[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6111 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6111

  To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology and the Secretary of Transportation to take certain actions 
  to develop physical alternatives to better protect pedestrians and 
    vulnerable road users against traffic incidents, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 26, 2023

Mrs. Torres of California (for herself and Ms. Bonamici) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, 
   and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology and the Secretary of Transportation to take certain actions 
  to develop physical alternatives to better protect pedestrians and 
    vulnerable road users against traffic incidents, 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 ``Pedestrian Hazard, Awareness, and 
Safety Expansion Act of 2023'' or the ``PHASE Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. NIST INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE AND ENHANCE TRAFFIC 
              CONTROL DEVICES.

    The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall transmit to the Secretary of Transportation potential solutions 
using innovative technologies to improve and enhance traffic control 
devices to better equip vehicle operators, including bicycles and 
protect pedestrians and vulnerable road users. The Director shall 
provide supporting evidence to ensure such potential solutions do not 
overwhelm, overstimulate, or otherwise distract vehicle operators, 
including bicyclists or pedestrians. Such potential solutions shall 
comply with all applicable Federal regulations.

SEC. 3. PHYSICAL ALTERNATIVES TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS AND VULNERABLE 
              ROAD USERS.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation shall carry out a study 
on developing physical alternatives to better protect pedestrians and 
vulnerable road users from traffic incidents that--
            (1) analyzes urban areas, as determined by the Bureau of 
        the Census, in which pedestrian fatalities have increased in 
        the data available as of the date of enactment of this Act to 
        study where crashes involving pedestrians occur most 
        frequently;
            (2) examine physical alternatives to reduce vehicle crashes 
        with vulnerable road users and fatalities, including 
        pedestrians; and
            (3) studies intelligent speed assistance and blind spot 
        detection safety systems' impact on the safety of vulnerable 
        road users including the ability of blind spot detection to 
        detect all road users in a timely manner.
    (b) Briefing to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall brief the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representative on the results of the study.
    (c) Grant Program.--The Secretary shall establish a grant program 
to provide grants to cities, Indian Tribes, and municipalities to 
implement infrastructure that complies with all applicable Federal 
regulations and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12131 et seq.) and improves pedestrian safety, including--
            (1) innovative technology for crosswalks;
            (2) additional pedestrian facilities both on and off the 
        road;
            (3) expanded buffer zones;
            (4) pedestrian crossings;
            (5) increased pedestrian accommodation on bridges;
            (6) upgraded highway traffic signals;
            (7) accessible pedestrian signals;
            (8) accessible sidewalks;
            (9) increased signage;
            (10) increased lighting at crossings;
            (11) adaptive or intelligent roadway and pedestrian 
        lighting;
            (12) accessible curb ramps; and
            (13) marked crosswalks and grade-separated crossings.
    (d) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (c), an applicant shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $5,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out the grant 
program described under subsection (c).
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