Highway Improvement Act

Highway Improvement Act - Title I: Authorizations and Apportionment - Amends the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 to authorize the use of funds appropriated for the Interstate Highway System for highway assistance substitution projects. Reduces the authorization of appropriations for the Interstate System for the fiscal years 1980 through 1990. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to apportion the authorization for fiscal year 1980 in a specified manner.

Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for specified Federal-aid highway programs through fiscal year 1982.

Title II: Extension of Highway Trust Fund and Certain Related Provisions - Amends the Highway Revenue Act of 1956 to extend the authorization for appropriations under such Act for the Highway Trust Fund through fiscal year 1978.

Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund of 1965 to extend the transfers of specified nonhighway use gasoline taxes from such fund to the general fund of the Treasury.

Postpones specified transportation related excise tax reduction under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Title III: Amendments Regarding the Interstate System - Prohibits the Secretary from approving substitute State mass transportation projects in lieu of an interstate project after fiscal year 1984. Revises the funding mechanism for such substitute projects.

Establishes a cutoff date at the end of fiscal year 1982 for approval of interstate projects not complying with the National Environmental Policy Act and for approval of State requests for withdrawal from interstate projects.

Stipulates that by the end of fiscal year 1986 all routes or portions of routes on the Interstate System must be completed or under contract for construction and construction must have commenced.

Authorizes the Secretary beginning with funds apportioned for fiscal year 1980 to approve resurfacing projects for lanes more than five years old on the Interstate System.

Sets forth the Federal share for completing the essential gaps in the Interstate System for the fiscal years 1980 through 1990. Stipulates that State apportionments for interstate projects for such years may only be obligated for completing essential gaps within the System.

Directs the Secretary effective with the apportionment for fiscal year 1981 for the Interstate System to revise the cost estimate for completing the System to include an estimate of completing the System's essential gaps.

Authorizes a State in the event that it has obligated all the funds available to it in any fiscal year for the Interstate System to obligate its apportionment for the following fiscal year.

Authorizes the Secretary to reapportion funds for the Interstate System not used by a State within the fiscal year for which it was apportioned.

Title IV: Amendments Regarding Urban, Rural, and Other Non-Interstate-Highway Projects - Authorizes the transfer of certain apportionments for a State from one purpose to another under specified circumstances.

Increases the Federal share for specified Federal-aid highway projects.

Amends the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 to increase the Federal share for projects on the Appalachian development highway system.

Establishes a small urban and rural transportation assistance program to finance public transportation projects or specified highway projects for such areas.

Establishes an apportionment formula for highway projects in urbanized areas other than projects on the Federal-aid primary or Interstate Systems.

Authorizes the Secretary to approve the use of funds from specified apportionments for projects designed to encourage the use of carpools and vanpools.

Directs the Secretary to establish a highway safety improvement programs for Federally aided highways.

Requires each State to develop and implement a Highway Safety Improvement Program in order to identify and correct highway hazards.

Requires each State to identify rail-highway crossings which may require separation, relocation, or protective devices, and to establish and implement a schedule of projects for such purposes. Requires that as a minimum such schedule provide for signs at all public railway-highway crossings. Authorizes the Secretary to approve Federal financial assistance for such projects.

Increases the Federal share for compensating individuals for removal of outdoor advertising signs in areas adjacent to the Interstate System and the primary system.

Authorizes the Secretary to approve Federal participation in State projects for replacing or rehabilitating highway bridges which are not on a priority or Federal-aid system.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States and local governments in urbanized areas on a matching basis for transportation research and planning.

Title V: Planning and Reorganization - Directs the Secretary to prepare a plan to consolidate the Urban Mass Transportation Administration and the Federal Highway Administration.

Establishes a single fund for funding specified mass transportation programs.