Federal Aid Highway Improvement Act of 1981

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

29 April 1981

Last action

16 November 1981 · Floor

Status

Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Voice Vote.

Summary

Federal- Aid Highway Improvement Act of 1981 - Amends the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 to increase the authorization of appropriations for the Interstate Highway System for fiscal years 1983 through 1990. Limits the obligation of such funds to specified objectives. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, in making the revised estimate of the cost of completing the designated Interstate System for the January, 1983 report to Congress, to include only those costs eligible under such Act, as amended. Directs the Secretary to use specified apportionment factors in allocating funds for the Interstate System. Authorizes appropriations, for fiscal years 1982 through 1986, out of the Highway Trust Fund, for: (1) the Federal aid primary system in rural and urban areas; (2) forest highways; (3) public lands highways; (4) bridge replacement and rehabilitation; and (5) highway safety improvements. Prohibits a State from receiving less than one-half of one percent of the total apportionment for the Interstate System. Revises apportionments for the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program. Amends the Highway Safety Acts of 1973 and 1978 and the Federal-Aid Highway Acts of 1973 and 1978 to repeal the authorization of appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for: (1) highway safety programs; (2) bridge reconstruction and replacement; (3) elimination of hazards; (4) rail highway crossings; and (5) bikeways. Directs that the unobligated balance of contract authority established by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1978 for the Great River Road and highway safety programs shall lapse September 30, 1981. Makes highway reconstruction eligible for Interstate System apportioned funds. Revises Interstate System resurfacing procedures and the Federal share thereof. Authorizes appropriations for mass transit projects substituted for highway projects for which approval has been withdrawn. Revises provisions concerning such substitution projects. Repeals appropriations for provisions related to the priority primary route program. Revises the Federal-aid urban and the Federal-aid rural highway programs. Replaces the pavement marking demonstration program with a highway safety improvement program. Makes assistance available from such program for: (1) highway safety improvements; (2) railway highway crossing projects; (3) highway-related safety requirements; and (4) implementation of the highway safety improvement program developed by each State pursuant to this Act. Reserves one-half of one percent of such funds for projects on Indian reservations. Directs each State to report to the Secretary on the progress of such highway safety improvement program. Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on such progress. Sets forth a formula for the apportionment of funds for the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program. Creates a Federal lands highway program consisting of forest highways, park roads, parkways, Indian reservation roads, and public lands highways. Directs the Secretary to expend sums necessary to carry out specified carpool and vanpool projects, including parking facilities. Directs that emergency financial assistance necessitated by natural disasters or catastrophic failures shall be authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund. Increases the authorization for such emergency assistance. Limits, to a specified sum, the amount of such assistance to any State. Increases the Federal share of such repairs or reconstruction. Revises apportionments for access highways to public recreation areas on certain lakes. Repeals the territorial highway program. Revises the scope and Federal share of the bicycle transportation program. Amends the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1973 to allow limited truck traffic on the Highland Scenic Highway. States that such commercial use by trucks may be limited and controlled by permit. Allows the Secretary to discharge any of his responsibilities under such Act relative to the physical construction phase of Interstate resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, and reconstruction projects using certain certification procedures. Directs the Secretary to establish procedures for the inspection of construction and repair projects (currently, directs the Secretary to make a final inspection). Removes the limit on appropriations for defense access roads. Revises the Secretary's authority with regard to a State's failure to maintain projects under its jurisdiction. Limits funds for research and planning to specified amounts. Specifies the Federal share of such funding pursuant to certain criteria. Transfers to the Secretary the functions, powers, and duties of the Appalachian Regional Commission related to the Appalachian Development Highways System. Amends the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for such Highway system for fiscal years 1982 through 1986. Increases the Federal share for such Highway system. Prohibits employment discrimination in such projects on account of sex. Authorizes the Secretary, in cooperation with other departments and State agencies, to develop and administer training and assistance programs in connection with any program under this Act in order to enable minority businesses to compete on an equal basis for contracts. Directs the Secretary to deduct, from apportionments made by this Act, specified sums for the administration of such programs. Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with the Secretaries of Defense and of the Interior, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and other agency heads as appropriate to minimize duplication, paperwork, and delays in the development and approval of projects under this Act. Sets forth criteria for such agreements. Revises the Federal share available for projects under the Federal-aid rural program and the Federal-aid urban program. Limits obligations for Federal-Aid highways and sets forth an allocation formula for such funds.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

29 April 1981
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Transportation.
Source: Committee
29 April 1981
Introduced
Read second time and referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Source: IntroReferral
29 April 1981
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
30 April 1981
Committee
Subcommittee on Transportation. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
10 June 1981
Committee
Subcommittee on Transportation. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
30 September 1981
Reported
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
7 October 1981
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Regular Orders. Calendar No. 295.
Source: Calendars
7 October 1981
Reported
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported to Senate by Senator Symms favorably with amendments. With written report No. 97-202.
Source: Committee
7 October 1981
Reported
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported to Senate by Senator Symms favorably with amendments. With written report No. 97-202.
Source: Committee
16 November 1981
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

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Documents

3 official files

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Indefinitely postponed in Senate
summary · EN · 16 November 1981
Open at official source
Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 7 October 1981
Open at official source
Leesvertaling
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 29 April 1981
Open at official source
Leesvertaling
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Related records

Sources

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Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/97th-congress/senate-bill/1024
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/97/s/1024
us · 97-s-1024 · source updated 29 August 2025