Sec. 1309. Active connected transportation grant program
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The Secretary of Transportation shall establish an active connected transportation grant program to provide for safe and connected active transportation networks and active transportation connectors. In carrying out the program established in subsection (a), the Secretary shall make grants, on a competitive basis, in accordance with this section. The Secretary may make a grant under this section to— a State; a metropolitan planning organization; a regional transportation authority; a unit of local government, including a county or multi-county special district; a Federal land management agency; a natural resource or public land agency; an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization; any local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for or oversight of transportation or recreational trails; and a multistate or multijurisdictional group of entities described in this subsection.
To be eligible for a grant under this section, an entity specified under subsection
(c)shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate. The Secretary shall provide grants under this section to projects that improve the connectivity and the use of active transportation facilities— including— active transportation networks; active transportation connectors; and planning related to the development of— active transportation networks; active transportation connectors; and vision zero plans or complete streets prioritization plans under section 1601; and that have— total project costs of not less than $15,000,000; or in the case of planning grants under subsection (f)(2), a total cost of not less than $100,000. Of the amounts made available to carry out this section for fiscal years 2023 through 2026 and except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall obligate— not less than 30 percent to eligible projects that construct active transportation networks; and not less than 30 percent to eligible projects that construct active transportation connectors. Of the amounts made available to carry out this section for fiscal years 2023 through 2026, the Secretary may use not more than 10 percent to provide planning grants to eligible applicants for activities under subsection (e)(1)(C). In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider the extent to which— a project is likely to provide substantial additional opportunities for active transportation, including walking and bicycling, including through the creation of— active transportation networks connecting destinations within or between communities, including between schools, workplaces, residences, businesses, recreation areas, and other community areas; and active transportation connectors connecting 2 or more communities, metropolitan areas, or States, including greenway paths; an applicant has adequately considered or will consider, including through the opportunity for public comment, the environmental justice and equity impacts of the project; the project would improve safety for vulnerable road users, including through the use of complete street design policies or a safe system approach; and a project integrates active transportation facilities with public transportation services, where available, to improve access to public transportation. The share of the cost of a project assisted with a grant under this section may not exceed 80 percent. Federal assistance other than a grant under this section may be used to satisfy up to 100 percent of the total project cost. Amounts made available for a project under this section may be used for— development phase activities, including planning, feasibility analysis, revenue forecasting, environmental review, preliminary engineering and design work, and other preconstruction activities; and construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, acquisition of real property (including land related to the project and improvements to the land), environmental mitigation, construction contingencies, acquisition of equipment, and operational improvements. Not later than 3 business days before awarding a grant under this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate of the intention to award such a grant. In this section: The term active transportation network means facilities built for alternative methods of transportation to motor vehicles for individuals, including sidewalks, bikeways, and pedestrian and bicycle trails, that connect destinations within an area covered by a unit of local government, a county, a community, including a community on Federal lands, or a metropolitan area. The term active transportation connector means facilities built for alternative methods of transportation to motor vehicles for individuals, including sidewalks, bikeways, and pedestrian and bicycle trails, that connect 2 or more active transportation networks or connect communities, areas covered by a unit of local government, counties, metropolitan areas, Federal lands, or States. The term greenway path means an active transportation connector that— crosses jurisdictional boundaries, including State lines, and provides for connectivity between multiple communities, counties, metropolitan areas, or States; or is a component of a regionally or nationally significant network. The term safe system approach has the meaning given such term in section 148(a) of title 23, United States Code. The term vulnerable road user has the meaning given such term in section 148(a) of title 23, United States Code.