Federal Transportation Improvement Act

Federal Transportation Improvement Act - Title I: Revision of Title 23, United States Code - Declares it to be in the national interest to accelerate construction of Federal-aid highway systems, including the Interstate System.

Provides that the Interstate System shall not exceed 41,000 miles in length, plus 2,000 miles for making revisions in the system under this Act.

Revises the methods for determining the Federal share of costs and estimating the total cost of Federal- aid highways.

Provides for the apportionment of Federal funds in specified proportions between the Federal-aid rural, urban, and Interstate systems, and between the States.

Revises the standards to be applied by the Secretary of Transportation in determining whether or not to accept a plan for projects on any Federal-aid system from the Governor of the relevant State.

Specifies the terms and conditions of the letting of contracts, determination of wage rates, construction, and maintenance of highways.

States the procedures to be followed in paying the States for construction, necessary relocation of utility facilities, emergency relief for damage to Federal-aid highways, and removal of hazards of railway- highway crossings.

Authorizes the placement of limitations on vehicle weight and width and on outdoor advertising with respect to Federal-aid systems.

Directs the Secretary to cooperate with the States in developing efficient and effective transportation systems, improving urban area traffic operations, controlling of junkyards, and constructing of fringe and corridor parking facilities.

Makes provision for the preservation of parklands, assurances from States of equal employment opportunities, and coordination of public mass transportation programs with respect to construction of highways under this Act.

Provides a formula based on population for the allocation of urban system funds within each State.

Provides for projects and programs for the construction of preferential truck lanes, high-hazard locations, elimination of roadside obstacles, and creation of incentives to use carpools in urban areas.

Provides for the setting of a uniform national maximum speed limit of up to 55 miles per hour.

Authorizes appropriations of Federal funds for forest highways, forest development roads and trails, park roads and trails, parkways, Indian reservation roads, public lands highways, and defense access roads.

Provides for the construction of the Inter-American Highway in cooperation with the American Republics in Central America, a road from San Benito to Rama in the Republic of Nicaragua under specified conditions, a Darien Gap Highway in Panama and Colombia to interconnect the Inter-American Highway, and reconstruction of an Alaska Highway from the Alaskan border to Haines Junction in Canada and the Haines Cutoff Highway from Haines Junction in Canada to the south Alaska border.

Provides for the development and improvement of bicycle transportation and pedestrian walkways.

Provides that all highways constructed under the provisions of this Act shall be free from tolls.

Authorizes the use of funds under this Act for archeological and paleontological salvage, mapping, research and planning (including civil defense considerations), relief of employees of the Federal Highway Administration engaged in hazardous work, landscaping and scenic enhancement, and the construction of bridges on Federal dams.

Directs the Secretary to establish and operate a National Highway Institute to develop and administer a program of instruction for employees engaged in Federal-aid system work on the Federal, State, or local level.

Requires each State to have a highway safety program meeting uniform standards promulgated by the Secretary and approved by him. Establishes the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee.

Authorizes appropriations for a Federal-aid safer roads demonstration program for fiscal years 1974, 1975, and 1976.

Title II: Termination of Highway Trust Fund - Terminates the Highway Trust Fund effective after September 30, 1976, covering the funds assets and obligations into the general fund of the Treasury.

Title III: Amendments to Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 - Revises the requirements for projects for the elderly and handicapped receiving financial assistance under such Act.

Prohibits the purchase of buses with funds provided pursuant to such Act unless the buses meet Federal air and noise emission standards.