AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS TO ACQUIRE RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND TO MAKE ADVANCES TO THE STATES.

SEC. 110. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS TO ACQUIRE RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND TO MAKE ADVANCES TO THE STATES. (a) Advance Right-of-Way Acquisitions.—For the purpose of facilitating the acquisition of rights-of-way on any of the Federal-aid highway systems, including the Interstate System, in the most expeditious and economical manner, and recognizing that the acquisition of rights-of-way requires lengthy planning and negotiations if it is to be done at a reasonable cost, the Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized, upon request of a State highway department, to make available to such State for acquisition of rights-of-way, in anticipation of construction and under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of Commerce may prescribe, the funds apportioned to such State for expenditure on any of the Federal-aid highway systems, 70 Stat. 383 including the Interstate System: Provided, That the agreement between the Secretary of Commerce and the State highway department for the reimbursement of the cost of such rights-of-way shall provide for the actual construction of a road on such rights-of-way within a period not exceeding five years following the fiscal year in which such request is made: Provided further, That Federal participation in the cost of rights-of-way so acquired shall not exceed the Federal pro rata share applicable to the class of funds from which Federal reimbursement is made. (b) Advances to States.—Section 6 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944 is hereby amended to read as follows: “Sec. 6. If the Secretary of Commerce shall determine that it is necessary for the expeditious completion of projects on any of the Federal-aid highway systems, including the Interstate System, he may advance to any State out of any existing appropriations the Federal share of the cost of construction thereof to enable the State highway department to make prompt payments for acquisition of rights-of-way, and for construction as it progresses. The sums so advanced shall be deposited in a special revolving trust fund, by the State official authorized under the laws of the State to receive Federal-aid highway funds, to be disbursed solely upon vouchers approved by the State highway department for rights-of-way which have been or are being acquired, and for construction which has been actually performed and approved by the Secretary of Commerce. Upon determination by the Secretary of Commerce that any part of the funds advanced to any State under the provisions of this section are no longer required, the amount of the advance which is determined to be in excess of current requirements of the State shall be repaid upon his demand, and such repayments shall be returned to the credit of the appropriation from which the funds were advanced. Any sums advanced and not repaid on demand shall be deducted from sums due the State for the Federal pro rata share of the cost of construction of Federal-aid projects.”