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 fol-
lowing 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 juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Director of the National Institute of Stand-
ards 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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pedestrian Hazard, 
Awareness, and Safety Expansion Act of 2023’’ or the 
‘‘PHASE Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. NIST INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE 
AND ENHANCE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES. 
The Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology shall transmit to the Secretary of Trans-
portation potential solutions using innovative technologies 
to improve and enhance traffic control devices to better 
equip vehicle operators, including bicycles and protect pe-
destrians and vulnerable road users. The Director shall 
provide supporting evidence to ensure such potential solu-
tions do not overwhelm, overstimulate, or otherwise dis-
tract vehicle operators, including bicyclists or pedestrians. 
Such potential solutions shall comply with all applicable 
Federal regulations. 
SEC. 3. PHYSICAL ALTERNATIVES TO PROTECT PEDES-
TRIANS AND VULNERABLE ROAD USERS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 
carry out a study on developing physical alternatives to 
better protect pedestrians and vulnerable road users from 
traffic incidents that— 
(1) analyzes urban areas, as determined by the 
Bureau of the Census, in which pedestrian fatalities 
have increased in the data available as of the date 
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of enactment of this Act to study where crashes in-
volving pedestrians occur most frequently; 
(2) examine physical alternatives to reduce vehi-
cle crashes with vulnerable road users and fatalities, 
including pedestrians; and 
(3) studies intelligent speed assistance and 
blind spot detection safety systems’ impact on the 
safety of vulnerable road users including the ability 
of blind spot detection to detect all road users in a 
timely manner. 
(b) BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
brief the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representative on the results of the study. 
(c) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall establish 
a grant program to provide grants to cities, Indian Tribes, 
and municipalities to implement infrastructure that com-
plies with all applicable Federal regulations and the Amer-
icans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et 
seq.) and improves pedestrian safety, including— 
(1) innovative technology for crosswalks; 
(2) additional pedestrian facilities both on and 
off the road; 
(3) expanded buffer zones; 
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(4) pedestrian crossings; 
(5) increased pedestrian accommodation on 
bridges; 
(6) upgraded highway traffic signals; 
(7) accessible pedestrian signals; 
(8) accessible sidewalks; 
(9) increased signage; 
(10) increased lighting at crossings; 
(11) adaptive or intelligent roadway and pedes-
trian lighting; 
(12) accessible curb ramps; and 
(13) marked crosswalks and grade-separated 
crossings. 
(d) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under subsection (c), an applicant shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each fiscal 
year to carry out the grant program described under sub-
section (c). 
Æ 
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