All Station Accessibility Program Act of 2021 or the ASAP Act of 2021
This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to award grants to states or localities for improving the accessibility of commuter rail systems that have stations or facilities for passengers and that were in operation before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (which occurred on July 26, 1990).
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3317 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3317
To amend chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, to provide
competitive grants to assist State and local governmental authorities
in addressing accessibility needs of legacy rail fixed guideway public
transportation systems.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 18, 2021
Ms. Newman (for herself and Mr. Garcia of Illinois) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, to provide
competitive grants to assist State and local governmental authorities
in addressing accessibility needs of legacy rail fixed guideway public
transportation systems.
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 ``All Station Accessibility Program
Act of 2021'' or the ``ASAP Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR ACCESSIBILITY UPGRADES TO LEGACY RAIL
FIXED GUIDEWAY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 5315 the following:
``Sec. 5316. Accessibility grants for legacy rail fixed guideway public
transportation systems
``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `center for independent living' has the
meaning given the term in section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796a);
``(2) the term `disability' has the meaning given the term
in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12102);
``(3) the term `eligible entity' means a State or local
governmental authority;
``(4) the term `legacy rail fixed guideway public
transportation system'--
``(A) means a rail fixed guideway public
transportation system that was in operation before July
26, 1990; and
``(B) includes a commuter rail system that uses
stations or facilities for passenger use constructed
before the date described in subparagraph (A); and
``(5) the term `protection and advocacy system' means such
a system established in accordance with section 143 of the
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of
2000 (42 U.S.C. 15043).
``(b) Grants.--The Secretary may make grants under this section to
assist eligible entities in financing capital projects to upgrade the
accessibility of legacy rail fixed guideway public transportation
systems for persons with disabilities, including those who use
wheelchairs, by increasing the number of existing (as of the date of
enactment of the ASAP Act) stations or facilities for passenger use
that meet (including exceeding) the new construction standards of title
II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et
seq.).
``(c) Eligible Costs.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible
entity may use a grant awarded under this section--
``(A) for a project to repair, improve, or relocate
infrastructure of stations or facilities for passenger
use, including load-bearing members that are an
essential part of the structural frame;
``(B) to develop or modify a plan for pursuing
public transportation accessibility projects,
including--
``(i) assessments of accessibility or
assessments of planned modifications to
stations or facilities for passenger use,
performed by the protection and advocacy system
for persons with disabilities in the applicable
State, a center for independent living, or a
similar nonprofit organization focused on
ensuring people with disabilities are able to
live in and participate in their communities;
or
``(ii) coordination by the recipient with
such protection and advocacy system, center for
independent living, or similar nonprofit
organization; or
``(C) to carry out other projects that meet
(including exceeding) the new construction standards of
title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990.
``(2) Limitation.--Eligible costs for a project funded with
a grant awarded under this section shall be limited to the
costs associated with carrying out the purpose authorized under
subsection (b).
``(d) Eligible Stations or Facilities for Passenger Use.--An
eligible entity--
``(1) may not use a grant awarded under this section to
upgrade a station or facility for passenger use that is
accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities,
including individuals who use wheelchairs, consistent with
current (as of the date of the upgrade) new construction
standards under title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.); and
``(2) may use the grant to upgrade a station or facility
for passenger use that is not accessible and usable as
described in paragraph (1), even if the related service,
program, or activity, when viewed in its entirely, is readily
accessible and usable as so described.
``(e) Accessibility Commitment.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this section shall adopt a plan under which the entity
commits to pursuing public transportation accessibility projects that--
``(1) enhance the customer experience and maximize
accessibility of rolling stock and stations or facilities for
passenger use for individuals with disabilities, including--
``(A) accessibility for individuals with physical
disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs;
``(B) accessibility for individuals with sensory
disabilities; and
``(C) accessibility for individuals with
intellectual or developmental disabilities;
``(2) improve the operations of, provide efficiencies of
service to, and enhance the public transportation system for
individuals with disabilities; and
``(3) address equity of service to all riders regardless of
income, age, race, or ability, taking into account historical
and current service gaps for low-income riders, older
individuals, riders from communities of color, and riders with
disabilities.
``(f) Coordination With Disability Advocacy Entities.--In
administering grants under this section, the Secretary shall
encourage--
``(1) coordination between recipients and disability
advocacy entities such as the protection and advocacy system
for persons with disabilities in the applicable State, a center
for independent living, or a similar nonprofit organization
focused on ensuring people with disabilities are able to live
in and participate in their communities; and
``(2) assessments of accessibility or assessments of
planned modifications to stations or facilities for passenger
use, performed by such an advocacy entity, to the extent
merited by the scope of the capital project of the recipient
proposed to be assisted under this section.
``(g) Government Share of Costs.--A grant for a project under this
section shall be for 90 percent of the net project cost of the project.
The recipient may provide additional local matching amounts.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 5338 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections
(h) and (i), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
``(g) Accessibility Grants for Legacy Rail Fixed Guideway Public
Transportation Systems.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out section 5316, $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each
fiscal year thereafter.''.
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for
chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 5315 the following:
``5316. Accessibility grants for legacy rail fixed guideway public
transportation systems.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2802)
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