zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Intermountain West Corridor Development Act of 2015

This bill amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to designate as a high priority corridor on the National Highway System, as part of Interstate Route I-11, the Intermountain West Corridor from the vicinity of Las Vegas, Nevada, extending:

 north along U.S. Route 95, terminating at Interstate Route 80; and south from the vicinity of Wickenburg to Interstate Route 10 and continuing south toward the Tucson vicinity to the Nogales, Arizona, region; and establishing an international trade corridor by employing Interstates in existence on the date of enactment of this Act or new alignments to be determined through appropriate studies.

Date: 2015-03-25
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
414 Plan Act of 2015

 Declares that federal laws and regulations (including prevailing rate of wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act) shall not apply to any federal-aid highway or highway safety construction project, except those relating to: (1) the safety or durability of a highway facility, or (2) public or workplace safety. 

Repeals 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.

 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. Repeals the authorization for states to use certain funds for construction of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities.

Eliminates the requirement that statewide transportation plans and statewide transportation improvement programs provide for the development of accessible pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities.

Expresses the sense of Congress that states, federal agencies, localities, and private stakeholders should take steps toward increased cooperation to further expedite surface transportation projects.

Date: 2015-03-25
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Transportation Funds Exemption Act of 2015

This bill prohibits the Department of Transportation from approving a federal-aid highway project in a state for a fiscal year if in the previous fiscal year state or local sales taxes were collected on covered purchases of construction materials made, in whole or in part, with federal funds.

The term "covered purchase" means:

 a purchase of construction materials used and consumed during the construction of a project or incorporated into the constructed, reconstructed, or improved product or facility; but excludes a purchase of equipment, heavy equipment, mechanized vehicles, and construction materials not fully consumed during the construction of a project.

Date: 2015-03-26
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Military Corridor Transportation Improvement Act of 2015

 Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, as amended, to declare as high priority corridors on the National Highway System as well as segments of the Interstate System: (1) U.S. Route 117/Interstate Route 795 from U.S. Route 70 in Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina, to Interstate Route 40 west of Faison, Sampson County, North Carolina; and (2) U.S. Route 70 from its intersection with Interstate Route 40 in Garner, Wake County, North Carolina, to the Port at Morehead City, Carteret County, North Carolina.

Date: 2015-04-16
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require an inflation adjustment in calendar years after 2015 to the rates of the excise taxes on petroleum and petroleum products, diesel fuel, alcohol-based fuel, and fuels used in certain buses.

Appropriations are advanced to the Highway Account and the Mass Transit Account in the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) in anticipation of a shortfall in funding in 2015. Such advances must be repaid from the HTF to the general fund of the Treasury.

There is established in the legislative branch the Bipartisan Task Force for Sustainable Highway Funding. The Task Force shall identify and make recommendations addressing factors that affect the long-term fiscal imbalance of the HTF.

The rates of excise taxes on petroleum and diesel fuels are increased to cover an identified three- and five-year shortfall in funding of the HTF in 2017 and each subsequent calendar year through 2024.

Date: 2015-04-16
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Taxation
Stop Motorcycle Checkpoint Funding Act 

 Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from providing grants or funds to a state, county, town, or township, Indian tribe, municipal, or other local government for use in any program to check helmet usage or create checkpoints for a motorcycle driver or passenger.

Repeals the authority of the Secretary to make grants to states that have a law which makes it unlawful for any individual on an operating motorcycle to be without a motorcycle helmet.

Revises grant eligibility requirements to eliminate the requirement that states achieve a certain rate of compliance with such law.

Date: 2015-04-16
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
No More Tolls for Roads Act of 2015

Federal authorities are terminated on and after January 1, 2016, for the establishment of a toll facility or the charging of a toll with respect to a federal-aid highway.

Date: 2015-04-21
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
The Department of Transportation (DOT) may not increase minimum levels of financial responsibility for commercial motor carriers of passengers.

DOT shall study and report to Congress on current federal minimum financial responsibility requirements for such carriers.

