National bridge replacement and improvement program

(a)

Establishment

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish a national bridge replacement and improvement program (in this section referred to as the Program) to assist safety improvements for high-risk intersections and interchanges.(b)

Grant authority

In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may make grants on a competitive basis to covered entities.(c)

Project requirements

The Secretary may only make a grant under the Program to assist a project that—(1)is a bridge on a Federal-aid highway that is eligible for funding under title 23, United States Code; and(2)will—(A)restore or increase the structural capacity of the bridge;(B)correct a major safety defect of the bridge; or(C)replace an existing bridge with a new bridge that—(i)is in the same general traffic corridor as the bridge being replaced, as determined by the Secretary; and(ii)meets the requirements of subparagraph (A) or (B).(d)

Applications

To be eligible for a grant under the Program, a covered entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines is appropriate.(e)

Limitation

The aggregate amount provided to a covered entity in a fiscal year through grants under the Program may not exceed 5 percent of the amount made available for all grants under the Program in that fiscal year.(f)

Congressional review

At least 90 days before establishing the Program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report detailing the selection process the Secretary shall use in making grants under the Program.(g)

Covered entity defined

In this section, the term covered entity means any of the following:(1)A State government entity.(2)A local government entity.(3)A territory of the United States.(4)A Tribal government.(5)A metropolitan planning organization.(6)Any entity composed of 2 or more entities described in paragraphs (1) through (5).(h)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) to carry out the Program $1,000,000,000 for each fiscal year.(2)

Applicability of title 23, United States Code

Funds authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1) shall—(A)be available for obligation in the same manner as if those funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, except that the Federal share of the cost of a project or activity carried out using such funds shall be 80 percent; and(B)remain available until expended and not be transferable.