Full Text of HB5277 103rd General Assembly
HB5277eng 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY | | | HB5277 Engrossed | | LRB103 37474 MXP 67597 b |
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| 1 | | AN ACT concerning transportation. | 2 | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | 3 | | represented in the General Assembly: | 4 | | Section 5. The Department of Transportation Law of the | 5 | | Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding | 6 | | Section 2705-630 as follows: | 7 | | (20 ILCS 2705/2705-630 new) | 8 | | Sec. 2705-630. Transit-to-Trails Grant Program. | 9 | | (a) The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a | 10 | | grant program, to be known as the "Transit-to-Trails Grant | 11 | | Program", under which the Secretary shall award grants to | 12 | | eligible entities for projects that facilitate travel by | 13 | | public transportation to public outdoor recreation sites for | 14 | | outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, boating, | 15 | | picnicking, hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, or other | 16 | | nature-based activities. Projects that may receive funding | 17 | | through the grant program include, but are not limited to, | 18 | | projects that lead to: | 19 | | (1) altered or expanded operation of existing transit | 20 | | service to accommodate increased access by the public to | 21 | | outdoor recreation activities; | 22 | | (2) new or improved infrastructure to facilitate safe, | 23 | | convenient access to outdoor recreation sites, including, |
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| 1 | | but not limited to, stations, stops, shelters, and bicycle | 2 | | infrastructure; and | 3 | | (3) public outreach, education, and engagement efforts | 4 | | to inform the public and encourage use of transit and | 5 | | access to outdoor recreation. | 6 | | (b) The Secretary shall offer grants through the | 7 | | Transit-to-Trails program on an annual basis. The Department | 8 | | of Transportation shall adopt rules necessary to implement and | 9 | | administer the program. | 10 | | (c) Eligible recipients of grants under the program shall | 11 | | include: | 12 | | (1) public transit agencies; | 13 | | (2) owners of outdoor recreation lands accessible by | 14 | | the general public, including parks districts, | 15 | | conservation districts, forest preserve districts; | 16 | | (3) units of local government, State agencies, and | 17 | | nonprofit organizations engaged in facilitating outdoor | 18 | | recreation opportunities. | 19 | | (d) In considering grant applications, the Department | 20 | | shall prioritize projects with demonstrated intent to enhance | 21 | | access to outdoor recreation opportunities for populations in | 22 | | greatest need of improved access to outdoor nature-based | 23 | | recreation. These populations shall be defined as residents | 24 | | of: | 25 | | (1) R3 Areas, as established under Section 10-40 of | 26 | | the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, where residents have |
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| 1 | | historically been excluded from economic opportunities; | 2 | | (2) environmental justice communities, as defined by | 3 | | the Illinois Power Agency under the Illinois Power Agency | 4 | | Act, where residents have historically been subject to | 5 | | disproportionate burdens of pollution; and | 6 | | (3) a community that can demonstrate to the Secretary | 7 | | that the community has inadequate, insufficient, or no | 8 | | park space or recreation facilities, including by | 9 | | demonstrating: | 10 | | (A) quality concerns relating to the available | 11 | | park space or recreation facilities; | 12 | | (B) the presence of recreational facilities that | 13 | | do not serve the needs of the community; | 14 | | (C) the inequitable distribution of park space for | 15 | | high-need populations based on income, age, or other | 16 | | measures of vulnerability and need; or | 17 | | (D) at least 50% of the population is not located | 18 | | within 1/2 mile of park space. | 19 | | (e) Upon request, the Department shall provide technical | 20 | | assistance in preparing grant applications under this Section. | 21 | | Implementation of this Section is subject to appropriation by | 22 | | the General Assembly. |
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