HR4585-119

What This Bill Does

The Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program Act adds a new section 180 to title 23. The Transportation Secretary must establish a program to improve first- and last-mile access to farms and facilities that produce, supply, store, and transport agricultural inputs and products; reduce weight-limited bridges and capacity-limited local roads and rural minor collectors; and improve safety, resiliency, and efficiency for rural roads that support agriculture and rural economies. Funds may be obligated only for projects on roads functionally classified as local roads or rural minor collectors. Eligible projects include bridge replacement or rehabilitation to eliminate posted weight limits, highways or bridges improving farm or agricultural facility access, certain nationally significant freight and highway projects, and safety work including high-risk rural roads. The federal share may not exceed 90 percent. Conforming amendments create a 0.536027 percent apportionment from specified title 23 funds and adjust the national electric vehicle formula percentage.

Who Benefits and How

State transportation departments benefit from a dedicated federal program for agricultural and rural road projects. Farmers benefit from improved first- and last-mile access to farms and agricultural facilities. Agricultural input suppliers benefit from better local-road and bridge access for moving products. Rural communities benefit from fewer weight-limited bridges and safer rural minor collector roads.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Department of Transportation must establish and implement the new title 23 program. State transportation departments must select eligible local-road and rural-minor-collector projects and provide any nonfederal share. Rural project sponsors must document eligibility for bridge, access, freight, or safety categories. Other title 23 program recipients may see formula percentages adjusted to reserve funds for the new rural road program.

Key Provisions

• Creates a title 23 agricultural and rural road improvement program.
• Directs funds toward farm access, agricultural facility access, weight-limited bridges, rural minor collectors, and high-risk rural road safety.
• Limits eligible projects to local roads or rural minor collector roads.
• Limits the federal share of project costs to 90 percent.
• Provides a 0.536027 percent apportionment for the new program through section 104 conforming amendments.