Bill Summary
The Transit to Trails Act is a bill that, if passed, would establish a program to provide grants to organizations that create transportation routes from underserved urban and rural communities to green spaces. This bill defines key terms such as "critically underserved community" and "eligible entity" and outlines the requirements for receiving a grant. It also sets a budget and reporting requirements for the program. The goal of this legislation is to increase access to public lands and recreational opportunities for communities that currently have inadequate or insufficient access.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could affect people by providing increased access to green spaces for those living in underserved urban and rural communities. This could lead to improved physical and mental health outcomes for these individuals.
2. The legislation could also impact people by promoting collaboration and partnership among different agencies and organizations. This could lead to increased community engagement and potentially foster a sense of community among residents.
3. The legislation could potentially benefit low-income and vulnerable populations by prioritizing projects that aim to increase access to local or neighborhood public lands and recreational opportunities. This could provide these populations with more equal access to these resources and opportunities for outdoor recreation.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2467 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2467
To establish a program to award grants to entities that provide
transportation connectors from critically underserved urban communities
and rural communities to green spaces.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 11, 2019
Mr. Schumer (for Mr. Booker (for himself, Ms. Smith, Mr. Blumenthal,
Ms. Harris, and Mr. Merkley)) introduced the following bill; which was
read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program to award grants to entities that provide
transportation connectors from critically underserved urban communities
and rural communities to green spaces.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Transit to Trails Act''.
SEC. 2. TRANSIT TO TRAILS GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Critically underserved community.--The term
``critically underserved community'' means--
(A) a community that can demonstrate to the
Secretary that the community has inadequate,
insufficient, or no park space or recreation
facilities, including by demonstrating--
(i) quality concerns relating to the
available park space or recreation facilities;
(ii) the presence of recreational
facilities that do not serve the needs of the
community; or
(iii) the inequitable distribution of park
space for high-need populations, based on
income, age, or other measures of vulnerability
and need;
(B) a community in which at least 50 percent of the
population is not located within \1/2\ mile of park
space;
(C) a community that is designated as a qualified
opportunity zone under section 1400Z-1 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986; or
(D) any other community that the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State;
(B) a political subdivision of a State (including a
city or a county) that represents or otherwise serves
an urban area or a rural area;
(C) a special purpose district (including a park
district);
(D) an Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
(25 U.S.C. 5304)) that represents or otherwise serves
an urban area or a rural area; or
(E) a metropolitan planning organization (as
defined in section 134(b) of title 23, United States
Code).
(3) Program.--The term ``program'' means the Transit to
Trails Grant Program established under subsection (b)(1).
(4) Rural area.--The term ``rural area'' means a community
that is not an urban area.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(6) Transportation connector.--
(A) In general.--The term ``transportation
connector'' means a system that--
(i) connects 2 zip codes or communities
within a 175-mile radius of a designated
service area; and
(ii) offers rides available to the public.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``transportation
connector'' includes microtransits, bus lines, bus
rails, light rail, rapid transits, or personal rapid
transits.
(7) Urban area.--The term ``urban area'' means a community
that--
(A) is densely developed;
(B) has residential, commercial, and other
nonresidential areas; and
(C)(i) is an urbanized area with a population of
50,000 or more; or
(ii) is an urban cluster with a population of--
(I) not less than 2,500; and
(II) not more than 50,000.
(b) Grant Program.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a grant
program, to be known as the ``Transit to Trails Grant
Program'', under which the Secretary shall award grants to
eligible entities for--
(A) projects that develop transportation connectors
or routes in or serving, and related education
materials for, critically underserved communities to
increase access and mobility to Federal or non-Federal
public land, waters, parkland, or monuments; or
(B) projects that facilitate transportation
improvements to enhance access to Federal or non-
Federal public land and recreational opportunities in
critically underserved communities.
(2) Administration.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the
program to assist eligible entities in the development
of transportation connectors or routes in or serving,
and related education materials for, critically
underserved communities and Federal or non-Federal
public land, waters, parkland, and monuments.
