Full Text of HB5277 103rd General Assembly
HB5277 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY | | | 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024 HB5277 Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Justin Slaughter SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: | | 20 ILCS 2705/2705-630 new | |
| Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program through which the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities for projects that facilitate travel by public transportation to public outdoor recreation sites for outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, boating, picnicking, hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, or other nature-based activities. Provides that the Secretary shall offer grants through the Transit to Trails program on an annual basis. Requires the Department of Transportation to adopt rules necessary to implement and administer the program. Provides that, in considering grant applications, the Department shall prioritize projects with demonstrated intent to enhance access to outdoor recreation opportunities for populations in greatest need of improved access to outdoor nature-based recreation. Requires the Department to provide technical assistance in preparing grant applications to applicants upon request. Provides that implementation of the grant program is subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. |
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| | A BILL FOR |
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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 Transit | 7 | | to Trails program on an annual basis. The Department of | 8 | | 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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