II 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3485 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 15, 2010 Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Risch, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Thune, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Begich, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Tester, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Enzi, and Mrs. Shaheen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend title 23, United States Code, to improve highway mobility in rural States for the benefit of all States.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Rural Mobility and Access for America Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)Federal-aid highways in rural States— (A)serve as a connection for truck and personal traffic between other States and between major metropolitan areas, advancing interstate commerce and mobility and benefitting individuals in major metropolitan areas; (B)enable agricultural exports and serve the ethanol production and energy extraction industries of the United States, which are located largely in rural areas; (C)are a lifeline for remotely located and economically challenged citizens, such as those living on Indian reservations; (D)enable people and business to traverse the large tracts of sparsely populated land that are a major characteristic of many rural States; and (E)provide access to scenic wonders and facilitate tourism; (2)Federal investment in highways in rural States enables enhanced investment to address safety needs on rural routes; and (3)rural States with low population density and extensive highway networks have fewer individuals to support each lane mile of Federal-aid highway than an average State.

3.

Rural Mobility and Access for America program

(a)

In general

Subchapter I of chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

167.

Rural Mobility and Access for America program

(a)

Definition of rural State

In this section, the term rural State means any of the 50 States that— (1)has a population density of 45 or fewer individuals per square mile of land area; or (2)does not include, within the borders of the State, a plurality of the population of a metropolitan planning area served by a metropolitan planning organization under section 134 that encompasses, in whole or part, an urbanized area with a population of more than 500,000 individuals. (b)

Establishment

The Secretary shall establish and implement a program to benefit the surface transportation system in the United States by allocating funds to rural States. (c)

State allocations

(1)

In general

Funds authorized to be appropriated for the program established under subsection (b) shall be allocated for each fiscal year among rural States equally. (2)

Use of decennial census data

In determining the population density of States or the population of urbanized areas for the purpose of this section, the Secretary shall use data contained in the latest decennial census. (d)

Use of funds

Funds allocated to a State for the program established under subsection (b)— (1)may be used for any type of project eligible under section 133(b); and (2)are not subject to other provisions of section 133. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), for fiscal year 2010 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount determined under paragraph (2), which shall— (A)be used to carry out the program under this section; (B)remain available until expended; (C)be available for obligation as if the funds were apportioned under this chapter; and (D)not be subject to any limitation on obligations. (2)

Amount

The amount referred to in paragraph (1) is, for a fiscal year, 331/3 percent of the amount of funds for that fiscal year authorized to be allocated to those metropolitan planning organizations that serve a metropolitan planning area that encompasses, in whole or part, an urbanized area with a population of more than 500,000 individuals.

. (b)

Conforming amendment

The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subchapter I the following: 167. Rural Mobility and Access for America program. .