Date: 2015-04-28
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2015

The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall award distracted driving grants to states that enact and enforce a statute that:

 prohibits a driver from using a hand-held personal wireless communications device (such as a cell phone or smart phone) to call while driving, allows the use of a hands-free device by a driver (other than under age 18) to call, makes violation of the law a primary offense, and establishes certain minimum penalties for first violations and increased penalties for repeat violations. The DOT shall establish a research program to study distracted driving by motor vehicle drivers.

The Federal Communications Commission shall report to Congress on existing and developing wireless communications technology that may be used to reduce problems associated with distracted driving.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2015

 Authorizes a rental company that receives a notification (approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) from the manufacturer of a covered rental vehicle about any equipment defect, or noncompliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards, to rent or sell the vehicle or equipment only if the defect or noncompliance is remedied.

Specifies any rental vehicle: (1) rated at 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or less, (2) rented without a driver for an initial term of under 4 months, and (3) that is part of a motor vehicle fleet of 5 or more motor vehicles used for rental purposes by a rental company.

Prescribes a special rule to require rental companies to comply with specified limitations on sale, lease, or rental of a motor vehicle as soon as practicable, but within 24 hours after the earliest receipt of the manufacturer's notification of a defect or noncompliance with vehicle safety standards, whether by electronic means or first class mail. Extends the 24-hour deadline for complying with such limitations to 48 hours if the notification covers more than 5,000 motor vehicles in the rental company's fleet.

Permits a rental company to rent (but not sell or lease) a motor vehicle subject to recall if the defect or noncompliance remedy is not immediately available and the company takes any actions specified in the notice to alter the vehicle temporarily to eliminate the safety risk posed.

Makes these special rules for rental companies inapplicable to junk automobiles.

Prohibits a rental company from knowingly making inoperable any safety devices or elements of design installed on or in a compliant motor vehicle or vehicle equipment unless the company reasonably believes the vehicle or equipment will not be used when the devices or elements are inoperable.

Authorizes the Secretary, upon request, to inspect records of a rental company with respect to a safety investigation. Authorizes the Secretary to require a rental company to keep records or make reports for purposes of compliance with federal motor vehicle safety orders or regulations.

Authorizes the Secretary to study the effectiveness of the amendments made by this Act and of other activities of rental companies.

Amends the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) to require the mandatory study of the safety of rental trucks during a specified seven-year period to evaluate the completion of safety recall remedies on rental trucks.

Directs the Secretary to solicit comments regarding the implementation of this Act from members of the public, including rental companies, consumer organizations, automobile manufacturers, and automobile dealers.

Declares that nothing in this Act shall: (1) be construed to create or increase any liability for a manufacturer who manufactures or imports a motor vehicle that is subject to defect or noncompliance recall requirements; or (2) supersede or otherwise affect the contractual obligations, if any, between such manufacturer and a rental company.

Date: 2015-05-01
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Route to Opportunity And Development Act of 2015 or the ROAD Act of 2015

 Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, as amended, to revise the high priority Raleigh-Norfolk Corridor of the National Highway System between Raleigh, North Carolina, and Norfolk, Virginia, to include Rocky Mount, Williamston, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Date: 2015-05-01
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Buy America Update Act

This bill exempts from Buy America requirements the procurement of railroad rolling stock when:

 the cost of components and subcomponents produced in the United States is more than 60% of the cost of all components of the rolling stock; and final assembly of such rolling stock has occurred in the United States. The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall initiate a rulemaking to develop audit procedures for an agency to review rolling stock offeror and recipient compliance with domestic content requirements, and issue guidance on best practices for pre-award and post-delivery audits by recipients.

Before seeking a Buy America waiver request, Amtrak shall contract with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to conduct a supplier scouting process for domestic suppliers that can provide the compliant products for which a waiver will be sought. DOT must consider Amtrak's scouting report before deciding on the request.

