PAVEMENT MARKING SYSTEMS DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

SEC. 1907. PAVEMENT MARKING SYSTEMS DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.(a) In General.—The Secretary shall conduct a demonstration project in the State of Alaska, and a demonstration project in the State of Tennessee, to study the safety impacts, environmental impacts, and cost effectiveness of different pavement marking systems and the effect of State bidding and procurement processes on the quality of pavement marking material employed in highway projects. The demonstration projects shall each include an evaluation of the impacts and effectiveness of increasing the width of pavement marking edge lines from 4 inches to 6 inches and an evaluation of advanced acrylic water-borne pavement markings.(b) Report.—Not later than June 30, 2009, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the demonstration projects, together with findings and recommendations on methods that will optimize the cost-benefit ratio of the use of Federal funds on pavement marking.(c) Funding.—(1) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009.(2) Contract authority.—Funds authorized to be appropriated by this section shall be available for obligation in the same manner and to the same extent as if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code; expect that the Federal share of the cost of the demonstration projects shall be 100 percent, and such funds shall remain available until expended and shall not be transferable.