,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gcja ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #cj1 #bjbf,ms4 ,strickland introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the development of transportation demand management strategies1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,maximizing ,transportation ,efficiency ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 transportation demand management 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code7 7referred to in this section as ,,tdm7 increases the efficiency of the existing transportation infrastructure of the ,united ,states1 provides greater access to jobs and services1 and strengthens communities and families across the country2 7#b7 compared to their urban counterparts1 rural communities have a disproportionate number of elderly and disabled residents1 elevated poverty levels1 and limited access to essential services like schools1 healthcare facilities1 stores1 and banks1 and the implementation of ,,tdm strategies can help to address these disparities2 7#c7 ,,tdm can provide transportation options to those in rural communities who lack access to a car2 7#d7 according to the ,bureau of ,transportation ,statistics1 rural households spend more on transportation than urban households2 7#e7 limited transit options in rural areas increase dependence on owning a vehicle2 7#f7 in #bjbd1 traffic congestion was estimated to cost the ,united ,states #gd1jjj1jjj1jjj2 7#g7 ,,tdm works to lower the cost of congestion by increasing efficiency in the transportation system2 7#h7 other modes of transportation are well-suited to rural communities1 particularly carpooling and vanpooling2 7#i7 carpool and vanpool systems are essential for helping employees reach their worksites and residents access essential services in rural locations2 and 7#aj7 implementing ,,tdm is a cost-effective use of transportation dollars4 #c4 ,transportation demand management 7a7 ,definition of transportation demand management ,section #aja7;a7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#cb7 through 7#cf7 as paragraphs 7#cc7 through 7#cg71 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#ca7 the following3 7#cb7 ,transportation demand management 7,a7 ,in general ,the term transportation demand management means the use of strategies to inform and encourage travelers to maximize the efficiency of a transportation system1 leading to improved mobility1 reduced congestion1 and improved air quality1 including strategies that use planning1 programs1 operations1 policies1 marketing1 communications1 incentives1 pricing1 data1 and technology4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,transportation demand management may include-- 7i7 encouraging employers to offer qualified transportation fringe benefits 7as defined in section #acb7;f7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf72 7ii7 incentives1 subsidies1 and use of game-like elements such as points1 leaderboards1 and challenges to encourage engagement and participation in desired transportation choices2 7iii7 appropriate pricing of parking1 tolls1 transit1 and other options2 7iv7 carpooling and vanpooling2 7v7 trip planning and ridematching2 7vi7 the implementation of ,state laws and local ordinances relating to transportation demand management1 commute trip reduction1 or other similar regulations2 7vii7 parking management2 7viii7 use of high occupancy vehicle 7,,hov7 and high occupancy toll 7,,hot7 lanes2 7ix7 promotion and support of telecommuting1 remote1 and hybrid work schedules2 7x7 marketing1 outreach1 and education to inform people about options and shift behavior2 7xi7 support of micromobility and pedestrian infrastructure2 7xii7 active transportation 7as defined in section #aaebi7l7 of the ,infrastructure ,investment and ,jobs ,act 7#bc ,u4,s4,c4 #bag note2 ,public ,law #aag-eh772 and 7xiii7 other activities that will disperse the demand on the transportation system4 4 7b7 ,congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program ,section #adi7;b77#g7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by adding or after the semicolon at the end2 7#b7 by striking program shifts and inserting the following3 8program-- 7,a7 shifts 2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,b7 is for the purpose of implementing transportation demand management strategies2 4 7c7 ,national infrastructure project assistance ,section #fgja of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,e77ii71 by striking or at the end2 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,f71 by striking and at the end and inserting or2 and 7iii7 by adding at the end the following3 7,g7 for the purpose of implementing transportation demand management 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of title #bc7 strategies2 and 2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting for any project other than a project described in paragraph 7#a77;,g71 before the eligible project costs2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7h77#a7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 activities related to the implementation of transportation demand management 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of title #bc7 strategies4 4 7d7 ,local and regional project assistance ,section #fgjb7;a77#c7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,g71 by striking and at