(B) Joint partnerships.--The Secretary shall
encourage joint partnership projects under the program,
if available, among multiple agencies, including school
districts, nonprofit organizations, metropolitan
planning organizations, regional transportation
authorities, transit agencies, and State and local
governmental agencies (including park and recreation
agencies and authorities) to enhance investment of
public sources.
(C) Annual grant project proposal solicitation,
review, and approval.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall--
(I) annually solicit the submission
of project proposals for grants from
eligible entities under the program;
and
(II) review each project proposal
submitted under subclause (I) on a
timeline established by the Secretary.
(ii) Required elements for project
proposal.--A project proposal submitted under
clause (i)(I) shall include--
(I) a statement of the purposes of
the project;
(II) the name of the entity or
individual with overall responsibility
for the project;
(III) a description of the
qualifications of the entity or
individuals identified under subclause
(II);
(IV) a description of--
(aa) staffing and
stakeholder engagement for the
project;
(bb) the logistics of the
project; and
(cc) anticipated outcomes
of the project;
(V) a proposed budget for the funds
and time required to complete the
project;
(VI) information regarding the
source and amount of matching funding
available for the project;
(VII) information that demonstrates
the clear potential of the project to
contribute to increased access to
parkland for critically underserved
communities; and
(VIII) any other information that
the Secretary considers to be necessary
for evaluating the eligibility of the
project for funding under the program.
(iii) Consultation; approval or
disapproval.--The Secretary shall, with respect
to each project proposal submitted under this
subparagraph, as appropriate--
(I) consult with the government of
each State in which the proposed
project is to be conducted;
(II) after taking into
consideration any comments resulting
from the consultation under subclause
(I), approve or disapprove the
proposal; and
(III) provide written notification
of the approval or disapproval to--
(aa) the individual or
entity that submitted the
proposal; and
(bb) each State consulted
under subclause (I).
(D) Priority.--To the extent practicable, in
determining whether to approve project proposals under
the program, the Secretary shall prioritize projects
that are designed to increase access and mobility to
local or neighborhood Federal or non-Federal public
land, waters, parkland, monuments, or recreational
opportunities.
(3) Transportation planning procedures.--
(A) Procedures.--In consultation with the head of
each appropriate Federal land management agency, the
Secretary shall develop, by rule, transportation
planning procedures for projects conducted under the
program that are consistent with metropolitan and
statewide planning processes.
(B) Requirements.--All projects carried out under
the program shall be developed in cooperation with
States and metropolitan planning organizations.
(4) Non-federal contributions.--
(A) In general.--As a condition of receiving a
grant under the program, an eligible entity shall
provide funds in the form of cash or an in-kind
contribution in an amount equal to not less than 100
percent of the amount of the grant.
(B) Sources.--The non-Federal contribution required
under subparagraph (A) may include amounts made
available from State, local, nongovernmental, or
private sources.
(5) Eligible uses.--Grant funds provided under the program
may be used--
(A) to develop transportation connectors or routes
in or serving, and related education materials for,
critically underserved communities to increase access
and mobility to Federal and non-Federal public land,
waters, parkland, and monuments; and
(B) to create or significantly enhance access to
Federal or non-Federal public land and recreational
opportunities in an urban area or a rural area.
(6) Grant amount.--A grant provided under the program shall
be--
(A) not less than $25,000; and
(B) not more than $500,000.
(7) 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 program.
(8) Public information.--The Secretary shall ensure that
current schedules and routes for transportation systems
developed after the receipt of a grant under the program are
available to the public, including on a website maintained by
the recipient of a grant.
(c) Reporting Requirement.--
(1) Reports by grant recipients.--The Secretary shall
require a recipient of a grant under the program to submit to
the Secretary at least one performance and financial report
that--
(A) includes--
(i) demographic data on communities served
by the project; and
(ii) a summary of project activities
conducted after receiving the grant; and
(B) describes the status of each project funded by
the grant as of the date of the report.
(2) Additional reports.--In addition to the report required
under paragraph (1), the Secretary may require additional
reports from a recipient, as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate, including a final report.
(3) Deadlines.--The Secretary shall establish deadlines for
the submission of each report required under paragraph (1) or
(2).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each fiscal
year.
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