Before issuing the Federal Aviation Administration a waiver of Buy America requirements, DOT shall consult with the NIST and begin a supplier scouting process for domestic suppliers that can provide for compliant aviation products for which a waiver will be sought.

DOT may approve an airport improvement project financed with passenger facility charges only if steel and manufactured goods used in the project are produced in the United States.

Date: 2015-05-19
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)

(Sec. 1) The segment of Interstate Route 10 between milepost 535 and milepost 545 at Kendall County, Texas, shall now be the "PFC Milton A. Lee Medal of Honor Memorial Highway."

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
State and Local Predatory Towing Enforcement Act

 Waives federal preemption to allow states to regulate tow truck operations performed without the prior consent or authorization of the owner or operator of the towed motor vehicle.

(Currently, states are allowed to regulate only the price of for-hire motor vehicle transportation by a tow truck, if such transportation is performed without the prior consent or authorization of the owner or operator of the motor vehicle.)

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Lucid Act of 2015

Makes eligible for federal-aid highway project grants a state whose law legalizes the possession or use of marijuana with or without medical justification only if that state:

 has in effect a law prohibiting an individual from driving or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while impaired by marijuana, and enforces that law using training and methods for determining cognitive or physical marijuana impairment. Exempts those states from specified administrative penalties.

Revises the terms "driving while intoxicated" and "driving under the influence" to accord with this Act. Subjects repeat offenders to minimum civil and criminal penalties for driving a motor vehicle while impaired by marijuana in those states.

Directs the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to:

 study through scientific testing the extent to which marijuana impairs an individual's ability to drive a motor vehicle; and issue a report, and make it available electronically to the public, with recommendations to states on how to prevent marijuana-impaired driving.

Date: 2015-06-01
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Roads Not Roses Act 

This bill repeals the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to approve as part of the construction of federal-aid highways the costs of landscape and roadside development.

Date: 2015-06-02
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015

 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to exempt from certain federal motor vehicle safety and labeling standards up to 500 replica motor vehicles per year manufactured or imported by a low volume manufacturer.

The term "low volume manufacturer" means a motor vehicle manufacturer (other than a person registered as an importer meeting certain requirements) that annually produces no more than 5,000 motor vehicles worldwide.

Manufacturers shall register with DOT to qualify for an exemption.

DOT shall require a manufacturer to affix a permanent label to an exempt replica motor vehicle that identifies the motor vehicle safety and labeling standards from which that vehicle is exempt and the model year the vehicle replicates.

The Clean Air Act is amended to allow a low volume motor vehicle manufacturer to install in an exempted specifically produced replica motor vehicle a motor vehicle engine (including engine emission controls) from a motor vehicle granted a certificate of conformity with Environmental Protection Agency emission control standards, or another kind of engine granted an executive order for the model year in which the motor vehicle is assembled, if certain requirements are met.

Date: 2015-06-04
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Safety Through Informed Consumers Act of 2015

 Revises passenger motor vehicle information program requirements.

Directs the Department of Transportation to ensure that passenger motor vehicle crash avoidance information is provided next to, and in the same format as, crashworthiness information at each place that the latter is made available to the public.

Date: 2015-06-09
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Highways Bettering the Economy and Environment Pollinator Protection Act

 This bill authorizes as an eligible project cost for the construction of a federal-aid highway the cost of improving habitat and forage for pollinators (i.e., bees, birds, bats, Monarch and other butterflies) on rights-of-way adjacent to such highways.

The Department of Transportation, in conjunction with willing states, shall carry out programs that encourage:

 integrated vegetation management practices on roadsides and other transportation rights-of-way, including reduced mowing; the development of habitat and forage for pollinators through planting of native forbs and grasses, including noninvasive, native milkweed species; research and demonstration projects on economic and environmental benefits and best practices for integrated vegetation management, reduced mowing, and planting of native forbs and grasses for pollinator habitat, forage, and migratory way stations for Monarch butterflies and other migrating pollinators; and participation in such activities by representatives of transportation landscape management, pollinator health, agriculture, horticulture, and other affected communities. Federal funds may be used for the provision of habitat, forage, and migratory way stations for Monarch butterflies, other native pollinators, and honey bees that is related to a federally-funded highway project.

