,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #addj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #d1 #bjbc,mr4 ,booker 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 and ,mr4 ,blumenthal7 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 communities to green spaces1 and for other purposes4 #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 ,community of color ,the term community of color means a geographically distinct area in which the population of any of the following categories of individuals is higher than the average population of that category for the ,state in which the community is located3 7,a7 ,black4 7,b7 ,african ,american4 7,c7 ,asian4 7,d7 ,pacific ,islander4 7,e7 ,other non-,white race4 7,f7 ,hispanic4 7,g7 ,latino4 7,h7 ,linguistically isolated4 7,i7 ,middle ,eastern and ,north ,african4 7#b7 ,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 #ab mile of park space2 7,c7 an environmental justice community2 or 7,d7 any other community that the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7#c7 ,designated service area ,the term designated service area means a geographical area recommended by a designated official planning agency that defines the community in which coordinated transportation services are provided to the transportation disadvantaged4 7#d7 ,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#e7 ,environmental justice community ,the term environmental justice community means a community with significant representation of communities of color1 low-income communities1 or ,tribal and ,indigenous communities that experiences1 or is at risk of experiencing1 a disproportionate burden of adverse human health or environmental effects4 7#f7 ,low-income community ,the term low-income community means any census block group in which #cj percent or more of the population are individuals with an annual household income equal to1 or less than1 the greater of-- 7,a7 an amount equal to #hj percent of the median income of the area in which the household is located1 as reported by the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development2 and 7,b7 #bjj percent of the ,federal poverty line4 7#g7 ,program ,the term program means the ,transit to ,trails ,grant ,program established under subsection 7b77#a74 7#h7 ,rural area ,the term rural area means a community that is not an urban area4 7#i7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7#aj7 ,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 microtransit1 bus lines1 bus rails1 light rail1 rapid transit1 and personal rapid transit4 7#aa7 ,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 culturally and linguistically appropriate 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 culturally and linguistically appropriate 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 7,d7 ,priority ,to the extent practicable1 in determining whether to approve project proposals under the program1 the ,secretary shall prioritize projects that-- 7i7 are designed to increase access and mobility to local or neighborhood ,federal or non-,federal public land1 waters1 parkland1 monuments1 or recreational opportunities2 7ii7 use low- or no-emission vehicles2 7iii7 provide free or discounted rates for low-income riders2 7iv7 provide opportunities for youth engagement2 7v7 provide employment preference to individuals who reside in the community in which the project is located2 7vi7 are established in communities of color1 low-income communities1 ,tribal or indigenous communities1 or rural areas2 7vii7 would capitalize on existing established public-private partnerships2 and 7viii7 comply with applicable provisions of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq474 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 ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary shall ensure the following3 7i7 ,all projects carried out under the program shall comply with sections #ecjc and #ecjd of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 7ii7 ,all new transportation connectors and routes established under a project carried out under the program shall be accessible in accordance with the accessibility specifications for transportation vehicles under the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq474 7iii7 ,state department of transportation agencies shall engage with relevant stakeholders consistent with subsections 7f77#c7 and 7g77#c7 of section #ecjd of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 and metropolitan planning organizations shall engage with relevant stakeholders consistent with subsections 7g77#c77;,b71 7i77#e71 and 7i77#f7 of section #ecjc of that title1 in addition to faith-based and community-based organizations4 7iv7 ,except as otherwise provided under this section1 a grant provided under this section shall be subject to the requirements of section #ecjg of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#d7 ,non-,federal contributions 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,federal share of the cost of an eligible project provided a grant under the program shall not exceed #hj percent4 7,b7 ,non-,federal share ,the non-,federal share of the cost of an eligible project provided a grant under the program may be in the form of in-kind contributions4 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 culturally and linguistically appropriate 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 in an amount that is-- 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 with funds from a grant under the program are available to the public1 including on a website maintained by the eligible entity4 7c7 ,reporting requirement 7#a7 ,reports by grant recipients ,the ,secretary shall require an eligible entity that receives a grant under the program to submit to the ,secretary not less than #a 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 under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary may require additional reports from an eligible entity that receives a grant under the program1 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 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section-- 7#a7 #aj1jjj1jjj for each of the first and second fiscal years that begin after the date of enactment of this ,act2 7#b7 #bj1jjj1jjj for each of the third and fourth fiscal years that begin after that date2 and 7#c7 #dj1jjj1jjj for the fifth fiscal year that begins after that date4