HR4585-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program Act.

2. Agricultural and rural road improvement program Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end of the following: The Secretary shall establish and implement an agricultural and rural road improvement program to— improve first- and last-mile access to farms and to facilities producing, supplying, storing, and transporting agricultural inputs and products; reduce the number of weight-limited bridges and capacity-limited local roads and rural minor collectors in rural communities; and improve the safety, resiliency, and efficiency of the local roads and rural minor collectors that are essential to a strong American agricultural sector and a vibrant rural economy. Funds apportioned to a State under subsection 104(b)(9) to carry out this section may only be obligated for a project that is on a road functionally classified as a local road or rural minor collector road and that is— a project to replace or rehabilitate one or more bridges in order to eliminate a posted weight limitation; a project on a highway or bridge that provides or increases first- and last-mile access to a farm, facility producing, supplying, storing, and transporting agricultural inputs and products, agricultural facility, or other facility that supports the economy of a rural area; a project eligible under section 167(h)(5)(C); and a project to improve highway safety, including a project to improve a high risk rural road (as defined in section 148). The Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under this section may not exceed 90 percent. The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 180.Agricultural and rural road improvement program (a)EstablishmentThe Secretary shall establish and implement an agricultural and rural road improvement program to— (1)improve first- and last-mile access to farms and to facilities producing, supplying, storing, and transporting agricultural inputs and products; (2)reduce the number of weight-limited bridges and capacity-limited local roads and rural minor collectors in rural communities; and (3)improve the safety, resiliency, and efficiency of the local roads and rural minor collectors that are essential to a strong American agricultural sector and a vibrant rural economy. (b)Eligible projectsFunds apportioned to a State under subsection 104(b)(9) to carry out this section may only be obligated for a project that is on a road functionally classified as a local road or rural minor collector road and that is— (1)a project to replace or rehabilitate one or more bridges in order to eliminate a posted weight limitation; (2)a project on a highway or bridge that provides or increases first- and last-mile access to a farm, facility producing, supplying, storing, and transporting agricultural inputs and products, agricultural facility, or other facility that supports the economy of a rural area; (3)a project eligible under section 167(h)(5)(C); and (4)a project to improve highway safety, including a project to improve a high risk rural road (as defined in section 148). (c)Federal cost shareThe Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under this section may not exceed 90 percent. . 180. Agricultural and rural road improvement program..

180. Agricultural and rural road improvement program The Secretary shall establish and implement an agricultural and rural road improvement program to— improve first- and last-mile access to farms and to facilities producing, supplying, storing, and transporting agricultural inputs and products; reduce the number of weight-limited bridges and capacity-limited local roads and rural minor collectors in rural communities; and improve the safety, resiliency, and efficiency of the local roads and rural minor collectors that are essential to a strong American agricultural sector and a vibrant rural economy. Funds apportioned to a State under subsection 104(b)(9) to carry out this section may only be obligated for a project that is on a road functionally classified as a local road or rural minor collector road and that is— a project to replace or rehabilitate one or more bridges in order to eliminate a posted weight limitation; a project on a highway or bridge that provides or increases first- and last-mile access to a farm, facility producing, supplying, storing, and transporting agricultural inputs and products, agricultural facility, or other facility that supports the economy of a rural area; a project eligible under section 167(h)(5)(C); and a project to improve highway safety, including a project to improve a high risk rural road (as defined in section 148). The Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under this section may not exceed 90 percent.

3. Conforming amendments Section 104(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— by inserting the agricultural and rural road improvement program, after section 175,; in paragraph (7), by striking 2.56266964565637 and inserting 2.02664265; and by adding at the end the following: For the agricultural and rural road improvement program under section 180, 0.536027 percent of the amount remaining after distributing amounts under paragraphs (4), (5), and (6). Section 175(e)(1)(A) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— in clause (i) by adding and at the end; in clause (ii) by adding and at the end; and by striking clauses (iii) and (iv). (9)Agricultural and rural road improvement programFor the agricultural and rural road improvement program under section 180, 0.536027 percent of the amount remaining after distributing amounts under paragraphs (4), (5), and (6). .