Date: 2015-06-11
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Sonoran Corridor Interstate Development Act of 2015

This bill amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to designate the State Route 410, the Sonoran Corridor connecting Interstate 19 to Interstate 10 south of the Tucson International Airport in Arizona, as a high priority corridor on the National Highway System and a future part of the Interstate System.

Date: 2015-06-23
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Future Transportation Research and Innovation for Prosperity Act or the Future TRIP Act

This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish:

 an Automated and Connected Vehicle Research Initiative for the broad scale adoption of automated vehicle technology, and a competitively selected Intelligent Transportation Systems Science & Technology Center. The bill revises requirements for the university transportation centers program.

Each nonprofit institution of higher education (other than the lead nonprofit institution of higher education of a consortium of such institutions) may only submit to DOT one grant application per fiscal year to establish and operate a national, regional, or tier one university transportation center.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy of the Executive Office of the President shall convene an interagency working group to assist DOT in implementing a strategic research and development plan for DOT transportation research programs.

The bill reauthorizes, and revises requirements for, the technology and accelerated innovation deployment program.

In carrying out such program, DOT shall:

 establish workshops to promote innovations in highway transportation; and provide assistance in establishing regional, state, and local technology needs, such as through frameworks developed in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 750. Certain amounts of a state's apportionment of federal-aid highway funds for state transportation planning and research shall be available for:

 travel for research and technology, and activities and training related to developing a culture of innovation and adoption of innovative technologies with respect to highway programs. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics shall establish:

 a Travel Data Initiative, and a pilot program to evaluate freight data collection and reporting measures. DOT shall establish a national cooperative freight transportation research program.

The bill reauthorizes, and revises requirements for, the program for commercial remote sensing products and spatial information technologies.

Date: 2015-06-25
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Autocycle Safety Act

This bill defines "autocycle" as a motor vehicle with three wheels, a fully enclosed occupant compartment, and a steering wheel, which is subject to applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Specified interim automotive and motorcycle safety standards apply to autocycles until at most three years after enactment of this Act, by which time the Department of Transportation shall issue appropriate final rules, interpretations, and test procedures.

Automotive fuel standards also apply to autocyles.

Date: 2015-06-25
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
This bill revises federal vehicle length limitations to prohibit states from prescribing or enforcing a regulation that imposes an overall length limitation of less than 82 feet on a towaway trailer transporter combination operating on any segment of the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways and qualifying federal-aid primary system highways.

The bill defines "trailer transporter towing unit" as a power unit not used to carry property when operating in a towaway trailer transporter combination.

The bill defines "towaway trailer transporter combination" as a combination of vehicles consisting of a trailer transporter towing unit and two trailers or semitrailers:

 with a total weight not exceeding 26,000 pounds; and which carry no property and constitute inventory property of a manufacturer, distributor or dealer of such trailers or semitrailers.

Date: 2015-06-25
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Highway Trust Fund Certainty Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the current excise tax rates on gasoline and diesel fuel or kerosene and special fuels and to repeal the reversion of increased fuel tax rates to 4.3 cents per gallon after September 30, 2016, (2) make permanent the excise tax on certain alcohol fuels and fuels used in certain buses, (3) allow U.S. citizens a new tax credit after 2015 for the lesser of 3.1% of earned income or $133, and (4) allow additional appropriations to the Highway and Mass Transit Accounts of the Highway Trust Fund and provide for repayments from such Fund to the general fund of the Treasury for amounts advanced to such Fund.

Date: 2015-07-08
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Taxation
Research of Alcohol Detection Systems for Stopping Alcohol-Related Fatalities Everywhere Act of 2015 or the ROADS SAFE Act of 2015

This bill directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to: (1) carry out a collaborative research effort to continue to explore the feasibility and the potential benefits of, and public policy challenges associated with, more widespread deployment of in-vehicle technology to prevent alcohol-impaired driving; and (2) report annually to Congress.

