H.R. 7751

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7751 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7751

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a program to 
make grants for the improvement or construction of greenway paths, and 
for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 2, 2026

Mrs. McIver (for herself and Mrs. McBath) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a program to 
make grants for the improvement or construction of greenway paths, 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 ``Parks to People Active 
Transportation Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL AND REGIONAL GREENWAYS PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--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).
(b) Regionally or Nationally Significant Greenway Paths.--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.
(c) Application.--
(1) In general.--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.
(2) Eligible projects partially on federal land.--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.
(d) Application Considerations.--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.
(e) Use of Funds.--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.
(f) Set Aside.--
(1) Planning and design grants.--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.
(2) Administrative costs.--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.
(g) Grant Timing.--
(1) Request for application.--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.
(2) Selection of grant recipients.--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.
(h) Federal Share.--
(1) In general.--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.
(2) Exceptions.--
(A) Disadvantaged communities.--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.
(B) Rural areas.--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.
(i) Reports.--
(1) Interim report.--Not later than September 30, 2028, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the 
information described in paragraph (3).
(2) Final report.--Not later than September 30, 2030, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the 
information described in paragraph (3).
(3) Report information.--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.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--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.
(k) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Active transportation.--The term ``active 
transportation'' means alternative methods of transportation to 
motor vehicles, including walking, bicyling, or utilizing 
assistive mobility or micro mobility devices.
(2) Greenway path.--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.
(3) Community.--The term ``community'' means a geographic 
area that is socioeconomically interdependent and may include 
rural, suburban, and urban jurisdictions.
(4) Eligible organization.--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.
(5) Eligible greenway project.--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.
(6) Indian tribe.--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)).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Transportation.
(8) Total project cost.--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.
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