Integrated Transportation and Economic Development Act

To amend title 23, United States Code, to add a national goal and performance measure to improve road conditions in economically distressed urban communities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Integrated Transportation and Economic Development Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) National goals The national goals of the Federal-aid highway program are prescribed in section 150 of title 23, United States Code, as follows: (A) Safety To achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. (B) Infrastructure condition To maintain the highway infrastructure asset system in a state of good repair. (C) Congestion reduction To achieve a significant reduction in congestion on the National Highway System. (D) System reliability To improve the efficiency of the surface transportation system. (E) Freight movement and economic vitality To improve the national freight network, strengthen the ability of rural communities to access national and international trade markets, and support regional economic development. (F) Environmental sustainability To enhance the performance of the transportation system while protecting and enhancing the natural environment. (G) Reduced project delivery delays To reduce project costs, promote jobs and the economy, and expedite the movement of people and goods by accelerating project completion through eliminating delays in the project development and delivery process, including reducing regulatory burdens and improving agencies’ work practices. (2) Performance measures Section 150 of title 23, United States Code, requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish performance measures for States to use to assess progress towards the achievement of the national goals of the Federal-aid highway program. (3) Performance targets Section 150 of such title also requires each State to set performance targets that reflect the performance measures established by the Secretary of Transportation and to submit periodic reports to the Secretary that describe progress in achieving the performance targets. (4) Equitable distribution It is important that both urban and rural communities in the United States benefit from the Federal-aid highway program and receive an equitable distribution of Federal transportation funds. (5) Importance of public roads and highways for economically distressed urban communities Public roads and highways that are safe, reliable, and in a state of good repair are especially important for economically distressed urban communities. (6) Needs of economically distressed urban communities Not one of the national goals of the Federal-aid highway program mention the needs of economically distressed urban communities. (7) New goal The national goals of the Federal-aid highway program need to be amended to include a goal to improve road conditions in economically distressed urban communities and increase access to jobs, markets, and economic opportunities for people who live in these communities. 3. New national goal, performance measure, performance target (a) National goal Section 150(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (8) Integrated economic development To improve road conditions in economically distressed urban communities and increase access to jobs, markets, and economic opportunities for people who live in such communities. . (b) Performance measure Section 150(c) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following: (7) Integrated economic development The Secretary shall establish measures for States to use to assess the conditions, accessibility, and reliability of roads in economically distressed urban communities. . (c) Performance target Section 150(d)(1) of such title is amended by striking and (6) (6), and (7)

Summary: Integrated Transportation and Economic Development Act This bill: (1) adds as a new goal of the federal-aid highway program to improve road conditions in economically distressed urban communities and increase access to jobs, markets, and economic opportunities for people who live in such communities; (2) requires the Department of Transportation to establish measures for states to use to assess the conditions, accessibility, and reliability of roads in such communities; and (3) requires each state to set performance targets that reflect such measures.