Date: 2015-07-13
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Correct the Safety Analysis Act

This bill permits the Department of Transportation (DOT), in determining the safety risk of a motor carrier under the Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, to attribute a crash to a motor carrier only if it determines that the carrier could have prevented the crash.

DOT: (1) shall use the safety data of a motor carrier developed under the program solely for internal purposes of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, including allocating resources to conduct audits and inspections of motor carriers; and (2) may not make the scores available to the public.

Date: 2015-07-16
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Safe Bridges Investment Act of 2015

This bill includes as a project eligible for funds apportioned to a state to carry out the National Highway Performance Program the construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of, or operational improvements for, a bridge not on the National Highway System if such bridge is on the Federal-aid Highway System.

Date: 2015-07-22
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Fair Action for Interstate Recovery Vehicles on Truck Operating Weights Act or the FAIR TOW Act

Exempts certain heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicles traveling on federal highways from federal vehicle weight limitations.

Date: 2015-07-28
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to permit states to carry out bridge projects using previously allocated funds that have been identified as being excess or inactive. The projects may include operational improvements, capital and operating costs, environmental measures, and transportation control measures. The funds will remain available for three years after the year in which this bill is enacted.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Safe, Flexible, and Efficient Trucking Act of 2015

This bill allows a state to authorize a vehicle with a maximum gross weight (including enforcement tolerances) exceeding certain federal weight limitations to operate on Interstate Highway System routes in the state if:

 the vehicle is equipped with at least six axles, the weight of any single axle does not exceed 20,000 pounds, the weight of any tandem axle does not exceed 34,000 pounds, the weight of any group of 3 or more axles does not exceed 51,000 pounds, the gross weight of the vehicle does not exceed 91,000 pounds, and the vehicle complies with a specified bridge formula. The Department of Transportation may issue regulations necessary to require such a vehicle to include one item of additional equipment not otherwise required by law, but only if the equipment item is available at the time the rule is proposed.

Date: 2015-09-10
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Alisa's Law of 2015

 Directs the Department of Transportation to withhold specified graduated percentages of a state's apportionment of certain federal-aid highway funds for FY2017-FY2019 if the state has not enacted and is not enforcing a law requiring the installation of an ignition interlock device for a minimum of 180 days on each motor vehicle operated by an individual convicted of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence.

Defines "driving while intoxicated" and "driving under the influence" as driving or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while having a blood alcohol concentration greater than or equal to the lesser of:

 the blood alcohol concentration limit of the state in which the individual is driving, or 0.08%. Requires an ignition interlock device to:

 require a driver to provide a breath sample before the motor vehicle starts, and prevent a motor vehicle from starting if the alcohol concentration of the driver is above the legal limit.

Date: 2015-09-11
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Safe Roads Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Transportation to prescribe minimum motor vehicle safety standards requiring commercial motor vehicles to be equipped with a forward collision avoidance and mitigation braking system.

The term "forward collision avoidance and mitigation braking system" means a system on a motor vehicle that:

 alerts the driver of an obstacle; and if necessary to avoid or mitigate a collision with the obstacle, automatically applies the vehicle's brakes.

Date: 2015-09-17
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
This bill modifies the existing authority for the Starr-Camargo Bridge Company to maintain and operate a toll bridge across the Rio Grande River near Rio Grande City, Texas.

The authority, which currently expires 66 years after completion of the bridge, is made permanent and expanded to include the successors or assigns of the company. The bridge must not consist of more than 14 lanes.

The company and its successors and assigns may use eminent domain to acquire certain land needed for the bridge, subject to Texas laws and requirements for just compensation and public proceedings.

Date: 2015-10-06
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Highway Exceptions for Ranchers' Deliveries Act of 2015

This bill authorizes a state to allow, by special permit, the operation of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 95,000 pounds for the hauling of livestock. The cost of such permit may not exceed $200 per year for a livestock trailer.

