Increase Transportation Alternatives Investment Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 228 To authorize programs and activities to support transportation options in areas that are undergoing extensive repair or reconstruction of transpor- tation infrastructure, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 3, 2019 Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ (for herself, Mr. SERRANO, and Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To authorize programs and activities to support transpor- tation options in areas that are undergoing extensive repair or reconstruction of transportation infrastructure, and for other purposes. 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 ‘‘Increase Transpor- 4 tation Alternatives Investment Act of 2019’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:40 Jan 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H228.IH H228 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 228 IH SEC. 2. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT PRO- 1 GRAM. 2 Section 133 of title 23, United States Code, is 3 amended by adding at the end the following: 4 ‘‘(j) TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES FOR AREAS 5 UNDERGOING EXTENSIVE REPAIR OR RECONSTRUCTION 6 OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.—The Secretary 7 shall issue regulations to ensure that States give pref- 8 erence to eligible projects under this section that— 9 ‘‘(1) are located in areas that are undergoing 10 extensive repair or reconstruction of transportation 11 infrastructure, including Federal-aid highways, fed- 12 erally owned roads open for public travel, passenger 13 rail facilities, and public transportation facilities; 14 and 15 ‘‘(2) will provide transportation alternatives re- 16 lated to the full or partial closure of the transpor- 17 tation infrastructure in such areas.’’. 18 SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM. 19 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 20 shall carry out a grant program to support community ef- 21 forts to invest in transportation alternatives. 22 (b) AWARD OF GRANTS.—Not later than 1 year after 23 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 24 award grants under the program on a competitive basis. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:40 Jan 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H228.IH H228 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 228 IH (c) PREFERENCE.—In awarding the grants, the Sec- 1 retary shall give preference to projects located in areas 2 that are undergoing extensive repair or reconstruction of 3 transportation infrastructure, including Federal-aid high- 4 ways, federally owned roads open for public travel, pas- 5 senger rail facilities, and public transportation facilities. 6 (d) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The following entities 7 shall be eligible to receive grants under the program: 8 (1) State and local governments. 9 (2) Metropolitan planning organizations. 10 (3) Rural planning organizations. 11 (e) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.—Amounts received in 12 grants under the program may be used to plan for, facili- 13 tate, and provide initial support for any of the following 14 activities: 15 (1) Transportation demand management pro- 16 grams, including support for transportation manage- 17 ment associations. 18 (2) Carpool or telecommuting projects. 19 (3) Planning, design, acquisition of rights-of- 20 way, construction, improvement, and management of 21 streets, pathways, and public transportation facilities 22 to facilitate expanded bicycle and pedestrian mobility 23 and access. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:40 Jan 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H228.IH H228 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 228 IH (f) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under the pro- 1 gram, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 2 application in such form and manner as the Secretary pre- 3 scribes. 4 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 5 are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 6 $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 7 2023 to carry out this section. 8 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:40 Jan 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H228.IH H228 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS