Bill > HR7301

This bill, titled the "Maximizing Transportation Efficiency Act," aims to improve transportation by developing and implementing strategies for "transportation demand management" (TDM), which involves using various methods like planning, programs, incentives, pricing, data, and technology to encourage travelers to use the transportation system more efficiently, leading to better mobility, less traffic congestion, and improved air quality. The bill specifically expands the definition of TDM to include things like encouraging employers to offer transportation benefits, using incentives and gamification to promote desired travel choices, implementing smart pricing for parking and tolls, supporting carpooling and vanpooling, promoting telecommuting, and investing in pedestrian and micromobility infrastructure. A significant provision is the creation of a $20 million annual set-aside for grants specifically for developing and implementing TDM strategies in rural areas, recognizing that these communities often face greater transportation challenges due to factors like higher poverty rates and limited access to services, and that TDM can help address these disparities by providing more transportation options for residents. The bill also makes changes to existing programs, such as the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program and various grant programs, to explicitly include TDM strategies as eligible uses of funds, and it introduces a new set-aside for smaller congestion relief projects.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7301/all-info