I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3261 

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a Smart Technology 

Traffic Signals Grant Program, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 13, 2019 

Mr. CA ́RDENAS (for himself, Mr. ESPAILLAT, and Mr. SCHWEIKERT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a 

Smart Technology Traffic Signals Grant Program, 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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Less Traffic with 

5 Smart Stop Lights Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. SMART TECHNOLOGY TRAFFIC SIGNALS GRANT 

7 PROGRAM. 

8 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

9 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of TransVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 18, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3261.IH H3261

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1 portation shall establish a Smart Technology Traffic Sig2 nals Grant Program (in this section referred to as the 

3 ‘‘Program’’) to improve the functioning of traffic signals 

4 in a manner that— 

5 (1) reduces traffic congestion; 

6 (2) improves the safety and effectiveness of 

7 roadways; 

8 (3) reduces fuel costs for drivers; and 

9 (4) reduces air pollution. 

10 (b) GRANT AUTHORITY.—In carrying out the Pro11 gram, the Secretary may make grants, on a competitive 

12 basis, to a State, local, or Tribal government entity. 

13 (c) GRANT USES.—An entity awarded a grant under 

14 the Program shall use the grant to improve traffic signals 

15 through the implementation of innovative technology, in16 cluding— 

17 (1) adaptive signal control technology; and 

18 (2) real-time data measurement technology. 

19 (d) TIMING.—A grant awarded to an entity under the 

20 Program shall be fully expended not later than the date 

21 that is 3 years after the date on which initial grant 

22 amounts are made available to the entity. 

23 (e) FEDERAL SHARE.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para25 graph (2), the Federal share of the costs of a project 


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1 assisted with a grant under the Program may not 

2 exceed 80 percent. 

3 (2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may waive 

4 paragraph (1) if a State, local, or Tribal government 

5 entity demonstrates, as determined by the Secretary, 

6 extreme financial hardship. 

7 (3) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.—The non-Fed8 eral share of the costs of a project assisted with a 

9 grant under the Program may be derived in whole 

10 or in part from in-kind contributions. 

11 (f) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for a grant under 

12 the Program, a State, local, or Tribal government entity 

13 shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 

14 in such form, and containing such information as the Sec15 retary determines appropriate. 

16 (g) PROHIBITION.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—A grant awarded under the 

18 Program may not be used to purchase, operate, or 

19 maintain an automated traffic enforcement system. 

20 (2) AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SYS21 TEM DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘auto22 mated traffic enforcement system’’ means any device 

23 that captures an image of or information from a ve24 hicle for the purposes of traffic law enforcement. 


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1 (h) CROWDSOURCING.—Notwithstanding section 

2 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may 

3 accept, subject to regulations issued by the Office of Per4 sonnel Management, voluntary services if— 

5 (1) such services are accepted by the Secretary 

6 for an authorized use under subsection (c); 

7 (2) volunteers are not financially compensated; 

8 and 

9 (3) volunteers will not be used to displace any 

10 employee of the Federal Government. 

11 (i) FUNDING.— 

12 (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 

13 the Secretary may use amounts made available to 

14 carry out the surface transportation block grant pro15 gram (established under section 133(a) of title 23, 

16 United States Code) and the congestion mitigation 

17 and air quality improvement program (established 

18 under section 149(a) of title 23, United States 

19 Code) to carry out the Program. 

20 (2) Paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to 

21 fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of 

22 this Act. 

Æ 


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