,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #abjb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #ai1 #bjba,mr4 ,carper 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,warnock1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,schumer1 and ,mr4 ,coons7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to establish a program to improve community connectivity by identifying and removing or mitigating infrastructural barriers that create obstacles to mobility or economic development or expose the community to pollution and other health and safety risks1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,reconnecting ,communities ,act4 #b4 ,connecting communities grant program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,capital construction grant ,the term capital construction grant means a capital construction grant under subsection 7f74 7#b7 ,community engagement1 education1 and capacity building grant ,the term community engagement1 education1 and capacity building grant means a community engagement1 education1 and capacity building grant under subsection 7d74 7#c7 ,community of color ,the term community of color means1 in a ,state1 a census block group for which the aggregate percentage of residents who identify as ,black1 ,african-,american1 ,american ,indian1 ,alaska ,native1 ,native ,hawaiian1 ,asian1 ,pacific ,islander1 ,hispanic1 ,latino1 other nonwhite race1 or linguistically isolated is-- 7,a7 not less than #ej percent2 or 7,b7 significantly higher than the ,state average4 7#d7 ,infrastructural barrier ,the term infrastructural barrier means a highway 7including a limited access highway71 a railway1 a viaduct1 a principal arterial facility1 or any other transportation facility for which the high speeds1 grade separation1 or other design factors create an obstacle to connectivity1 including-- 7,a7 obstacles to walking1 biking1 and mobility2 7,b7 diminished access to destinations across the infrastructural barrier2 or 7,c7 barriers to the economic development of the surrounding neighborhood4 7#e7 ,low-income community ,the term low-income community means a census block group in which not less than #cj percent of the population lives below the poverty line 7as defined in section #fgc of the ,community ,services ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iijb774 7#f7 ,planning and feasibility study grant ,the term planning and feasibility study grant means a planning and feasibility study grant under subsection 7e74 7#g7 ,program ,the term program means the program established under subsection 7b74 7#h7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7#i7 ,tribal government ,the term ,tribal government means the recognized governing body of any ,indian or ,alaska ,native tribe1 band1 nation1 pueblo1 village1 community1 component band1 or component reservation1 individually identified 7including parenthetically7 in the list published most recently as of the date of enactment of this ,act pursuant to section #ajd of the ,federally ,recognized ,indian ,tribe ,list ,act of #aiid 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #eaca74 7b7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a program to help communities-- 7,a7 identify infrastructural barriers within the community that-- 7i7 create obstacles to mobility or economic development2 or 7ii7 expose the community to high levels of particulate matter1 noise pollution1 and other public health and safety risks2 7,b7 study the feasibility of improving1 and develop plans to improve1 community connectivity1 including through-- 7i7 removal or retrofit of an infrastructural barrier2 or 7ii7 construction of facilities to mitigate the obstacle created by the infrastructural barrier by enhancing connectivity across the infrastructural barrier2 7,c7 plan the redevelopment of any land made available by the removal or retrofit of the infrastructural barrier1 with a focus on improvements that will benefit the populations impacted by or previously displaced by the infrastructural barrier2 7,d7 access funding to carry out the activities described in subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c72 and 7,e7 require the equity of any activities carried out under the program1 including by garnering community engagement1 avoiding displacement1 and ensuring local participation in jobs created through those activities4 7#b7 ,types of grants ,under the program1 the ,secretary shall award the following types of grants3 7,a7 ,community engagement1 education1 and capacity building grants4 7,b7 ,planning and feasibility study grants4 7,c7 ,capital construction grants4 7#c7 ,multiple grants permitted ,an eligible entity may apply for and receive funding from more than #a type of grant described in paragraph 7#b74 7c7 ,requirement for project selection ,to receive a grant under the program1 a project shall provide the majority of project benefits to #a or more communities of color or low-income communities4 7d7 ,community engagement1 education1 and capacity building grants 7#a7 ,eligible entities ,the ,secretary may award a community engagement1 education1 and capacity building grant to carry out community engagement1 education1 and capacity building activities described in paragraph 7#b7 to-- 7,a7 a political subdivision of a ,state or local government2 7,b7 a ,tribal government2 7,c7 a metropolitan planning organization2 and 7,d7 a nonprofit organization4 7#b7 ,eligible activities ,a community engagement and capacity building activity referred to in paragraph 7#a7 includes an activity-- 7,a7 to educate community members about opportunities to affect transportation and economic development planning and investment decisions2 7,b7 to build organizational or community capacity to engage in transportation and economic development planning2 7,c7 to identify community needs and desires for community improvements2 7,d7 to develop community-driven solutions to local challenges2 7,e7 to conduct assessments of equity1 mobility and access1 environmental justice1 affordability1 economic opportunity1 health outcomes1 and other local goals2 7,f7 to form a community advisory board in accordance with subsection 7g72 and 7,g7 to engage community members in scenario planning4 7#c7 ,federal share ,the ,federal share of the cost of an activity carried out with funds from a community engagement1 education1 and capacity building grant may be up to #ajj percent1 at the discretion of the eligible entity4 7e7 ,planning and feasibility study grants 7#a7 ,eligible entities 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may award a planning and feasibility study grant to carry out planning activities described in paragraph 7#b7 to-- 7i7 a ,state2 7ii7 a political subdivision of a ,state or local government2 7iii7 a ,tribal government2 7iv7 a metropolitan planning organization2 and 7v7 a nonprofit organization4 7,b7 ,partnerships ,in the case of an eligible entity that is not the owner of the infrastructural barrier that is the subject of the planning and feasibility study