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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5570 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5570
To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish a grant program to
rebuild and improve transportation infrastructure at urban waterfronts,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 17 (legislative day, December 16), 2024
Mr. Cardin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish a grant program to
rebuild and improve transportation infrastructure at urban waterfronts,
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 ``Constructing Resilient and Enduring
Waterfronts Act'' or the ``CREW Act''.
SEC. 2. CONSTRUCTING RESILIENT AND ENDURING WATERFRONTS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 180. Constructing Resilient and Enduring Waterfronts program
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Program.--The term `program' means the Constructing
Resilient and Enduring Waterfronts program established under
subsection (b).
``(2) Urban waterfront.--The term `urban waterfront' means
an area of land within an urbanized area that is in the
vicinity of a major river, lake, estuary, or ocean that--
``(A) includes land immediately adjacent to that
body of water; and
``(B) is planned or used for multiple uses,
including residential and commercial uses, public parks
and green space, and infrastructure to support such
uses.
``(3) Urban waterfront development plan.--The term `urban
waterfront development plan' means a plan that--
``(A) considers the improvement of all, or 1 or
more parts, of an urban waterfront for the purposes of
economic development, housing, safety, and resilience
to flooding and extreme weather; and
``(B) identifies a need for not less than
$200,000,000 in investments for transportation, public
spaces, and other infrastructure at the urban
waterfront.
``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program, to
be known as the `Constructing Resilient and Enduring Waterfronts
program', to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to rebuild and
improve transportation infrastructure at urban waterfronts.
``(c) Purposes.--The purposes of the program are--
``(1) to improve the resilience of public space and public
infrastructure from extreme weather events, flooding, and
rising sea levels;
``(2) to improve circulation and access to waterfront
resources for the general public;
``(3) to unlock the economic benefits of urban waterfronts;
and
``(4) to restore and improve air quality and water quality
at urban waterfronts.
``(d) Eligible Entities.--An entity eligible to receive a grant
under the program is any of the following:
``(1) A State or political subdivision of a State.
``(2) A metropolitan planning organization.
``(3) A unit of local government.
``(4) A special purpose district or public authority
established for the purpose of implementing an urban waterfront
development plan.
``(5) A nonprofit entity established and authorized by a
State to implement an urban waterfront development plan.
``(e) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under the
program, an eligible entity described in subsection (d) shall submit to
the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
``(f) Eligible Costs.--Funds from a grant under the program may be
used for--
``(1) reconstruction and realignment of the street network
at the urban waterfront in order--
``(A) to expand access to the waterfront to larger
numbers of visitors;
``(B) to calm traffic; or
``(C) to provide safer conditions for people using
nonmotorized transportation;
``(2) construction of pedestrian walkways at the urban
waterfront;
``(3) construction or improvement of green infrastructure
at the urban waterfront--
``(A) to improve natural conditions;
``(B) to strengthen resilience; or
``(C) to provide flood protection;
``(4) construction or improvement of infrastructure at the
urban waterfront providing resilience and protection against
flooding and sea level rise, such as seawalls;
``(5) activities to repair or improve utilities required by
or associated with construction of roadways or other
transportation infrastructure at the urban waterfront;
``(6) changes or improvements to stormwater infrastructure
at the urban waterfront;
``(7) installation, replacement, or repair of lighting,
signage, or planting at the urban waterfront; or
``(8) activities eligible under section 133(h).
``(g) Urban Waterfront Development Plan.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
the program, an eligible entity described in subsection (d)
shall--
``(A) demonstrate that there is in effect for the
urban waterfront an urban waterfront development plan
that was developed by the applicable unit of local
government through a robust process of public
engagement;
``(B) demonstrate that the urban waterfront
development plan has taken into consideration the best
available science and data regarding the
vulnerabilities of the urban waterfront to flooding
caused by sea level rise or extreme weather events; and
``(C) demonstrate the need for implementing the
project as part of the urban waterfront development
plan in terms of the progress the project would make
toward achieving 1 or more purposes described in
subsection (c).
``(2) Multiple existing plans.--The Secretary may determine
that an eligible entity has made the demonstration described in
paragraph (1)(A) through a combination of existing plans.
``(3) Inclusion.--A project eligible to be carried out
under the program shall be within the scope of the applicable
urban waterfront development plan.
``(h) Grant Amount.--A grant provided under the program shall be
not less than $30,000,000.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit
Account) to carry out the program $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2027 through 2031.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 179 the following:
``180. Constructing Resilient and Enduring Waterfronts program.''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
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