pavement marking demonstration program

pavement marking demonstration program Sec. 205. (a) Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: “§ 151. Pavement marking demonstration program “(a) Congress hereby finds and declares it to be in the vital interest of the Nation that a pavement marking demonstration program be established to enable the several States to improve the pavement marking of all highways to provide for greater vehicle and pedestrian safety. “(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of the last sentence of subsection (a) of section 105 of this title, the Secretary may approve under this section such pavement marking projects on any highway whether or not on any Federal-aid system, but not included in the Interstate System, as he may find necessary to bring such highway to the pavement marking standards issued or endorsed by the Federal Highway Administrator. “(c) In approving projects under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to those projects which are located in rural areas and which are either on the Federal-aid secondary system or are not included on any Federal-aid system. “(d) The entire cost of projects approved under subsections (b) and (f) of this section shall be paid from sums authorized to carry out this section. “(e) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section by the Federal Highway Administration, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, $25,000,000, and for each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 1975, and June 30, 87 Stat. 2851976, out of the Highway Trust Fund, the sum of $75,000,000. Such sums shall be available for obligation in the same manner and to the same extent as if such funds were apportioned under this chapter. “(f) Funds not required for pavement-marking projects authorized by this section may be released by the Secretary for expenditure for projects to eliminate or reduce the hazards to safety at specific locations or sections of highways which are not located on any Federal-aid system and which have high accident experiences or high accident potentials. Funds may be released by the Secretary under this subsection only if the Secretary has received satisfactory assurances from the State highway department that all nonurban urea highways within the State are marked in accordance with the pavement-marking standards issued or endorsed by the Federal Highway Administrator for carrying out this program. “(g) Each State shall report to the Secretary of Transportation not later than September 30, 1974, and not later than September 30 of each year thereafter, on the progress being made in implementing the program and the effectiveness of the improvements made under it. Each report shall include an analysis and evaluation of the number, rate, and severity of accidents at improved locations and the cost-benefit ratio of such improvements, comparing an adequate time period before and after treatment in order to properly assess the benefits occurring from such pavement markings. The Secretary of Transportation shall submit a report to the Congress not later than January 1, 1975, and not later than January 1 of each year thereafter, on the progress being made in implementing the program and the safety benefits achieved under it.” (b) The analysis of chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: “151. Pavement marking demonstration program.”.