Vision Zero Act of 2021

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3562 To allow States to use funding provided under the surface transportation block grant program and the highway safety improvement program to develop and implement vision zero plans in eligible localities, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 28, 2021 Mr. BLUMENAUER (for himself and Ms. PRESSLEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infra- structure A BILL To allow States to use funding provided under the surface transportation block grant program and the highway safety improvement program to develop and implement vision zero plans in eligible localities, and for other pur- poses. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Vision Zero Act of 4 2021’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Jun 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3562.IH H3562 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 3562 IH SEC. 2. VISION ZERO. 1 (a) IN GENERAL.—A local government, metropolitan 2 planning organization, or regional transportation planning 3 organization may develop and implement a vision zero 4 plan to significantly reduce or eliminate transportation-re- 5 lated fatalities and serious injuries within a specified time- 6 frame, not to exceed 20 years. 7 (b) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts apportioned to a 8 State under paragraph (2) or (3) of section 104(b) of title 9 23, United States Code, may be used to carry out a vision 10 zero plan under this section. 11 (c) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—A vision zero plan under 12 this section shall include— 13 (1) a description of programs, strategies, or 14 policies intended to significantly reduce or eliminate 15 transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries 16 within a specified timeframe, not to exceed 20 years, 17 that is consistent with a State strategic highway 18 safety plan and uses existing transportation data 19 and consideration of risk factors; 20 (2) plans for the implementation of, and edu- 21 cation of the public about, such programs, strate- 22 gies, and policies; 23 (3) a description of how such programs, strate- 24 gies, or policies will— 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Jun 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3562.IH H3562 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 3562 IH (A) equitably invest in the safety needs of 1 low-income and minority communities; and 2 (B) protect the rights of members of such 3 communities with respect to title VI of the Civil 4 Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.); 5 and 6 (4) a description of a mechanism to evaluate 7 progress of the development and implementation of 8 the plan, including the gathering and use of trans- 9 portation safety and demographic data. 10 (d) INCLUSIONS.—A vision zero plan may include a 11 complete streets prioritization plan that identifies a spe- 12 cific list of projects to— 13 (1) create a connected network of active trans- 14 portation facilities, including sidewalks, bikeways, or 15 pedestrian and bicycle trails, to connect communities 16 and provide safe, reliable, affordable, and convenient 17 access to employment, housing, and services, con- 18 sistent with the goals described in section 150(b) of 19 title 23, United States Code; 20 (2) integrate active transportation facilities with 21 public transportation service or improve access to 22 public transportation; and 23 (3) improve transportation options for low-in- 24 come and minority communities. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Jun 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3562.IH H3562 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 3562 IH (e) COORDINATION.—A vision zero plan under this 1 section shall provide for coordination of various subdivi- 2 sions of a unit of local government in the implementation 3 of the plan. 4 (f) RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Notwith- 5 standing any other provision of law, no Federal funds may 6 be used to enforce a vision zero plan. 7 (g) SAFETY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT.—A vi- 8 sion zero plan under this section is not sufficient to dem- 9 onstrate compliance with the safety performance or plan- 10 ning requirements of section 148 or 150 of title 23, United 11 States Code. 12 (h) AMENDMENT TO SECTION 148.—Section 148 of 13 title 23, United States Code, is amended— 14 (1) in subsection (a)(4)(B)(xiii) by inserting ‘‘, 15 including the development of a vision zero plan 16 under the Vision Zero Act of 2021’’ after ‘‘safety 17 planning’’; 18 (2) in subsection (c)(2)(B)(i) by inserting ‘‘ex- 19 cessive design speeds and speed limits,’’ after ‘‘cross- 20 ing needs,’’; and 21 (3) in subsection (h)(1)(A) by inserting ‘‘, in- 22 cluding any efforts to reduce vehicle speed’’ after 23 ‘‘under this section’’. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Jun 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3562.IH H3562 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 3562 IH (i) AMENDMENT TO SECTION 150.—Section 1 150(b)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 2 inserting ‘‘or elimination’’ after ‘‘significant reduction’’. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Jun 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3562.IH H3562 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS