Parks to People Active Transportation Act

This Act may be cited as the Parks to People Active Transportation Act.

The Secretary shall carry out a program to make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible organizations to improve or construct safe and connected greenway paths between communities that are designated as regionally or nationally significant by the Secretary under subsection (b).

In carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary shall establish a national greenway paths network. The national greenway paths network shall contain regionally or nationally significant greenway paths designated by the Secretary that—

(1) cross multiple local jurisdictions or State lines;

(2) reduce congestion and single-occupant vehicle trips, improve safety and access to jobs, and lower emissions for criteria pollutants (NOx, VOC, PM) and greenhouse gases;

(3) support community goals and objectives in areas covered by metropolitan planning organizations; or

(4) meet any other criteria the Secretary determines appropriate.

To receive a grant under this section, an eligible organization shall submit to the Secretary an application in such manner and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

With respect to an application for eligible greenway projects that are located in part on Federal lands, an eligible organization shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the appropriate Federal agency with jurisdiction over such land to be eligible for a grant under this section.

In making a grant for construction of a greenway path under this section, the Secretary shall consider the following:

(1) Whether the proposed eligible greenway project is likely to provide substantial additional opportunities for walking, bicycling, and recreation, including by—

(A) creating greenway paths connecting multiple communities, counties, metropolitan regions, or States;

(B) integrating greenway paths with transit services, where available, to improve access to public transportation; and

(C) integrating greenway paths with existing parks, recreation or scenic areas, adjacent waterways, or transportation corridors.

(2) Whether the eligible organization proposing a project demonstrates broad community support through—

(A) prior public input in the development of a plan for the proposed project; and

(B) the commitment of any project sponsors and community leaders, including elected officials in the jurisdiction in which such project is located, partner organization leaders, and private or nongovernmental organizations in the area in which such project is located, to the success and timely implementation of an eligible greenway project.

(3) The extent to which the eligible organization provides evidence of commitment to traffic safety, regulations, financial incentives, or community design policies that facilitate significant increases in walking and bicycling.

(4) The extent to which the eligible organization demonstrates commitment of State, local, or eligible Federal matching funds, and land or in-kind contributions, in addition to the local match required under subsection (g)(1), unless the applicant qualifies for an exception under subsection (g)(2).

(5) The extent to which the eligible organization demonstrates that the grant will address existing disparities in bicyclist and pedestrian fatality rates based on race or income level or provide access to schools, jobs, services, transit, or recreational opportunities for low-income communities and communities of color.

(6) Whether the eligible organization demonstrates how investment in active transportation will advance safety for pedestrians and cyclists, accessibility to schools, jobs, and transit, accessibility to national, State, or local parks, economic competitiveness, environmental protection, and quality of life.

A grant awarded under this section may be used—

(1) to improve or construct a greenway path; and

(2) to acquire real property necessary for the improvement or construction of a greenway path.

Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall set aside not less than $5,000,000 from the funds made available to carry out this section to provide planning grants for eligible organizations to develop a local or regional greenways and paths plan.

Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall set aside not more than $3,500,000 of the funds made available to carry out this section to cover the costs of administration, research, technical assistance, communications, and training activities under the program.

Not later than 60 days after funds are made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a request for applications for grants under this section.

Not later than 180 days after funds are made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall select grant recipients for grants under this section.

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal share of the cost of a project under this section shall not exceed 80 percent of the total project cost.

For projects serving communities with a poverty rate of over 40 percent based on the majority of census tracts served by such project, the Secretary may increase the Federal share of the cost of a project under this section to 100 percent of the total project cost.

For projects serving rural areas, as such term is defined in section 101 of title 23, United States Code, the Federal share of the cost of a project under this section shall be 90 percent of the total project cost.

Not later than September 30, 2028, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the information described in paragraph (3).

Not later than September 30, 2030, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the information described in paragraph (3).

A report submitted under this subsection shall contain the following:

(A) A list of grants made under this section.

(B) Best practices of recipients in implementing projects funded under this section.

(C) Impediments experienced by recipients of grants under this section in planning for and delivering projects under this section.

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

In this Act:

The term active transportation means alternative methods of transportation to motor vehicles, including walking, bicyling, or utilizing assistive mobility or micro mobility devices.

The term greenway path means a hard-surfaced or wheelchair-accessible facility built for active transportation, including a walkway, bikeway, or shared-use path that connects communities, cities, counties, metropolitan regions, or States.

The term community means a geographic area that is socioeconomically interdependent and may include rural, suburban, and urban jurisdictions.

The term eligible organization means—

(A) a local or regional governmental organization, including a metropolitan planning organization or regional planning organization or council;

(B) a multi-county special district;

(C) a State (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory of the United States);

(D) a multi-State group of governments; and

(E) an Indian Tribe.

The term eligible greenway project means an active transportation project, or group of projects—

(A) that is designated as a regionally or nationally significant greenway path under subsection (b);

(B) within or between a community or group of communities, at least one of which falls within the jurisdiction of an eligible organization, which has submitted an application under this section;

(C) that has—

(i) a total cost of not less than $15,000,000; or

(ii) with respect to planning and design grants, planning and design costs of not less than $100,000;

(D) that construct path segments that close local or regional network gaps or are located within underserved areas;

(E) that support an accessible public realm, connect to public transportation, support opportunities for economic development, or promote health and safety; and

(F) that connect communities to public spaces and parks, enhance ecological connectivity, support land conservation and access, or support sites for remediation and restoration.

The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)).

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.

The term total project cost means the sum total of all costs incurred in the development of a project that are approved by the Secretary as reasonable and necessary, including—

(A) the cost of acquiring real property;

(B) the cost of site preparation, demolition, and development;

(C) expenses related to the issuance of bonds or notes;

(D) fees in connection with the planning, execution, and financing of the project;

(E) the cost of studies, surveys, plans, permits, insurance, interest, financing, tax, and assessment costs;

(F) the cost of construction, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and equipping the project;

(G) the cost of land improvements;

(H) contractor fees;

(I) the cost of training and education related to the safety of users of any greenway path constructed as part of an eligible greenway project; and

(J) any other cost that the Secretary determines is necessary and reasonable.