NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM DESIGNATION.

SEC. 101. NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM DESIGNATION. (a) In General.—Section 103(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: “(5) Designation of nhs.—The National Highway System as submitted by the Secretary of Transportation on the map entitled ‘Official Submission, National Highway System, Federal Highway Administration’, and dated November 13, 1995, is hereby designated within the United States, including the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. “(6) Modifications to nhs.— “(A) In general.—Subject to paragraph (7), the Secretary may make modifications to the National Highway 109 STAT. 570 System that are proposed by a State or that are proposed by the State and revised by the Secretary if the Secretary determines that each of the modifications— “(i) meets the criteria established for the National Highway System under this title; and “(ii) enhances the national transportation characteristics of the National Highway System. “(B) Cooperation.—In proposing modifications under this paragraph, a State shall cooperate with local and regional officials. In urbanized areas, the local officials shall act through the metropolitan planning organizations designated for such areas under section 134. “(7) Transitional rules for intermodal connectors.— “(A) Required submission.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995, the Secretary shall submit for approval to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives modifications to the National Highway System that are proposed by a State or that are proposed by the State and revised by the Secretary and that consist of connectors to major ports, airports, international border crossings, public transportation and transit facilities, interstate bus terminals, and rail and other intermodal transportation facilities. “(B) Cooperation.—Paragraph (6)(B) shall apply to modifications proposed by a State under this paragraph. “(C) Eligibility.— “(i) Initial approval by law.—Modifications proposed under subparagraph (A) may take effect only if a law has been enacted approving such modifications. “(ii) Interim eligibility.—Notwithstanding clause (i), a project to construct a connector to an intermodal transportation facility described in subparagraph (A) shall be eligible for funds apportioned under section 104(b)(1) for the National Highway System if the Secretary finds that the project is consistent with criteria developed by the Secretary for construction of such connectors. “(iii) Period of eligibility.—A project which is eligible under clause (ii) for funds apportioned under section 104(b)(1) shall remain eligible for such funds pursuant to clause (ii) only until the date of the enactment of a law described in clause (i). “(D) Modifications after initial approval.—After the date of the enactment of a law described in subparagraph (C)(i), a modification consisting of a connector to an intermodal transportation facility described in subparagraph (A) may be made in accordance with paragraph (6). “(8) Congressional high priority corridors.—Upon the completion of feasibility studies, the Secretary shall add to the National Highway System any congressional high priority corridor or any segment thereof established by section 1105 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (105 Stat. 2031–2037) which was not identified on the National Highway System designated by paragraph (5).”. 109 STAT. 571 (b) Conforming Amendments.—Section 103(b)(3) of such title is amended— (1) in subparagraph (C) by striking “For purposes of proposing highways for designation to the National Highway System, the” and inserting “The”; and (2) in subparagraph (D)— (A) by striking “In proposing highways for designation to the National Highway System, the” and inserting “The”; and (B) by inserting after “mileage” the following: “on the National Highway System”.