DRIVE Act of 2015

To repeal certain provisions of titles 23 and 49, United States Code, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Developing Roadway Infrastructure for a Vibrant Economy Act of 2015 DRIVE Act of 2015 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) A robust national highway system is critical to the Nation’s economy. (2) Diverting user fees, such as the fuel tax, away from funding projects for the construction of roads, bridges, and other critical national infrastructure has jeopardized the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. (3) Projects for the construction of mass transit facilities, bike paths, and other non-highway infrastructure should be funded from revenue sources other than the Highway Trust Fund. 3. Repeal of Mass Transit Account Section 9503(e)(2) (1) by inserting , and before October 1, 2015 March 31, 1983 (2) by adding at the end the following: (6) Transfer to Highway Account On October 1, 2015, the Secretary shall transfer all amounts in the Mass Transit Account to the Highway Account. . 4. Repeal of transportation alternatives program Section 213 of title 23, United States Code, and the item relating to that section in the analysis for chapter 2 of that title, are repealed. 5. Repeal of authorizations for pedestrian and bicycle programs (a) Repeal of protection of nonmotorized transportation traffic requirement Section 109(m) of title 23, United States Code, is repealed. (b) Definition of transportation alternatives Section 101(a)(29) of title 23, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (29) Transportation alternatives The term transportation alternatives (A) Construction, planning, and design of transportation projects to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. (B) Construction, planning, and design of infrastructure-related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for nondrivers, including children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs. . (c) Repeal of bicycle transportation and pedestrian walkways authorizations and requirements Section 217 of title 23, United States Code, and the item relating to that section in the analysis for chapter 2 of that title, are repealed. (d) Planning requirements (1) General requirements Sections 134(c)(2) and 135(a)(2) of title 23, United States Code, and sections 5303(c)(2) and 5304(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, are amended by striking (including accessible pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities) (2) Participation by interested parties Sections 134(i)(6)(A) and 135(f)(3)(A)(ii) of title 23, United States Code, and sections 5303(i)(6)(A) and 5304(f)(3)(A)(ii) of title 49, United States Code, are amended by striking representatives of users of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, 6. Repeal of set-aside requirement for funding of bridges not on Federal-aid highways Section 133(g) of title 23, United States Code, is repealed. 7. Applicability This Act, and the amendments and repeals made by this Act, shall apply to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 2015.

Summary: Developing Roadway Infrastructure for a Vibrant Economy Act of 2015 or the DRIVE Act of 2015 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate, on September 30, 2015, the authority of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to make certain transfers to the Mass Transit Account. Directs DOT to transfer, on October 1, 2015, all amounts in the Mass Transit Account to the Highway Account. Repeals: the transportation alternatives program; the prohibition against approval of federal-aid highway projects or regulatory actions that will result in the severance of an existing major route or have significant adverse impact on the safety for nonmotorized transportation traffic and light motorcycles, unless the project or action provides for a reasonable alternative route or such a route exists; the authorization for states to use certain funds for construction of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities; and the requirement that a state set-aside a specified amount of its apportionment of surface transportation program funds for off-system bridges (those not on a federal-aid highway). Defines "transportation alternatives" as any of the following activities when carried out as part of an authorized or funded federal-aid highway program or project, or as an independent program or project related to surface transportation for the construction, planning, and design of: (1) transportation projects to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; or (2) infrastructure-related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for nondrivers, including children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs. Eliminates the requirement that statewide transportation plans and statewide transportation improvement programs provide for the development of accessible pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities.