1.This Act may be cited as the
Bridge Ice and Snow Prevention Pilot Program Act of
2009
.
2.
(a)The Secretary of Transportation shall establish and
implement a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the
use of technologies to prevent ice, snow, and other adverse weather effects
associated with freezing temperatures on bridges on the National Highway
System.
(b)
(1)The Secretary may make grants to not more than 5 States
to conduct projects under the pilot program.
(2)A
State seeking a grant under the pilot program shall submit an application to
the Secretary in such form, and containing such information, as the Secretary
may require.
(c)
(1)Selection of
highway bridges
(A)In awarding grants under the pilot program, the Secretary
shall select not more than 20 highway bridges for participation in the
program.
(B)The Secretary may select a highway bridge under
subparagraph (A) only if the bridge is—
(i)not
greater than 500 feet in length; and
(ii)on
the National Highway System.
(2)Selection of
technologiesThe Secretary
shall select technologies to be tested under the pilot program that are likely
to improve bridge safety, extend the life of a bridge, and promote energy
efficiency.
(d)The Federal share payable on account of a project carried
out under the pilot program shall not exceed 80 percent of the cost of the
project.
(e)Duration of
pilot programThe Secretary shall carry out the pilot program for
a period of no more than 5 fiscal years.
(f)
(1)Not later than 6 months after the last day of the pilot
program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment
and Public Works of the Senate a report that describes the effectiveness and
benefits of the technologies tested under the pilot program.
(2)The
report shall describe, at a minimum, the following:
(A)The cost
effectiveness of each technology used.
(B)The safety impacts
of each technology tested and of the pilot program as a whole.
(C)Any change in the
expected life span of each bridge participating in the pilot program due to the
technologies used.
(D)The net effect of
the pilot program on job creation or job loss.
(E)Recommendations
for—
(i)an
improved or expanded program, if appropriate; and
(ii)the
use of advanced bridge technology to prevent ice, snow, and other adverse
weather effects associated with freezing temperatures on bridges on the
National Highway System.
(g)Authorization of
appropriationsTo carry out this section, there is authorized to
be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit
Account) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(h)
(1)Amounts made
available to carry out this section shall be available for obligation in the
same manner as funds apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States
Code, except that the Federal share payable on account of a project carried out
under the pilot program shall be determined in accordance with this section and
such funds shall not be transferable and shall remain available for the
duration of the pilot program.
(2)A
State may not receive a total of more than $2,000,000 in grants under the pilot
program.
(3)None of the funds appropriated to carry out this section
may be used for a congressional earmark, as defined in clause 9(e) of Rule XXI
of the Rules of the House of Representatives of the 111th Congress.
(i)Report to
Congress relating to competitive proceduresIf grants are awarded under this section
using procedures other than competitive procedures, the Secretary shall submit
to Congress a report explaining why competitive procedures were not
used.
3.In this Act, the term State
has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of title 23, United States
Code.