Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982

Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 - Title I: Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1982 - Amends the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 to decrease the authorization of appropriations for FY 1984 for the Interstate Highway System.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to apportion, for FY 1984, the sums authorized to be appropriated for expenditures on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, using specified factors.

Sets forth limitations on obligations for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs for FY 1983. Excludes from such limitations obligations for emergency relief and certain accelerated bridge projects. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 to conform to provisions of this title. Prohibits the Secretary from distributing amounts for administrative expenses and forest highways.

Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for FY 1983 for: (1) the Federal-aid primary system in rural areas; (2) the Federal-aid secondary system in rural areas; (3) the Federal-aid urban system; (4) forest highways; (5) public lands highways; (6) economic growth center development highways; and (7) the Great River Road. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1983 for: (1) Indian reservation roads and bridges; (2) the territorial highway program; (3) the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and (4) access highways. Specifies appropriated amounts which shall be available at the discretion of the Secretary and amounts which shall be available for certain highway construction in Pennsylvania.

Amends the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 to specify amounts available for FY 1983 for railway-highway crossings.

Amends the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1978 to increase the authorized funding for FY 1984 for interstate resurfacing.

Allows the Secretary to extend the approval deadline (September 30, 1983) for substitute projects and withdrawals for any route which on May 12, 1982, is under a judicial injunction prohibiting its construction.

Revises the interstate resurfacing formula. Authorizes State highway departments to give priority to projects for the reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, or rehabilitation of energy-impacted roads.

Requires a value engineering or other cost reduction analysis on Federal-aid system projects with construction costs in excess of a specified amount.

Directs the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of safety cost-effectiveness of geometric design criteria of standards currently in effect for highway construction to determine minimum resurfacing standards.

Permits States to place State-operated vending machines in rest and recreation areas and in safety rest areas located on rights-of-way of the Interstate System.

Changes the circumstances for suspension of the general requirements of competitive bidding for contracts from a finding by the Secretary that some other method is in the public interest to a demonstration by the State highway department that some other method is more cost-effective.

Changes from January 1, 1978, to January 1, 1983, the date governing the payment of bond interest as an eligible cost of construction for Interstate projects which are under construction in advance of apportionments. Authorizes the Secretary to pay interest on bonds issued after enactment of this Act to the extent that proceeds from the sale of bonds are expended for construction costs.

Extends the availability of advance construction funding to bridge projects under the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program.

Revises the method of distributing interstate discretionary funds and allows the Secretary to prioritize unobligated sums.

Sets forth a procedure for the transfer of apportioned funds from the Federal-aid primary system to programs for interstate resurfacing, restoring, rehabilitating, and reconstructing.

Establishes the Federal share payable for interstate resurfacing projects financed with primary funds. Permits a Federal share of 100 percent for certain pavement markings projects. Limits the Federal share of specified other projects to 95 percent.

Sets forth congressional findings and procedures to deregulate provisions concerning the control of outdoor advertising. Encourages States to make provisions for the control of such advertising and sets forth requirements to assure that control efforts are effective.

Allows the use of Federal funds for an approach to any toll road, bridge, or tunnel to a point where such approach enters the main lanes of the toll facility. Prohibits the use of Federal funds for toll collection equipment.

Requires provisions of equal employment opportunities for highway projects without regard to sex. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct and finance training and assistance programs for minority business enterprises.

Permits the cost of providing shuttle service to and from fringe and corridor parking facilitites constructed with Federal funds to be included in the eligible fees that may be charged for the use of parking facilities.

Revises the apportionment formula for the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program. Requires the placement of deficient bridges into specified categories. Sets aside certain amounts from authorized funds for FY 1983 for the use of the Secretary as discretionary funds. Permits the allocation of discretionary bridges funds for the replacement of the LaSalle Peru bridge in Illinois, the bridge over the Russian River, California, and the Preston Overhead on Route 101, Cloverdale, California.

Authorizes the Secretary to approve projects on the Interstate System for the construction of parking facilities for carpools and vanpools.

Establishes a coordinated Federal Lands Highways Program for the construction and improvement of forest highways, public lands highways, park roads, parkways, and Indian reservation roads and bridges. Sets forth an allocation formula for such program.

