HR7751-119

What This Bill Does

The Parks to People Active Transportation Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a competitive grant program and a national network of regionally or nationally significant greenway paths. Eligible projects must connect jurisdictions or states, reduce congestion and emissions, improve safety or access, support metropolitan plans, or meet other federal criteria. Grants may construct or improve wheelchair-accessible walking, bicycling, shared-use, or micromobility paths and may acquire necessary real property.

Eligible applicants include local or regional governments, metropolitan planning organizations, special districts, states and territories, multistate groups, and Indian Tribes. Projects on federal land require a cooperative agreement with the responsible federal agency. DOT must weigh regional connections, transit and park integration, community support, safety policy, matching commitments, racial or income disparities in pedestrian and bicyclist deaths, access for low-income communities, and broader economic, environmental, and quality-of-life benefits.

At least $5 million each year must support planning grants, while no more than $3.5 million may cover administration and technical assistance. DOT must solicit applications within 60 days of funding and select recipients within 180 days. The normal federal share is 80 percent, rising to 90 percent for rural projects and potentially 100 percent for projects serving communities with poverty above 40 percent. DOT must report to Congress by September 2028 and September 2030. The bill authorizes $300 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

Who Benefits and How

Local governments, states, territories, Tribes, metropolitan planning organizations, and regional districts benefit from construction and planning grants. Rural communities receive a 90 percent federal cost share, while qualifying high-poverty communities may receive full federal funding. Pedestrians, wheelchair users, bicyclists, micromobility users, and transit riders benefit from safer connections to jobs, schools, services, parks, and public transportation. Active-transportation construction firms and design consultants gain project opportunities.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Applicants must prepare competitive proposals, demonstrate support and policy commitments, secure matching funds when required, and enter cooperative agreements for federal land. Federal land-management agencies must review and administer those agreements. DOT grant administrators must designate the network, publish solicitations, score applications, provide technical support, oversee real-property and construction spending, and report to Congress. Federal transportation appropriations bear up to $1.5 billion over five fiscal years.

Key Provisions

• Establishes a national network and competitive grants for significant greenway paths.
• Funds path construction, improvement, and necessary real-property acquisition.
• Makes local, regional, state, territorial, multistate, special-district, and Tribal organizations eligible.
• Prioritizes cross-jurisdiction connections, safety, transit integration, park access, emissions reduction, and underserved communities.
• Reserves at least $5 million annually for planning grants and no more than $3.5 million for administration.
• Sets an 80 percent standard federal share, 90 percent for rural projects, and up to 100 percent for qualifying high-poverty communities.
• Requires grant solicitations within 60 days, selections within 180 days, and reports in 2028 and 2030.
• Authorizes $300 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.