Date: 2015-10-08
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Veterans' Expanded Trucking Opportunities Act

This bill authorizes a qualified Department of Veterans Affairs physician to perform a medical examination and provide a medical certificate for purposes of compliance with medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial motor vehicles. Such an operator is a veteran who is enrolled in the veterans' health care system and had a valid medical certificate prior to May 21, 2014.

The certification shall include a statement that the physical condition of the operator is adequate to enable such operator to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely.

Date: 2015-10-09
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2015-10-09
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Drunk Driving Repeat Offender Prevention Act of 2015

 Directs the Department of Transportation to withhold specified graduated percentages of a state's apportionment of certain federal-aid highway funds for FY2018-FY2020 if the state has not enacted and is not enforcing a law requiring the installation of an ignition interlock device for a minimum of 180 days on each motor vehicle operated by an individual convicted of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence.

Defines "driving while intoxicated" and "driving under the influence" as driving or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater.

Requires an ignition interlock device to:

 require a driver to provide a breath sample before the motor vehicle starts, and prevent a motor vehicle from starting if the alcohol concentration of the driver is above the legal limit. Authorizes reduction of the 180-day period to 90 days if:

 the driver's license is suspended for a minimum of 180 days as a result of the conviction, and the period for installation of an ignition interlock device begins after the last day of the suspension.

Date: 2015-10-16
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Protect Riders of Metrorail Public Transportation Act of 2015

This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT), in carrying out the public transportation safety program, to:

 conduct inspections, investigations, audits, examinations, and testing of the equipment, facilities, rolling stock, and operations of the public transportation system of a recipient of financial assistance; make reports and issue directives with respect to the safety of a recipient's system; subpoena and depose any employee of a recipient or of a state safety oversight agency, subject to certain administrative requirements, in conjunction with an accident investigation or an investigation into a pattern or practice of conduct negatively affecting public safety; and investigate public transportation accidents and incidents and provide guidance to recipients regarding their prevention. DOT may also administer state safety oversight activities for a rail fixed guideway system operating in more than two states, if the state safety oversight agency overseeing the system has become incapable of providing adequate safety oversight, until the states involved develop a state safety oversight program that DOT certifies as meeting specified criteria.

Date: 2015-10-20
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Trees on the Interstate Means a Better Economy and Roads Act of 2015 or the TIMBER Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Transportation to waive certain Interstate Highway System vehicle weight limitations for covered logging vehicles.

The bill defines "covered logging vehicle" to mean a vehicle that:

 is transporting raw or unfinished forest products, including logs, pulpwood, biomass, or wood chips; has a gross vehicle weight of not more than 98,000 pounds; has at least 6 axles; and is operating on a segment of Interstate Route 39 in Wisconsin from mile marker 175.8 to mile marker 189.

Date: 2015-10-21
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Mobility, Opportunity, and Vocation Enabling Act or the MOVE Act

This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue regulations necessary to establish performance measures relating to multimodal transportation connectivity and accessibility for states and metropolitan planning organizations to use to assess the connectivity and accessibility of roadways, public transit infrastructure, pedestrian and bikeway infrastructure, and other transportation infrastructure.

Such performance measures must include ones to assess specified transportation accessibility factors with respect to the general population as well as disadvantaged populations (low-income or minority populations and people with disabilities).

A metropolitan planning organization shall coordinate selection of multimodal transportation accessibility performance targets with the relevant state and public transportation providers to ensure consistency with the performance measures DOT shall require under this bill.

Date: 2015-10-21
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Young Adults Driving Safety Act of 2015

This bill directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to award competitive grants of up to $100,000 to non-profit organizations, tribal governments, or educational institutions to develop model programs to assist young adults with obtaining or regaining driver's licenses.