the end2 7#b7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,h7 as subparagraph 7,i72 and 7#c7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,g7 the following3 7,h7 a project to implement transportation demand management 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of title #bc7 strategies2 and 4 7e7 ,strengthening mobility and revolutionizing transportation grant program ,section #bejje7;e7 of the ,infrastructure ,investment and ,jobs ,act 7#bc ,u4,s4,c4 #ejb note2 ,public ,law #aag-eh7 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 by adding at the end the following3 7ix7 ,transportation demand management ,the implementation of transportation demand management 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code7 strategies4 2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a77viii71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b77vii71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 activities related to the implementation of transportation demand management 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code7 strategies4 4 #d4 ,rural transportation demand management set-aside ,section #agc of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7c71 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by striking ,the ,secretary and inserting ,except as provided in subsection 7p71 the ,secretary2 7#b7 in subsection 7e77#a71 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting and in subsection 7p7 after paragraph 7#b72 7#c7 in subsection 7f71 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by striking ,an eligible entity and inserting ,except as provided in subsection 7p71 an eligible entity2 and 7#d7 by adding at the end the following3 7p7 ,rural transportation demand management set-,aside 7#a7 ,in general ,of the amounts made available for the program for each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall use #bj1jjj1jjj to provide grants for the development and implementation of transportation demand management strategies in rural areas to improve mobility1 increase access to jobs1 and bring more modal options to families and communities in rural areas4 7#b7 ,eligible recipients ,an entity eligible to receive a grant under this subsection is-- 7,a7 a ,state department of transportation2 7,b7 a metropolitan planning organization 7as defined in section #acd7;b7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code7 serving #a or more rural areas2 7,c7 a unit of local government2 7,d7 a ,tribal government2 7,e7 a public transit agency2 7,f7 a regional transportation planning organization2 and 7,g7 a nonprofit organization or institution of higher education engaged in rural transportation planning and commuter service programs1 including transportation management associations4 7#c7 ,eligible activities ,funds from a grant under this subsection may be used for-- 7,a7 development of transportation demand management plans and policies to optimize rural transportation networks2 7,b7 marketing and public outreach campaigns to encourage shared mobility1 transit use1 and alternative transportation modes2 7,c7 data collection and analysis to evaluate rural travel patterns and assess congestion reduction strategies2 7,d7 implementation of innovative transportation demand management strategies to encourage shared and alternative modes of transportation1 including-- 7i7 vanpooling programs2 7ii7 carpooling programs2 7iii7 employer-based or local or ,tribal government commuting incentive programs2 7iv7 real-time traveler information systems2 7v7 smart rural transportation hubs2 7vi7 intelligent transportation system applications to enhance rural mobility2 and 7vii7 deploying trip-planning applications1 mobility-as-a-service platforms1 and behavioral incentives2 7,e7 coordination of public-private partnerships to leverage technology solutions for rural travel efficiency2 and 7,f7 costs associated with managing and operating transportation demand management strategies1 including staff salaries4 7#d7 ,unutilized funds ,for any fiscal year1 if the ,secretary determines that the amount set aside under paragraph 7#a7 will not be fully utilized for grants under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall use the unutilized amounts to provide grants for other projects under the program4 4 #e4 ,congestion relief program ,section #abi7;d7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,a7-- 7,a7 in clause 7i71 by striking with a population of more than #a1jjj1jjj2 and 7,b7 in clause 7ii71 by striking with a population of more than #a1jjj1jjj2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#e77;,d71 by striking ,a grant and inserting ,except as provided in paragraph 7#h71 a grant2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#h7 ,small project set-aside 7,a7 ,in general ,of the amounts made available for the program for each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall use #bj1jjj1jjj to make grants to eligible entities for projects under the program with an estimated cost that is-- 7i7 not less than #ejj1jjj2 and 7ii7 not more than #aj1jjj1jjj4 7,b7 ,unutilized funds ,for any fiscal year1 if the ,secretary determines that the amount set aside under subparagraph 7,a7 will not be fully utilized for grants described in that subparagraph1 the ,secretary shall use the unutilized amounts to provide grants for other projects under the program4 4