NABSA Applauds the Recent Release of the INVEST in America Act

Updates:

  • 7/1/2020: The INVEST in America Act passed in the House of Representatives as HR 2: Moving Forward Act.
  • 7/20/2020: The Moving Forward Act entered the Senate.

On June 3rd, 2020, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure unveiled the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST) Act, a transformational surface transportation bill designed to bring infrastructure in the U.S into the 21st Century. The INVEST in America Act will replace the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act that expires on September 30th, 2020.

NABSA has advocated for the explicit inclusion of bikeshare and shared micromobility in a surface transportation reauthorization. We’ve dedicated hours to outreach with members of Congress on behalf of our members and the industry. We’re thrilled to announce that, with your help, those efforts have led to a piece of legislation that can serve the citizens that rely on bikeshare and shared micromobility.

The INVEST in America Act is a forward-thinking policy that allocates substantial attention and funding to the safety of vulnerable roadway users and begins to define bikeshare and shared micromobility and its role in the nation’s transportation networks. Numerous provisions in the INVEST in America Act are the direct result of advocacy efforts from NABSA and our partners. Highlights include:

  • The addition of shared micromobility, including bikeshare and shared scooters, as an eligible expense in the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program. The CMAQ program provides funds to States for transportation projects designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.
  • Defines bikeshare as an “associated transit improvement” in US Code 5302 of Title 49. Title 49, USC 5302(3) includes “associated transit improvement” under its definition for capital project, which makes this, along with the inclusion in CMAQ, a significant first step for shared micromobility towards federal recognition as a form of public transportation.
  • A 60% increase for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), the largest federal funding source for bike infrastructure. TAP will allow for more streamlined, expedited construction of bike lanes.
  • $250 million for the Active Transportation Connectivity Grant, which would fund regionally connected mobility networks.
  • $250 million for the Community Climate Innovation Grant, which can be used for shared micromobility projects that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • A focus on Vision Zero that supports safe infrastructure planning and development for vulnerable road users, including bicyclists, scooter riders, and pedestrians.

While we recognize and appreciate the tremendous work that went into this policy, we believe that there’s room for refinement of the final bill. NABSA will be contacting the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to recommend the following:

  • Inclusion of HR 1507, the Bicycle Commuter Act. Incentivizing commuters to start or continue riding a bike to work will help our country recover from COVID-19 sustainably, and give workers a needed financial break as we ride out the economic uncertainty of the crisis. Read our letter to congress and blog post here.
  • Further development of funding mechanisms for bikeshare and shared micromobility. The CMAQ program, the inclusion of bikeshare as an associated transit improvement, the Community Climate Innovation Grant, and the Carbon Pollution Reduction program proposed in the Act are all promising opportunities for more funding. However, these funding mechanisms are just the beginning. Now, more than ever, citizens rely on bikeshare and shared micromobility to get to where they need to go. These services need to be invested in and expanded.
  • Clear language defining shared micromobility, including bikeshare and shared scooters, as a federally-recognized form of public transportation. The inclusion of bikeshare as an “associated transit improvement” is a significant first step towards federal recognition as a form of public transportation. Our goal is to have that recognition expanded to include all shared micromobility devices, like scooters.

The INVEST in America Act is a remarkable milestone for the bikeshare and shared micromobility industry. We’re grateful for the support of our partners and members as we all work together to improve the way people get around!

NABSA prioritizes advocating on behalf of the bikeshare and shared micromobility industry. Learn more about our advocacy efforts here.

READ OUR LETTER TO CONGRESS