A recipient may use grant funds to:

 conduct a comprehensive assessment of the driver's licensing status of young adults in the neighborhoods to be served; develop and implement strategies to address licensing deficits and barriers faced by young adults and disconnected youth (low-income young adults who are homeless, are in foster care, have come into contact with the juvenile justice or criminal justice system, are not employed and not enrolled in school, or are at risk of dropping out of an educational institution) in obtaining a driver's license; study the impact of state and local driver's license suspensions and revocation policies on young adults in the areas to be served; identify potential sources of funding for high school driver's education programs; develop innovative and cost-effective strategies for preparing young adults for legal driving; and evaluate the effectiveness of the funded grant activities in achieving the program goals. The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall give priority to entities proposing programs to assist low-income young adults with obtaining or regaining driver's licenses.

Statewide efforts to improve traffic safety for teen drivers, for which states may use DOT-approved highway safety program funds, shall include peer-to-peer education and prevention strategies in schools and communities designed to support teen driving education and driving skills improvement.

Date: 2015-10-21
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Broadband Conduit Deployment Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to require states to evaluate the need for broadband conduit (fiber optic cables that support broadband or wireless facilities for broadband service) as part of any covered highway construction project (a project to construct a new highway or an additional lane or paved shoulder for an existing highway that receives funding under federal-aid highway provisions), in consultation with telecommunications providers. If the evaluation reveals a need in the next 15 years for broadband conduit beneath hard surfaces to be constructed by the project, the conduit shall be installed.

DOT shall establish standards to carry out installation requirements that consider:

 the ability to accommodate broadband installation without impacting the safety, operations, and maintenance of the highway facility, its users, or others; population density in the area; the type of highway involved; and existing broadband access in the area. DOT shall ensure that:

 an appropriate number of broadband conduits are installed along such highway to accommodate multiple broadband providers, the size of conduit is consistent with industry best practices and sufficient to accommodate potential demand, hand holes and manholes for fiber access and pulling such conduit are placed at intervals consistent with industry best practices, installed conduit includes a pull tape and is capable of supporting fiber optic cable placement techniques consistent with industry best practices, installed conduit is placed at a depth consistent with industry best practices and cable separation requirements of electrical codes, and any requesting broadband provider has access to each broadband conduit installed on a competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory basis for a charge not to exceed a cost-based rate. DOT may waive the requirements of this Act upon determining that the waiver is appropriate based upon:

 a showing of undue burden, a determination that the installation of conduit beneath hard surfaces is not necessary based on the availability of existing broadband infrastructure, or a cost-benefit analysis.

Date: 2015-10-22
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Design-Build Incentive Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Transportation, in selecting surface transportation projects and other infrastructure projects eligible for federal assistance under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act and the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), to give preference to applicants who demonstrate that a project will achieve cost efficiencies through the use of innovative project development, finance, operations, or delivery methods, such as design-build.

Date: 2015-10-22
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to allocate the funds made available to the territories each fiscal year under the territorial highway program according to quantifiable measures that are indicative of the surface transportation requirements of each of the territories, which may include the use of population, land area, or roadway mileage measures.

Date: 2015-11-02
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Driver Accountability and Accident Prevention (DAAP) Act of 2015

This bill increases civil and criminal penalties for violations of:

 commercial motor vehicle safety regulations (except those for minimum financial responsibility for transporting passengers or property); and requirements for motor carrier employee qualifications and maximum hours of service, and safety and equipment standards. The Department of Transportation shall disqualify for one year, for a first violation, or for life, for second and multiple violations, anyone who has operated a commercial motor vehicle the individual knew, or reasonably should have known, had a defect that resulted in a fatality.

Date: 2015-11-03
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Distracted Driving Education Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a distracted driving education grant program under which DOT may make a competitive grant to a nonprofit organization to provide education to the public regarding the risks of distracted driving.

