HR5922-119

2. Pilot program for provision of grants to improve microtransit services 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. 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 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. The approximate square miles of the geographic area in which the covered entity expects to provide microtransit services through the expenditure of grant funds. Any additional information as the Secretary may require. 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. 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. The Secretary shall prioritize for receipt of a grant under the Pilot Program applicants— whose applications demonstrate how each microtransit service intended to be acquired or provided using grant funds will— provide greater accessibility for individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments; 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 deliver economic benefits in such geographic area, such as improving access to jobs or promoting local economic development through enhanced mobility; and that intend to use grant funds to— provide wheelchair accessible vehicles and accessible mobile applications for use in microtransit services; 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; carry out an allowable use described in subsection (e) that improves the performance of the transit and microtransit services system of the applicant; accelerate the deployment of advanced transit technologies, including shared-use mobility services; improve safety within the area serviced by the applicant; or directly hire workers to perform microtransit services within the system of the applicant. In carrying out the Pilot Program, the Secretary may not issue a grant for an amount greater than $3,000,000. A recipient of a grant under the Pilot Program may use grant funds for the following uses: 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). To fund initial training for individuals to be able to drive a covered vehicle operating in a mircotransit service of the recipient. To fund continuing education training for drivers of a covered vehicle operating in a microtransit service of the recipient. To contract for the provision of activities necessary for the provisions of a microtransit service, including capital management and operations-related activities. To acquire software or license technology that facilitates microtransit services. Any other uses determined by the Secretary to improve the accessibility or availability of microtransit services for individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments. 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— capable of recording passengers and drivers on the vehicle; and that may— continuously record video and audio while the vehicle is engaged in passenger service; be tamper-resistant; retain recordings for 30 days or more; and produce recordings in a format accessible to the recipient and, upon lawful request, law enforcement. 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— employees of the recipient who the recipient authorizes to access; and law enforcement pursuant to a lawful request. The Secretary shall apply the requirements of section 5333 of title 49, United States Code, to projects financed with Pilot Program grant funds. 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. 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). In this section: The term covered entity means— a State government; a local government; a Tribal organization; or a metropolitan planning organization. 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 ramp; a hydraulic mechanism designed to load and unload a wheelchair; and any other handicap accessible designs determined appropriate by the Secretary. 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). 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. With respect to a microtransit service, the term on-demand service includes the following: 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. A hub-to-hub zone-based service. 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). A point-to-point service within a specific zone or limited geographic area. Any other similar service, as determined by the Secretary of Transportation. 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).