COMBINED ROAD PLAN DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

SEC. 137. COMBINED ROAD PLAN DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. (a) Program.—The Secretary, in cooperation with up to 5 States, shall conduct a combined road plan demonstration to test the feasibility of approaches for combining, streamlining, and increasing the flexibility in the administration of the Federal-aid secondary program, Federal-aid urban program, and the off-system bridge, urban bridge, and secondary bridge programs. The demonstration shall place as much responsibility as feasible with State and local governments. Notwithstanding any provision of title 23, United States Code, the Secretary may— (1) grant design exceptions and permit construction without final inspection; and (2) permit the use of Federal-aid secondary, Federal-aid urban, and bridge funds for Federal-aid secondary projects, Federal-aid urban projects, and bridge projects on the secondary and urban systems and off-system bridge projects. (b) Report.—The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the House of Representatives— 101 STAT. 175 (1) an interim report on the program being carried out under this section within 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) a final report evaluating the effectiveness of the demonstration program and making needed recommendations as soon as practicable after completion of the demonstration under this section.