Date: 2015-11-16
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Open Fuel Act of 2015 

 This bill requires each fleet of a manufacturer of passenger automobiles (including light-duty motor vehicles) to comprise at least:

 30% qualified vehicles in model year 2018, and 50% qualified vehicles in model year 2019 and each subsequent year. A "qualified vehicle" is:

 a vehicle that operates on natural gas, hydrogen, or biodiesel; a flexible fuel vehicle capable of operating on gasoline, E85, and M85; a plug-in electric drive vehicle; or a vehicle propelled solely by fuel cell or by something other than an internal combustion engine. The bill authorizes a manufacturer to request an exemption from such requirement from the Department of Transportation.

Date: 2015-11-17
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
End Drunk Driving Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Transportation to issue a final rule prescribing or amending a federal motor vehicle safety standard that would prevent operation of a motor vehicle when the operator is under the influence of alcohol.

Such standard shall:

 prevent the operation of the motor vehicle if the operator's blood alcohol content is above the legal limit; and require the technology to be reliable and accurate, set at the legal limit, unobtrusive and fast, tamper-proof/circumvention-resistent, functionary in extreme environments, and easily maintained. To meet grant requirements, a state must enact and enforce a law that requires the installation of an ignition interlock device for a minimum of 180 days on each motor vehicle operated by an individual convicted of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence.

The bill prescribes compliance requirements and penalties for noncompliance.

Date: 2016-01-12
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
This bill prohibits the Department of Energy (DOE) from making any additional awards or loans under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program established by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Upon the repayment, in accordance with loan agreement terms, of all loans made before enactment of this Act, DOE authority and requirements for the entire program shall be repealed.

Date: 2016-03-16
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Early Warning Reporting System Improvement Act of 2016

 This bill revises early warning reporting requirements for manufacturers of motor vehicles regarding possible defects of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall require a manufacturer in cases where the defect has caused a fatality to provide certain additional information as part of its report to DOT. That information shall be publicly disclosed and entered into the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) early warning reporting database.

DOT shall:

 take specified actions to improve public accessibility to information on NHTSA's public vehicle safety databases; and give public notice via the internet of all inspections or investigations conducted by DOT to enforce a motor vehicle safety requirement or order, or that are related to a motor vehicle accident due to a possible defect.

Date: 2016-04-29
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
This bill requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to revise its regulations establishing flammability standards for child restraint systems to measure the smolder ignition resistance, rather than the open flame flammability, of such systems. In revising such regulations, NHTSA must: (1) consider the standard and testing methodologies contained in the California Technical Bulletin entitled "Requirements, Test Procedure and Apparatus for Testing the Smolder Resistance of Materials Used in Upholstered Furniture"; and (2) consult the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the health effects and exposure risks associated with materials used in such restraint systems.

Date: 2016-05-26
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
This bill allows the Department of Transportation (DOT) to require that each motor vehicle manufacturer provide the following information, with regard to a specific vehicle identification number:

 each original equipment manufacturer (OEM) part name included within the vehicle, including a description, number (including any superceded and successor OEM part number), any other part identification number and distinguishing marking, and software of each part; build sheet information; and additional information as determined by DOT. Each motor vehicle manufacturer shall provide access to such information on a website to the motor vehicle owner and any potential purchaser of the motor vehicle.

Date: 2016-09-08
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seats Act or the HOT CARS Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a final rule to require all new passenger motor vehicles be equipped with technology to alert (auditory or visual signal [or both]) that a child or unattended passenger remains in a rear seating position after the vehicle motor is deactivated.

DOT shall issue a report to Congress on the feasibility of retrofitting existing passenger motor vehicles with such technology.

Date: 2016-09-15
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $15 billion to $20.8 billion the national limitation on the amount of tax-exempt highway or surface freight transfer facility bonds.

Date: 2016-09-20
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Taxation
Less Traffic with Smart Stop Lights Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a Smart Technology Traffic Signals Grant Program.

 DOT may make competitive grants to states, local, or tribal government entities for projects to improve, through use of innovative technology, the functioning of traffic signals to reduce traffic congestion, fuel costs for drivers, and air pollution, as well as improve the safety and effectiveness of roadways.

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.

Date: 2016-09-21
Topic: Transportation (Highways)
Subject: Transportation and public works