H.R. 5922

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5922 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5922

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program 
for the provision of competitive grants to eligible entities for use 
improving the availability of accessible microtransit services to 
individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 4, 2025

Mr. Stanton (for himself and Mr. Bresnahan) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program 
for the provision of competitive grants to eligible entities for use 
improving the availability of accessible microtransit services to 
individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Accessibility Through 
Microtransit Act''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR PROVISION OF GRANTS TO IMPROVE MICROTRANSIT 
SERVICES.

(a) Pilot Program.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting through 
the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, shall 
establish a pilot program (herein referred to as the ``Pilot Program'') 
under which the Secretary may make grants, on a competitive basis, to 
covered entities for use improving the availability of microtransit 
services to individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments, 
including individuals who use a wheelchair.
(b) Eligibility.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
the Pilot Program, a covered entity must submit an application 
at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require, 
and that includes the following information:
(A) A description of the types of disabilities or 
mobility impairments of individuals the covered entity 
expects to provide with microtransit services through 
the expenditure of grant funds.
(B) The approximate square miles of the geographic 
area in which the covered entity expects to provide 
microtransit services through the expenditure of grant 
funds.
(C) Any additional information as the Secretary may 
require.
(2) Public-private partnership.--A covered entity may 
submit an application on behalf of a partnership between a 
covered entity and a private entity for the provision of a 
microtransit service.
(c) Selection.--
(1) Criteria.--In selecting applicants to receive a grant 
under the Pilot Program, the Secretary shall select a covered 
entity based on criteria established by the Secretary.
(2) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize for receipt 
of a grant under the Pilot Program applicants--
(A) whose applications demonstrate how each 
microtransit service intended to be acquired or 
provided using grant funds will--
(i) provide greater accessibility for 
individuals with disabilities or mobility 
impairments;
(ii) address a lack of accessible service 
in the geographic area in which the covered 
entity expects to provide microtransit services 
through the expenditure of grant funds; and
(iii) deliver economic benefits in such 
geographic area, such as improving access to 
jobs or promoting local economic development 
through enhanced mobility; and
(B) that intend to use grant funds to--
(i) provide wheelchair accessible vehicles 
and accessible mobile applications for use in 
microtransit services;
(ii) enable low-income individuals, 
including individuals without access to 
smartphone technology or a credit card, to 
access any transportation services made 
available through the project;
(iii) carry out an allowable use described 
in subsection (e) that improves the performance 
of the transit and microtransit services system 
of the applicant;
(iv) accelerate the deployment of advanced 
transit technologies, including shared-use 
mobility services;
(v) improve safety within the area serviced 
by the applicant; or
(vi) directly hire workers to perform 
microtransit services within the system of the 
applicant.
(d) Grant Amount Limitation.--In carrying out the Pilot Program, 
the Secretary may not issue a grant for an amount greater than 
$3,000,000.
(e) Allowable Uses.--A recipient of a grant under the Pilot Program 
may use grant funds for the following uses:
(1) To purchase or lease a covered vehicle for use in a 
microtransit service existing as of the date on which the 
recipient submits an application in accordance with subsection 
(b).
(2) To fund initial training for individuals to be able to 
drive a covered vehicle operating in a mircotransit service of 
the recipient.
(3) To fund continuing education training for drivers of a 
covered vehicle operating in a microtransit service of the 
recipient.
(4) To contract for the provision of activities necessary 
for the provisions of a microtransit service, including capital 
management and operations-related activities.
(5) To acquire software or license technology that 
facilitates microtransit services.
(6) Any other uses determined by the Secretary to improve 
the accessibility or availability of microtransit services for 
individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments.
(f) Camera System Requirement.--
(1) Stipulation.--As a condition of receiving funds under 
the Pilot Program, each recipient shall agree to install, if 
necessary, and maintain on each vehicle of the microtransit 
service of the recipient an interior camera system--
(A) capable of recording passengers and drivers on 
the vehicle; and
(B) that may--
(i) continuously record video and audio 
while the vehicle is engaged in passenger 
service;
(ii) be tamper-resistant;
(iii) retain recordings for 30 days or 
more; and
(iv) produce recordings in a format 
accessible to the recipient and, upon lawful 
request, law enforcement.
(2) Recording access limitations.--A recording produced by 
an interior camera system maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) 
may not be released to the public and access to the recording 
shall be limited to--
(A) employees of the recipient who the recipient 
authorizes to access; and
(B) law enforcement pursuant to a lawful request.
(g) Labor Standards.--The Secretary shall apply the requirements of 
section 5333 of title 49, United States Code, to projects financed with 
Pilot Program grant funds.
(h) Termination.--The authority to carry out the Pilot Program 
under this section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after 
the date on which the Pilot Program commences.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $20,000,000 to carry out this section. 
Such amount is authorized to remain available through the fiscal year 
in which the Pilot Program is terminated pursuant to subsection (f).
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means--
(A) a State government;
(B) a local government;
(C) a Tribal organization; or
(D) a metropolitan planning organization.
(2) Covered vehicle.--The term ``covered vehicle'' means a 
multi-passenger vehicle that, to be accessible to individuals 
with disabilities or mobility impairments (including 
individuals who use a wheelchair), is equipped with handicap 
accessible designs, including--
(A) a ramp;
(B) a hydraulic mechanism designed to load and 
unload a wheelchair; and
(C) any other handicap accessible designs 
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(3) Fixed route system.--The term ``fixed route system'' 
has the meaning given such term in section 221 of the Americans 
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12141).
(4) Microtransit service.--The term ``microtransit 
service'' means a technology-enabled, on-demand service with 
dynamically generated routing that uses a managed fleet of 
multi-passenger vehicles dedicated to that service.
(5) On-demand service.--With respect to a microtransit 
service, the term ``on-demand service'' includes the following:
(A) A service to connect an individual from a 
starting point to a fixed route system or from a fixed 
route system to a destination of the individual.
(B) A hub-to-hub zone-based service.
(C) A service that is a commingling of a general 
transit service and a paratransit or other special 
transportation service provided in accordance with 
section 223 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12143).
(D) A point-to-point service within a specific zone 
or limited geographic area.
(E) Any other similar service, as determined by the 
Secretary of Transportation.
(6) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization'' 
has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304).
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