I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 6111 

To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 

and the Secretary of Transportation to take certain actions to develop 

physical alternatives to better protect pedestrians and vulnerable road 

users against traffic incidents, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 26, 2023 

Mrs. TORRES of California (for herself and Ms. BONAMICI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and 

Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 

in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Secretary of Transportation 

to take certain actions to develop physical alternatives 

to better protect pedestrians and vulnerable road users 

against traffic incidents, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pedestrian Hazard, 

3 Awareness, and Safety Expansion Act of 2023’’ or the 

4 ‘‘PHASE Act of 2023’’. 

5 SEC. 2. NIST INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE 

6 AND ENHANCE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES. 

7 The Director of the National Institute of Standards 

8 and Technology shall transmit to the Secretary of Trans9 portation potential solutions using innovative technologies 

10 to improve and enhance traffic control devices to better 

11 equip vehicle operators, including bicycles and protect pe12 destrians and vulnerable road users. The Director shall 

13 provide supporting evidence to ensure such potential solu14 tions do not overwhelm, overstimulate, or otherwise dis15 tract vehicle operators, including bicyclists or pedestrians. 

16 Such potential solutions shall comply with all applicable 

17 Federal regulations. 

18 SEC. 3. PHYSICAL ALTERNATIVES TO PROTECT PEDES19 TRIANS AND VULNERABLE ROAD USERS. 

20 (a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 

21 carry out a study on developing physical alternatives to 

22 better protect pedestrians and vulnerable road users from 

23 traffic incidents that— 

24 (1) analyzes urban areas, as determined by the 

25 Bureau of the Census, in which pedestrian fatalities 

26 have increased in the data available as of the date 


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1 of enactment of this Act to study where crashes in2 volving pedestrians occur most frequently; 

3 (2) examine physical alternatives to reduce vehi4 cle crashes with vulnerable road users and fatalities, 

5 including pedestrians; and 

6 (3) studies intelligent speed assistance and 

7 blind spot detection safety systems’ impact on the 

8 safety of vulnerable road users including the ability 

9 of blind spot detection to detect all road users in a 

10 timely manner. 

11 (b) BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 

12 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

13 brief the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

14 and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 

15 Representative on the results of the study. 

16 (c) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall establish 

17 a grant program to provide grants to cities, Indian Tribes, 

18 and municipalities to implement infrastructure that com19 plies with all applicable Federal regulations and the Amer20 icans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et 

21 seq.) and improves pedestrian safety, including— 

22 (1) innovative technology for crosswalks; 

23 (2) additional pedestrian facilities both on and 

24 off the road; 

25 (3) expanded buffer zones; 


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1 (4) pedestrian crossings; 

2 (5) increased pedestrian accommodation on 

3 bridges; 

4 (6) upgraded highway traffic signals; 

5 (7) accessible pedestrian signals; 

6 (8) accessible sidewalks; 

7 (9) increased signage; 

8 (10) increased lighting at crossings; 

9 (11) adaptive or intelligent roadway and pedes10 trian lighting; 

11 (12) accessible curb ramps; and 

12 (13) marked crosswalks and grade-separated 

13 crossings. 

14 (d) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 

15 under subsection (c), an applicant shall submit to the Sec16 retary an application at such time, in such manner, and 

17 containing such information as the Secretary may require. 

18 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

19 authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each fiscal 

20 year to carry out the grant program described under sub21 section (c). 

Æ 


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