HouseH.R. 10598119th Congress
Improving Rural Transportation Act
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10598 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10598
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a multimodal
transportation demonstration program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 24, 2026
Mr. Riley of New York (for himself and Mr. Gallagher) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a multimodal
transportation demonstration program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Rural Transportation
Act''.
SEC. 2. MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 55 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 5508. Multimodal transportation demonstration program
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary may establish a program to make
grants to eligible entities to carry out demonstration projects in
small- or mid-sized communities for advanced transportation
technologies related to surface passenger transportation modes
(including any technical support and planning costs related to such
projects), which may include any of the following:
``(1) A project related to data availability or
interoperability, a traveler support tool or service, an
automated vehicle, an active demand management, micro-transit,
or a micromobility device to demonstrate first-mile and last-
mile transportation and intermodal connections to a regional
transportation system, including with respect to the following:
``(A) Local transit, intercity bus, rail, and
aviation systems.
``(B) Electric or zero-emission systems.
``(2) A project related to developing a ride-share program
for persons in rural communities.
``(3) Any other project the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(b) Application.--If the Secretary establishes the program
described in subsection (a), an eligible entity that seeks a grant
under such program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require, including information relating to how such entity would
collaborate with any of the following:
``(1) Institutions of higher education.
``(2) States.
``(3) Units of local government.
``(4) Regional transportation planning organizations.
``(5) Nonprofit research organizations.
``(6) Private sector entities.
``(c) Priority.--If the Secretary establishes the program described
in subsection (a), the Secretary shall prioritize any application
submitted under subsection (b) from an eligible entity that
demonstrates scalability, operational reliability, cost efficiency, and
technology validation with respect to real-world conditions.
``(d) Funds.--
``(1) Federal share.--If the Secretary establishes the
program described in subsection (a), the Federal share of the
cost of a demonstration project with respect to which a grant
is made under such program may not exceed 80 percent of such
cost.
``(2) Sources.--If the Secretary establishes the program
described in subsection (a), the non-Federal share of the cost
of a demonstration project with respect to which a grant is
made under such program may include amounts made available to
the recipient of such grant under any of the following:
``(A) Section 504(b) of title 23.
``(B) Section 505 of such title.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means
any of the following entities:
``(A) A State department of transportation.
``(B) A unit of local government.
``(C) A metropolitan planning organization.
``(D) A public transportation agency.
``(E) Any other entity the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(2) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
``(3) Metropolitan planning organization.--The term
`metropolitan planning organization' has the meaning given such
term in subsection (b) of section 5303.
``(4) Micromobility device.--The term `micromobility
device' means a wheeled vehicle that satisfies the following
requirements:
``(A) Includes a low-powered electric motor.
``(B) Is designed for human transport.
``(C) Weighs not more than 100 pounds.
``(D) Is not capable of attaining a maximum speed
greater than 20 miles per hour.
``(5) Public transportation agency.--The term `public
transportation agency' has the meaning given such term in
section 1402 of the National Transit Systems Security Act of
2007 (6 U.S.C. 1131).
``(6) Regional transportation planning organization.--The
term `regional transportation planning organization' means an
organization designated under subsection (l) of section 5304.
``(7) Ride-share program.--The term `ride-share program'
means a commercial service whereby a passenger may use a
smartphone app to request private, point-to-point
transportation from an independent driver for a fee.
``(8) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
``(9) Small- or mid-sized community.--The term `small- or
mid-sized community' means an area with a population of not
more than 200,000 individuals.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 55 of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 5507 the following new item:
``5508. Multimodal transportation demonstration program.''.
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