Sec. 3010. Transportation access pilot program
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/bill/117/s/1953/is/section-3010·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
In this section: The term metropolitan planning organization has the meaning given the term in section 134(b) of title 23, United States Code. The term State has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code. The term surface transportation modes means— driving; public transportation; walking; cycling; and a combination of any of the modes of transportation described in subparagraphs
(A)through (D). The term pilot program means the transportation pilot program established under subsection (b). The term regional transportation planning organization has the meaning given the term in section 134(b) of title 23, United States Code. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a transportation pilot program. The purpose of the pilot program is to develop or procure an accessibility data set and make that data set available to each eligible entity selected to participate in the pilot program— to improve the transportation planning of those eligible entities by— measuring the level of access by surface transportation modes to important destinations, which may include— jobs; health care facilities; child care services; educational and workforce training facilities; housing; food sources; points within the supply chain for freight commodities; domestic or international markets; and connections between surface transportation modes; and disaggregating the level of access by surface transportation modes by a variety of— population categories, which may include— low-income populations; minority populations; age; disability; and geographical location; or freight commodities, which may include— agricultural commodities; raw materials; finished products; and energy commodities; and to assess the change in accessibility that would result from new transportation investments. An entity eligible to participate in the pilot program is— a State; a metropolitan planning organization; or a regional transportation planning organization. To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including information relating to— previous experience of the eligible entity measuring transportation access or other performance management experience, if applicable; the types of important destinations to which the eligible entity intends to measure access; the types of data disaggregation the eligible entity intends to pursue; a general description of the methodology the eligible entity intends to apply; and if the applicant does not intend the pilot program to apply to the full area under the jurisdiction of the applicant, a description of the geographic area in which the applicant intends the pilot program to apply. The Secretary shall seek to achieve diversity of participants in the pilot program by selecting a range of eligible entities that shall include— States; metropolitan planning organizations that serve an area with a population of 200,000 people or fewer; metropolitan planning organizations that serve an area with a population of over 200,000 people; and regional transportation planning organizations. The Secretary shall seek to ensure that, among the eligible entities selected under paragraph (1), there is— a range of capacity and previous experience with measuring transportation access; and a variety of proposed methodologies and focus areas for measuring level of access. For each eligible entity participating in the pilot program, the Secretary shall— develop or acquire an accessibility data set described in subsection (c); and submit the data set to the eligible entity. In calculating the measures for the data set under the pilot program, the Secretary shall ensure that methodology is open source. The Secretary shall make an accessibility data set under the pilot program available to— units of local government within the jurisdiction of the eligible entity participating in the pilot program; and researchers. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the results of the pilot program, including the feasibility of developing and providing periodic accessibility data sets for all States, regions, and localities. The Secretary shall establish consistent measures that States, metropolitan planning organizations, and regional transportation planning organizations may choose to adopt to assess the level of safe and convenient access by surface transportation modes to important destinations as described in subsection (c)(1)(A). Nothing in this section provides the Secretary the authority— to establish a performance measure or require States or metropolitan planning organizations to set a performance target for access as described in paragraph (1); or to establish any other Federal requirement. The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program using amounts made available to the Secretary for administrative expenses to carry out programs under the authority of the Secretary. The pilot program shall terminate on the date that is 8 years after the date on which the pilot program is implemented.