,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #dcj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bd1 #bjba,mr4 ,markey 7for himself and ,ms4 ,warren7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,transportation to establish a grant program for projects to strengthen and protect vulnerable infrastructure used during mass evacuations1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,enhancing the ,strength and ,capacity of ,america's ,primary ,evacuation routes ,act or the ,,escape ,act4 #b4 ,evacuation route program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,evacuation route ,the term evacuation route means a route that-- 7,a7 is owned1 operated1 or maintained by a ,federal1 ,state1 ,tribal1 or local government or a private entity2 7,b7 is used-- 7i7 to transport the public away from an emergency event 7as defined in section #ffg4c of title #bc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations77 that is anticipated1 reasonably likely1 ongoing1 or past2 or 7ii7 to transport emergency responders and recovery resources2 7,c7 is designated by the ,state in which the route is located 7or in the case of a federally owned route1 the head of the ,federal agency with jurisdiction over the route7 for the purposes described in subparagraph 7,b72 and 7,d7 meets the criteria for a mass evacuation route pursuant to subsection 7b77#a74 7#b7 ,program ,the term program means the competitive grant program established under subsection 7c77#a74 7#c7 ,resilience project ,the term resilience project means a project-- 7,a7 with the ability to anticipate1 prepare for1 and adapt to changing conditions and withstand1 respond to1 and recover rapidly from disruptions2 and 7,b7 designed and built to address current and future vulnerabilities to an evacuation route due to-- 7i7 future occurrence or recurrence of emergency events 7as defined in section #ffg4c of title #bc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations77 that are likely to occur in the geographic area in which the evacuation route is located2 or 7ii7 projected changes in development patterns1 demographics1 or extreme events based on the best available evidence and analysis4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7b7 ,establishment of mass evacuation route criteria 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 ,state departments of transportation1 metropolitan planning organizations1 and other stakeholders1 shall establish criteria for eligible entities described in subsection 7f7 to identify mass evacuation routes4 7#b7 ,requirements ,in carrying out paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 provide a period of not less than #ij days for ,state departments of transportation1 metropolitan planning organizations1 other stakeholders1 and the public to comment on the criteria proposed by the ,secretary under that paragraph2 and 7,b7 take into consideration any comments received pursuant to subparagraph 7,a74 7c7 ,establishment of program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary 7in consultation with the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency for the purposes described in paragraph 7#b77 shall establish a competitive grant program to provide grants for resilience projects that strengthen and protect evacuation routes that are essential for providing and supporting mass evacuations caused by emergency events 7as defined in section #ffg4c of title #bc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations774 7#b7 ,consultation ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary shall consult with the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency for the purpose of providing technical assistance to the ,secretary and to applicants4 7d7 ,eligible resilience projects ,the ,secretary shall provide grants under this section to resilience projects-- 7#a7 described in subsection 7e72 and 7#b7 that-- 7,a7 ensure the ability of the evacuation route to provide safe passage during a mass evacuation and reduce the risk of damage to evacuation routes as a result of future emergency events 7as defined in section #ffg4c of title #bc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations771 including-- 7i7 restoring or replacing existing mass evacuation routes that are classified as being in poor condition or do not meet current geometric standards2 7ii7 protecting1 elevating1 or relocating assets that are located in a base floodplain2 7iii7 protecting assets vulnerable to high winds2 7iv7 installing mitigation measures that prevent the intrusion of floodwaters into transportation systems2 7v7 strengthening systems that remove rainwater from transportation facilities or services2 or 7vi7 other resilience projects that address identified vulnerabilities2 7,b7 if the ,secretary determines that existing evacuation routes are not sufficient to adequately facilitate mass evacuations1 expand the capacity of evacuation routes to swiftly and safely accommodate mass evacuations and provide mobility for emergency responders and recovery resources1 including installation of-- 7i7 communications and intelligent transportation system equipment and infrastructure2 7ii7 counterflow measures2 or 7iii7 shoulders2 7,c7 are for the construction of-- 7i7 new or redundant evacuation routes1 if the ,secretary determines that existing evacuation routes are not sufficient to adequately facilitate mass evacuations1 emergency response1 or recovery efforts2 or 7ii7 sheltering facilities2 or 7,d7 involve planning and acquisition1 including-- 7i7 mass evacuation planning and preparation1 such as-- 7,i7 coordination with ,federal agencies and departments1 agencies and departments within the ,state1 first responders1 and other ,states2 7,,ii7 identification of evacuation routes2 7,,iii7 evacuation route education and awareness campaigns2 7,,iv7 traffic analysis and monitoring2 or 7,v7 data sharing2 7ii7 acquisition of evacuation route and traffic incident management equipment and vehicles2 7iii7 evacuation route risk assessment2 7iv7 development of enhanced mass evacuation response capabilities2 7v7 evacuation route signage2 or 7vi7 equipment for pedestrian movement4 7e7 ,eligible projects ,the ,secretary may make a grant under this section only for a project that is-- 7#a7 an evacuation route2 7#b7 a project eligible for assistance under title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code2 7#c7 a public transportation facility or service eligible for assistance under chapter #ec of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code2 7#d7 a facility or service for intercity rail passenger transportation 7as defined in section #bdajb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code72 7#e7 a port facility1 including a facility that-- 7,a7 connects a port to other modes of transportation2 7,b7 improves the efficiency of mass evacuations and disaster relief2 or 7,c7 aids transportation2 7#f7 a public-use airport 7as defined in section #dgajb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code7 that is included in the national plan of integrated airport systems developed by the ,federal ,aviation ,administration under section #dgajc of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code2 or 7#g7 a route owned1 operated1 or maintained by the ,corps of ,engineers4 7f7 ,eligible entities ,the ,secretary may award a grant under this section to any of the following3 7#a7 ,a ,state4 7#b7 ,a metropolitan planning organization that serves an urbanized area 7as defined by the ,bureau of the ,census7 with a population of more than #bjj1jjj individuals4 7#c7 ,a unit of local government4 7#d7 ,a political subdivision of a ,state or local government4 7#e7 ,a special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function1 including a port authority4 7#f7 ,a ,federal land management agency that applies jointly with a ,state or group of ,states4 7#g7 ,a ,tribal government or a consortium of ,tribal governments4 7#h7 ,a multistate or multijurisdictional group of entities described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#g74 7g7 ,applications ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application in such form1 at such time1 and containing such information as the ,secretary determines to be necessary4 7h7 ,criteria ,in selecting resilience projects to receive grants under the program1 the ,secretary shall consider-- 7#a7 the cost of the project compared to the risk of recurring damage and the cost of future repairs1 taking into account current and future emergency events 7as defined in section #ffg4c of title #bc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations77 and extreme events1 to the maximum extent practicable2 7#b7 the extent to which the project reduces the financial risk to the ,federal ,government2 and 7#c7 such other criteria as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7i7 ,administration of projects ,a project that receives a grant under this section-- 7#a7 may be transferred within the ,department of ,transportation2 and 7#b7 shall be administered in accordance with-- 7,a7 title #bc and title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 as applicable2 7,b7 title ,,vi of the ,civil ,rights ,act of #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;d et seq472 7,c7 the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472 and 7,d7 the ,uniform ,relocation ,assistance and ,real ,property ,acquisition ,policies ,act of #aigj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dfja et seq474 7j7 ,federal cost share 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,federal share of the cost of a project carried out under the program shall not exceed #hj percent of the total project cost4 7#b7 ,non-,federal share ,the eligible entity may use funds provided from other ,federal sources to meet the non-,federal cost share requirement for a project under the program4 7k7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year #a1jjj1jjj1jjj1 to remain available until expended4