Title: Less Traffic with Smart Stop Lights Act of 2019
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Less Traffic with Smart Stop Lights Act of 2019
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a Smart Technology Traffic Signals Grant Program.
DOT may provide competitive grants to states, local, or tribal government entities for projects that improve the functioning of traffic signals to (1) reduce traffic congestion, (2) improve the safety and effectiveness of roadways, (3) reduce fuel costs for drivers, and (4) reduce air pollution. Grants may not be used to purchase, operate, or maintain an automated traffic enforcement system.
The federal share of project costs may not exceed 80%, but DOT may waive such limit if an assisted entity can show extreme financial hardship.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3261 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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. Cardenas (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.

    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 ``Less Traffic with Smart Stop Lights 
Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. SMART TECHNOLOGY TRAFFIC SIGNALS GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish 
a Smart Technology Traffic Signals Grant Program (in this section 
referred to as the ``Program'') to improve the functioning of traffic 
signals in a manner that--
            (1) reduces traffic congestion;
            (2) improves the safety and effectiveness of roadways;
            (3) reduces fuel costs for drivers; and
            (4) reduces air pollution.
    (b) Grant Authority.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary 
may make grants, on a competitive basis, to a State, local, or Tribal 
government entity.
    (c) Grant Uses.--An entity awarded a grant under the Program shall 
use the grant to improve traffic signals through the implementation of 
innovative technology, including--
            (1) adaptive signal control technology; and
            (2) real-time data measurement technology.
    (d) Timing.--A grant awarded to an entity under the Program shall 
be fully expended not later than the date that is 3 years after the 
date on which initial grant amounts are made available to the entity.
    (e) Federal Share.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        Federal share of the costs of a project assisted with a grant 
        under the Program may not exceed 80 percent.
            (2) Exception.--The Secretary may waive paragraph (1) if a 
        State, local, or Tribal government entity demonstrates, as 
        determined by the Secretary, extreme financial hardship.
            (3) In-kind contributions.--The non-Federal share of the 
        costs of a project assisted with a grant under the Program may 
        be derived in whole or in part from in-kind contributions.
    (f) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under the Program, a 
State, local, or Tribal government entity shall submit to the Secretary 
an application at such time, in such form, and containing such 
information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
    (g) Prohibition.--
            (1) In general.--A grant awarded under the Program may not 
        be used to purchase, operate, or maintain an automated traffic 
        enforcement system.
            (2) Automated traffic enforcement system defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``automated traffic enforcement system'' 
        means any device that captures an image of or information from 
        a vehicle for the purposes of traffic law enforcement.
    (h) Crowdsourcing.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, 
United States Code, the Secretary may accept, subject to regulations 
issued by the Office of Personnel Management, voluntary services if--
            (1) such services are accepted by the Secretary for an 
        authorized use under subsection (c);
            (2) volunteers are not financially compensated; and
            (3) volunteers will not be used to displace any employee of 
        the Federal Government.
    (i) Funding.--
            (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
        Secretary may use amounts made available to carry out the 
        surface transportation block grant program (established under 
        section 133(a) of title 23, United States Code) and the 
        congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program 
        (established under section 149(a) of title 23, United States 
        Code) to carry out the Program.
            (2) Paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to fiscal years 
        beginning after the date of enactment of this Act.
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