National Bridge Improvement Act of 1989 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) revise the criteria for assignment of priorities for bridge replacement and rehabilitation to concentrate Federal funding on bridges most in need of replacement and rehabilitation; (2) establish a formal procedure for the exercise of the Secretary's discretion in selecting highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation projects; (3) establish administration guidelines for the distribution of such apportioned funds throughout each State; and (4) monitor the distribution of such funds throughout each State.
Requires the Secretary to: (1) review each State's compliance with the national bridge inspection standards; (2) revise such standards to improve inspection requirements, define the factors to be considered and the methods used in rating the conditions of bridges, and establish a standard for the timely processing of data resulting from inspections; (3) assess the need for greater State and local government authority for bridge inspection; (4) encourage the States to take the actions necessary to fully comply with the national bridge inspection standards relating to posting limits on bridges and closing bridges; and (5) ensure that all Federal agencies maintaining bridges comply with such standards.
Directs the Secretary: (1) to implement a plan to bring the States and local governments into compliance with the national bridge inspection standards; and (2) to consider the imposition of penalties and other sanctions against States and local governments not fully complying with such standards.
Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish procedures to ensure the rapid completion and maintenance of accurate inventories of certain bridges; and (2) inventory all bridges maintained by Federal agencies.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) prepare a plan for a public information program with respect to the weight limits, closings, and hazards of each bridge; and (2) include in such plan provisions for administration of such program by the States.
Requires the Secretary to transmit to the Congress a report on the administrative actions taken pursuant to this Act and the results of such actions, including recommendations with respect to whether the Congress should increase the maximum percent of apportioned funds which may be expended for projects to replace or rehabilitate highway bridges located on public roads, other than on a Federal aid system.
HR 2260 IH 101st CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2260 To improve the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 4, 1989 Mr. TANNER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Public Works and Transportation A BILL To improve the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program. 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 `National Bridge Improvement Act of 1989'. SEC. 2. REFERENCES AND DEFINITIONS. (a) REFERENCES- Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this Act a reference is expressed in terms of a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 23, United States Code. (b) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this Act-- (1) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Transportation. (2) The term `bridge' means a structure on which a highway crosses over waterways, other topographical barriers, other highways, and railroads. (3) The term `highway' shall have the meaning provided in section 101(a). (4) The term `Federal-aid system' shall have the meaning provided in section 101(a). (5) The term `improvement' includes replacement and rehabilitation. (6) The term `deficient' means structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. (7) The term `highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program' means the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program established under section 144. (8) The term `national bridge inspection standards' means the national bridge inspection standards established under section 151. SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds that-- (1) of the more than 575,000 bridges in the United States, almost 4 out of every 10 are deficient; (2) deficient bridges increase the potential for traffic deaths and injuries and property damage and add to fuel consumption, air pollution, and the cost of goods and services; and (3) the total cost to replace and rehabilitate deficient bridges nationwide is rapidly approaching $68,000,000,000. (b) PURPOSE- The purpose of this Act is to make effective revisions of the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program in order to ensure the replacement and rehabilitation of the deficient bridges in the United States in a timely and efficient manner, the fair distribution of Federal funds within the various States for replacement and rehabilitation of bridges, and the compliance of the States with the national bridges inspection standards. SEC. 4. BRIDGE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. The Secretary shall-- (1) revise, consistent with the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of section 144, the criteria for assignment of priorities for bridge replacement and rehabilitation under such section to concentrate Federal funding on bridges most in need of replacement and rehabilitation; (2) establish a formal procedure for the exercise of the Secretary's discretion in selecting highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation projects for the obligation of funds under section 144 to ensure consideration of the costs and benefits of each such project and the classification of the bridge under subsections (b) and (c) of section 144 for each such project; (3) establish administration guidelines for the distribution under section 144(j) of highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation apportioned funds throughout each State with provisions for flexibility with respect to State administration of the apportioned funds; and (4) monitor the distribution under section 144(j) of highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program apportioned funds throughout each State. SEC. 5. NATIONAL BRIDGE INSPECTION STANDARDS. (a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall-- (1) review each State's compliance with the national bridge inspection standards; (2) revise such standards-- (A) to improve inspection requirements, including decreasing the maximum time lapse between inspections; (B) to define precisely the factors to be considered and the methods used in rating the condition of bridges; and (C) to establish a standard for timely processing data resulting from inspections under such standards; (3) assess the need for greater State and local government authority for inspection of bridges; (4) encourage the States to take the actions necessary fully to comply with the national bridge inspection standards relating to posting limits on bridges and closing bridges; and (5) ensure that all Federal agencies maintaining bridges comply with the national bridge inspection standards. (b) PLAN OF COMPLIANCE- (1) By no later than July 1, 1990, the Secretary shall prepare and, to the extent permitted by law, implement a plan of action designed to result in full compliance by the States and local governments with the national bridge inspection standards. (2) In preparing the plan required by paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Secretary shall consider the imposition of penalties and other sanctions against the States and local governments not fully complying with such standards. SEC. 6. NATIONAL BRIDGE INVENTORY. By not later than July 1, 1990, the Secretary shall-- (1) establish procedures to ensure the rapid completion and maintenance of accurate inventories of bridges under subsections (b) and (c) of section 144; and (2) inventory all bridges maintained by Federal agencies. SEC. 7. PUBLIC INFORMATION. The Secretary shall prepare a plan for a public information program with respect to the weight limits, closings, and hazards, if any, of each bridge. The Secretary shall include in such plan provisions for administration of such program by the States. SEC. 8. REPORT TO CONGRESS. The Secretary shall prepare and transmit to the Congress, not later than January 1, 1991, a report on the administrative actions taken under the provisions of this Act and the results of such actions. Such report shall include-- (1) recommendations for legislative action as the Secretary considers necessary to ensure that-- (A) the bridges most in need of replacement and rehabilitation are always selected for funding under the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program; (B) there is a fair and equitable distribution of such funding throughout each State; and (C) the States fully comply with the national bridge inspection standards; and (2) the Secretary's recommendations with respect to whether the Congress should increase the maximum per centum of apportioned funds which may be expended under section 144 for projects to replace or rehabilitate highway bridges located on public roads; other than on a Federal-aid system.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Public Works + Transportation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation.
Executive Comment Requested from DOT and OMB.
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received from DOT.
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