[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2481 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2481
To establish a grant program to improve safety on high risk rural
roads, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 13, 2021
Mr. O'Halleran (for himself and Mr. Westerman) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant program to improve safety on high risk rural
roads, 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 ``High Risk Rural Roads Safety Grant
Program Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. HIGH RISK RURAL ROADS SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM.
Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``Sec. 171. High risk rural roads safety grant program
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program to
award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities for projects
to improve safety on high risk rural roads in the United States.
``(b) Eligible Projects.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity may use funds
provided under this section only for a project described in
paragraph (2) that makes improvements to a high risk rural
road.
``(2) Projects described.--A project referred to in
paragraph (1) only includes 1 or more of the following
activities:
``(A) A road safety audit.
``(B) An intersection safety improvement.
``(C) Installation of rumble strips or another
warning device, if the rumble strips or other warning
devices do not adversely affect the safety or mobility
of bicyclists, pedestrians, and individuals with
disabilities.
``(D) Activities that improve the safety of
pedestrians, bicyclists, or individuals with
disabilities.
``(E) Construction of a railway-highway crossing
safety feature, including installation of protective
devices.
``(F) Construction of a traffic calming feature.
``(G) Improvement of highway signage and pavement
markings, including to meet minimum levels of
retroreflectivity established by the Department of
Transportation.
``(H) Installation of a priority control system for
emergency vehicles at signalized intersections.
``(I) Installation of a traffic control or other
warning device at a location with high accident
potential.
``(J) Installation of guardrails, barriers
(including barriers between construction work zones and
traffic lanes for the safety of motorists and workers),
and crash attentuators.
``(K) The addition or retrofitting of structures or
other measures to eliminate or reduce accidents
involving vehicles and wildlife.
``(L) Installation and maintenance of signs
(including flurorescent, yellow-green signs) at
pedestrian-bicycle crossings and in school zones.
``(M) Installation of a skid-resistant surface at
any intersection or other location with a high
frequency of accidents.
``(N) Improvement of an edge drop-off that is
greater than 4 inches.
``(O) Spot pavement and shoulder widening.
``(P) Elimination of a roadside obstacle.
``(Q) Systemic improvements focusing on low-cost
safety infrastructure investments.
``(R) Traffic enforcement or other activities
relating to work zone safety.
``(S) Installation of vehicle-to-infrastructure
communication equipment.
``(T) Installation or improvement of highway
signage and pavement markings to accommodate advanced
technologies to assist with the deployment of automated
and connected vehicles.
``(c) Set-Aside.--Of the total amounts made available under this
section for each fiscal year, not less than $100,000,000 shall be for
grants to Indian Tribes.
``(d) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project
carried out with funds made available under this section may be 100
percent.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a unit of local government;
``(B) a special purpose district or public
authority with a transportation function;
``(C) a metropolitan planning organization (as
defined in section 134(b));
``(D) a regional transportation authority; or
``(E) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 102 of
the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994
(25 U.S.C. 5130)).
``(2) High risk rural road.--The term `high risk rural
road' means any roadway functionally classified as a rural
major or minor collector or a rural local road with respect to
which--
``(A) there is a significant likelihood of
accidents resulting in fatalities or incapacitating
injuries; or
``(B) there is a physical condition that presents
to users of the roadway an increased risk of an
accident, including an accident resulting in serious
injury.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit
Account) to carry out this section $600,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2027, to remain available until expended.''.
<all>