grant1 the eligible entity shall demonstrate the existence of a partnership with the owner of the infrastructural barrier4 7#b7 ,eligible activities ,a planning activity referred to in paragraph 7#a77;,a7 includes-- 7,a7 development of designs and artistic renderings to facilitate community engagement2 7,b7 traffic studies1 nonmotorized accessibility analyses1 equity needs analyses1 and collection of other relevant data2 7,c7 planning studies to evaluate the feasibility of removing or retrofitting an infrastructural barrier1 or the construction of facilities to mitigate the obstacle created by the infrastructural barrier by enhancing connectivity across the infrastructural barrier2 7,d7 public engagement activities to provide opportunities for public input into a plan to remove1 convert1 or mitigate an infrastructural barrier2 7,e7 environmental review1 consultation1 or other action required under any ,federal environmental law relating to the review or approval of a project to remove1 retrofit1 or mitigate an existing infrastructural barrier2 7,f7 establishment of a community land trust for the development and use of real estate created by the removal or capping of an infrastructural barrier2 and 7,g7 other transportation planning activities required in advance of a project to remove1 retrofit or mitigate an existing infrastructural barrier1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#c7 ,technical assistance 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may provide to an eligible entity technical assistance in building organizational or community capacity-- 7i7 to engage in transportation planning2 and 7ii7 to identify innovative solutions to infrastructure challenges1 including reconnecting communities that-- 7,i7 are bifurcated by eligible facilities2 or 7,,ii7 lack safe1 reliable1 and affordable transportation choices4 7,b7 ,priorities ,in selecting recipients of technical assistance under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall give priority to an application from a community that is economically disadvantaged4 7#d7 ,federal share ,the ,federal share of the cost of an activity carried out with funds from a planning and feasibility study grant shall be not more than #hj percent4 7f7 ,capital construction grants 7#a7 ,eligible entities ,the ,secretary may award a capital construction grant to the owner of an infrastructural barrier to carry out a project described in paragraph 7#c7 for which all necessary feasibility studies and other planning activities have been completed4 7#b7 ,partnerships ,for the purpose of submitting an application for a capital construction grant1 an owner of an infrastructural barrier may1 if applicable1 partner with-- 7,a7 a ,state2 7,b7 a unit of local government2 7,c7 a ,tribal government2 7,d7 a metropolitan planning organization2 or 7,e7 a nonprofit organization4 7#c7 ,eligible projects 7,a7 ,in general ,a project eligible to be carried out with a capital construction grant includes-- 7i7 the removal of an infrastructural barrier2 7ii7 the retrofit of an infrastructural barrier in a way that enhances community connectivity and is sensitive to the context of the surrounding community1 including retrofits to a highway to cap the facility or replace the facility with an at-grade arterial roadway2 7iii7 the construction of facilities that improve connectivity across the infrastructural barrier2 7iv7 the replacement of an infrastructural barrier with a new use or facility that has been identified by members of the community2 and 7v7 the construction of other transportation improvements that address the mobility needs of the community4 7,b7 ,exclusion ,funds from a capital construction grant shall not be used on a project that increases net capacity for vehicular travel4 7#d7 ,priority for capital construction grants ,in selecting eligible entities to receive a capital construction grant1 the ,secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that-- 7,a7 has entered into a community benefits agreement with representatives of the community2 7,b7 serves a community in which an anti-displacement policy or a community land trust is in effect2 7,c7 has formed a community advisory board under subsection 7g72 or 7,d7 has demonstrated a plan for-- 7i7 employing residents in the area impacted by the activity or project through targeted hiring programs2 and 7ii7 contracting and subcontracting with disadvantaged business enterprises4 7#e7 ,requirement ,in order to receive a capital construction grant1 the owner of the infrastructural barrier shall demonstrate that the project is supported by the community in the immediate vicinity of the project4 7#f7 ,federal share 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 the ,federal share of the cost of a project carried out with a capital construction grant may be not more than #hj percent4 7,b7 ,maximum federal involvement ,federal assistance other than a capital construction grant may be used to satisfy the non-,federal share of the cost of a project for which the grant is awarded4 7g7 ,community advisory board 7#a7 ,in general ,to help achieve inclusive economic development benefits1 an eligible entity may form a community advisory board1 which shall-- 7,a7 facilitate community engagement with respect to the activity or project proposed to be carried out2 and 7,b7 track progress with respect to commitments of the eligible entity to inclusive employment1 contracting1 and economic development under the activity or project4 7#b7 ,membership ,if an eligible entity forms a community advisory board under paragraph 7#a71 the community advisory board shall be composed of representatives of-- 7,a7 the community2 7,b7 owners of businesses that serve the community2 7,c7 labor organizations that represent workers that serve the community2 and 7,d7 ,state and local government4 7h7 ,administrative costs ,for each fiscal year1 the ,secretary may use not more than #b percent of the amounts made available for the program for the costs of administering the program4 7i7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives a report that-- 7#a7 assesses the impacts and benefits of highway removals on congestion1 mobility1 and safety in the project vicinity1 and the extent to which those impacts differ from projected impacts2 7#b7 includes recommendations for how traffic forecasting should-- 7,a7 consider nonmotorized travel demand2 and 7,b7 track and be updated in response to observed travel behavior responses to changes in transportation capacity and land use2 and 7#c7 includes recommendations for how environmental reviews for projects funded under the ,federal-aid highway program should consider1 identify1 and quantify1 during project development1 any diminished access1 including nonmotorized access1 that will result from the project4 7j7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated out of the ,highway ,trust ,fund 7other than the ,mass ,transit ,account7 to carry out this section #c1jjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf4