Sponsors (10)
The bill directs substantial federal funding and technical support toward building large, connected walking and biking greenways—boosting mobility, equity, and air quality—while concentrating resources on bigger projects and increasing federal spending and decision‑making power, which may leave small, low‑capacity communities behind and raise fiscal and local‑control concerns.
State and local governments (and communities) receive dedicated federal grants—authorizing up to $300M per year and offering high federal cost‑shares (up to 90–100% in qualifying areas)—to fund large multimodal walking and biking greenways, reducing local upfront capital burdens.
Residents in participating communities gain safer, connected walking and biking greenways that improve access to jobs, schools, transit, and parks, increasing mobility and nonmotorized travel options.
Low-income communities and communities of color are prioritized for support, which can reduce disparities in pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities and improve access to services and opportunities.
Taxpayers nationwide fund the program—authorizing $300M annually through 2031—raising federal spending that could increase deficits or require offsetting cuts elsewhere.
Smaller towns and grassroots projects are excluded from construction funding because projects under $15M are ineligible, limiting access to benefits for small or rural communities with lower‑cost needs.
Localities with limited planning capacity or funds may be disadvantaged by matching and commitment requirements, leaving high‑need but low‑capacity jurisdictions unable to compete for grants.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a federal competitive grant program to fund construction, improvement, and land acquisition for regionally or nationally significant greenway paths.
Official title: 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.
Introduced March 2, 2026 by LaMonica McIver · Last progress March 2, 2026
Creates a federal competitive grant program to fund construction, improvement, and land acquisition for safe, connected greenway paths the Secretary designates as regionally or nationally significant. Grants target multi-jurisdictional routes that reduce single-occupant vehicle trips, improve safety and access to jobs, integrate with transit and parks, lower certain air emissions, and address equity by improving access for low-income communities and communities of color. Applicants must apply in a Secretary-prescribed form, demonstrate community support and sponsor commitments, provide matching funds or in-kind contributions (unless excepted), and for projects on Federal land enter cooperative agreements with the relevant federal agency. The Secretary must set aside at least $5,000,000 each fiscal year for planning and technical assistance and apply selection criteria that emphasize connections across communities, safety outcomes, transit integration, and equitable benefits.