High Risk Rural Roads Safety Grant Program Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2481 | Sponsor: Rep. O'Halleran, Tom (D-AZ)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
High Risk Rural Roads Safety Grant Program Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to award competitive grants to local governments, Indian tribes, metropolitan planning organizations, and other public transportation authorities for projects to improve safety on high risk rural roads in the United States.
Funds may be used for certain projects or activities to improve safety, including (1) road safety audits; (2) intersection safety improvements; (3) the installation of rumble strips or other warning devices; and (4) activities that improve the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, or individuals with disabilities.
At least $100 million of funding available to carry out the grant program must be set aside for Indian tribes.

To establish a grant program to improve safety on high risk rural 
                     roads, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``High Risk Rural Roads Safety Grant 
Program Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. HIGH RISK RURAL ROADS SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM.

    Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
``Sec. 171. High risk rural roads safety grant program
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities for projects 
to improve safety on high risk rural roads in the United States.
    ``(b) Eligible Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity may use funds 
        provided under this section only for a project described in 
        paragraph (2) that makes improvements to a high risk rural 
        road.
            ``(2) Projects described.--A project referred to in 
        paragraph (1) only includes 1 or more of the following 
        activities:
                    ``(A) A road safety audit.
                    ``(B) An intersection safety improvement.
                    ``(C) Installation of rumble strips or another 
                warning device, if the rumble strips or other warning 
                devices do not adversely affect the safety or mobility 
                of bicyclists, pedestrians, and individuals with 
                disabilities.
                    ``(D) Activities that improve the safety of 
                pedestrians, bicyclists, or individuals with 
                disabilities.
                    ``(E) Construction of a railway-highway crossing 
                safety feature, including installation of protective 
                devices.
                    ``(F) Construction of a traffic calming feature.
                    ``(G) Improvement of highway signage and pavement 
                markings, including to meet minimum levels of 
                retroreflectivity established by the Department of 
                Transportation.
                    ``(H) Installation of a priority control system for 
                emergency vehicles at signalized intersections.
                    ``(I) Installation of a traffic control or other 
                warning device at a location with high accident 
                potential.
                    ``(J) Installation of guardrails, barriers 
                (including barriers between construction work zones and 
                traffic lanes for the safety of motorists and workers), 
                and crash attentuators.
                    ``(K) The addition or retrofitting of structures or 
                other measures to eliminate or reduce accidents 
                involving vehicles and wildlife.
                    ``(L) Installation and maintenance of signs 
                (including flurorescent, yellow-green signs) at 
                pedestrian-bicycle crossings and in school zones.
                    ``(M) Installation of a skid-resistant surface at 
                any intersection or other location with a high 
                frequency of accidents.
                    ``(N) Improvement of an edge drop-off that is 
                greater than 4 inches.
                    ``(O) Spot pavement and shoulder widening.
                    ``(P) Elimination of a roadside obstacle.
                    ``(Q) Systemic improvements focusing on low-cost 
                safety infrastructure investments.
                    ``(R) Traffic enforcement or other activities 
                relating to work zone safety.
                    ``(S) Installation of vehicle-to-infrastructure 
                communication equipment.
                    ``(T) Installation or improvement of highway 
                signage and pavement markings to accommodate advanced 
                technologies to assist with the deployment of automated 
                and connected vehicles.
    ``(c) Set-Aside.--Of the total amounts made available under this 
section for each fiscal year, not less than $100,000,000 shall be for 
grants to Indian Tribes.
    ``(d) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project 
carried out with funds made available under this section may be 100 
percent.
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a unit of local government;
                    ``(B) a special purpose district or public 
                authority with a transportation function;
                    ``(C) a metropolitan planning organization (as 
                defined in section 134(b));
                    ``(D) a regional transportation authority; or
                    ``(E) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 102 of 
                the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 
                (25 U.S.C. 5130)).
            ``(2) High risk rural road.--The term `high risk rural 
        road' means any roadway functionally classified as a rural 
        major or minor collector or a rural local road with respect to 
        which--
                    ``(A) there is a significant likelihood of 
                accidents resulting in fatalities or incapacitating 
                injuries; or
                    ``(B) there is a physical condition that presents 
                to users of the roadway an increased risk of an 
                accident, including an accident resulting in serious 
                injury.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit 
Account) to carry out this section $600,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2027, to remain available until expended.''.
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