-- 7,i7 the non-,federal share for a project under this subsection may be calculated on a project1 multiple-project1 or program basis2 and 7,,ii7 the ,federal share of the cost of an individual project in this subsection may be up to #ajj percent4 7ii7 ,aggregate non-,federal share ,the average annual non-,federal share of the total cost of all projects for which funds are obligated under this subsection in a ,state for a fiscal year shall be not less than the non-,federal share authorized for the ,state under section #abj7;b74 7iii7 ,requirement ,this subparagraph shall only apply to a ,state if such ,state has adequate financial controls1 as certified by the ,secretary1 to account for the average annual non-,federal share under this subparagraph4 7,b7 ,safety projects ,notwithstanding section #abj1 funds made available to carry out section #adh may be credited toward the non-,federal share of the costs of a project under this subsection if the project-- 7i7 is a project described in section #adh7;e77#a72 and 7ii7 is consistent with the ,state strategic highway safety plan 7as defined in section #adh7;a774 7#g7 ,flexibility 7,a7 ,state authority 7i7 ,in general ,a ,state may use not more than #ej percent of the funds set aside under this subsection that are available for obligation in any area of the ,state 7suballocated consistent with the requirements of subsection 7d77#a77;,b77 for any purpose eligible under subsection 7b74 7ii7 ,restriction ,funds may be used as described in clause 7i7 only if the ,state demonstrates to the ,secretary that the ,state-- 7,i7 held a competition in compliance with the requirements of this subsection in such form as the ,secretary determines appropriate2 7,,ii7 offered technical assistance to all eligible entities and provided such assistance upon request by an eligible entity2 and 7,,iii7 demonstrates that there were not sufficient suitable applications from eligible entities to use the funds described in clause 7i74 7,b7 ,,mpo authority 7i7 ,in general ,a metropolitan planning organization that represents an urbanized area with a population of greater than #bjj1jjj may use not more than #ej percent of the funds set aside under this subsection for an urbanized area described in subsection 7d77#a77;,a77i7 for any purpose eligible under subsection 7b74 7ii7 ,restriction ,funds may be used as described in clause 7i7 only if the ,secretary certifies that the metropolitan planning organization-- 7,i7 held a competition in compliance with the requirements of this subsection in such form as the ,secretary determines appropriate2 and 7,,ii7 demonstrates that there were not sufficient suitable applications from eligible entities to use the funds described in clause 7i74 7#h7 ,annual reports 7,a7 ,in general ,each ,state or metropolitan planning organization responsible for carrying out the requirements of this subsection shall submit to the ,secretary an annual report that describes-- 7i7 the number of project applications received for each fiscal year1 including-- 7,i7 the aggregate cost of the projects for which applications are received2 and 7,,ii7 the types of projects to be carried out1 expressed as percentages of the total apportionment of the ,state under this subsection2 and 7ii7 the list of each project selected for funding for each fiscal year1 including specifying the fiscal year for which the project was selected1 the fiscal year in which the project is anticipated to be funded1 the recipient1 the location1 the congressional district1 the type1 and a brief description4 7,b7 ,public availability ,the ,secretary shall make available to the public1 in a user-friendly format on the website of the ,department of ,transportation1 a copy of each annual report submitted under subparagraph 7,a74 4