Allows Federal-aid highway projects to include construction programs for bicycle transportation and pedestrian walkways.

Allows States to include the cost of certain parking ramp construction as part of the interstate cost estimate.

Declares that a specified amount set aside for priority primary routes for FY 1982 shall remain available until expended and shall be available for obligation by the Secretary for certain designated priority primary routes.

Sets forth a procedure for the Secretary to fully utilize apportioned funds through FY 1982.

Requires the Secretary to establish alternative methods to accelerate the time required to complete highway projects.

Authorizes payment of construction costs for certain two-lane bridges as four-lane bridges upon completion of certain substructures.

Directs the Comptroller General to conduct an investigation and study of competitive bidding practices with respect to highway and mass transit construction and report to Congress on the results including recommendations for legislation and administrative practices.

Authorizes the Secretary to conduct a demonstration project in Los Angeles County, California, to demonstrate methods of improving the motor vehicle transportation of freight to and from areas for the transshipment of waterborne commerce.

Directs the Secretary to carry out a highway project to demonstrate state of the art technology involving toll charges and advances in highway traffic control and safety hardware. Requires the addition of such project to the Federal-aid primary system upon its completion. Sets forth a timetable for the Secretary to report to Congress on such project.

Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for both projects for fiscal years after 1982.

Directs the Secretary to conduct a project to demonstrate state of the art methods of repairing damaged highways resulting from shoreline erosion on Buhne Point, Humboldt Bay, California. Makes funds available for such project out of the Highway Trust Fund. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the results of such project not later than 180 days after its completion.

Establishes criteria under which the Martin Luther King Bridge which crosses the Mississippi River between Missouri and Illinois will be eligible for assistance under the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program.

Directs the Secretary to enter into arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences' Transportation Research Board to conduct a comprehensive study and investigation of future transportation professional manpower needs. Requests the National Academy of Sciences to report to the Secretary and the Congress not later than two years after enactment of this act, on the result of such study together with recommendations.

Directs the Office of Technology Assessment to conduct a comprehensive investigation and study of the feasibility of a highspeed ferryboat operation over the waters of the Caribbean Sea between Saint Croix and Saint Thomas. Requires the Office to complete and transmit a report on such study to Congress not later than January 1, 1984.

Directs the Secretary to report to Congress not later than one year after enactment of this Act on the need for including weather-related factors, particularly the effects of freezing and thawing, in the apportionment formulas for Federal-aid highways.

Requires the Secretary, within one year of enactment of this Act, to submit a detailed report to Congress on the potential benefits and costs associated with the establishment of a national intercity truck route network for the operation of a special class of longer combination commercial motor vehicles.

Sets forth conditions for project eligibility of Federal-aid primary routes not on the Interstate System.

Title II: Highway Safety Act of 1982 - Part A - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1983 out of the Highway Trust Fund for: (1) bridge replacement and rehabilitation; and (2) projects for elimination of hazards.

Limits the amount of expenditures for highway safety programs carried out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration for FY 1983.

Prohibits the Secretary from approving certain projects in any State whose laws do not constitute a substantial deterrent to violations of the maximum speed limit.

Amends the Highway Safety Act of 1973 to extend until September 30, 1983, the authorization to carry out projects for the elimination of hazards at rail-highway crossings.

Amends the Highway Safety Act of 1978 to make certain of its provisions relating to highway safety and information applicable to certain authorization provisions of Federal-aid primary highway funds.

Requires the Secretary to report annually, beginning on April, 1983, to Congress on the highway safety performance of each State in the preceding fiscal year.

Directs the Secretary to make grants to States which adopt and implement effective programs to reduce traffic safety problems resulting from persons driving while under the influence of alcohol. Requires the Secretary to establish and publish criteria for the awarding of such grants. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for FY 1983 through 1985 for such grants.

Eliminates provisions of the highway safety program which require a different apportionment for the territories of the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

Part B - National Driver Register Act of 1982 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish and maintain a National Driver Register to assist chief driver licensing officials of participating States in exchanging information regarding the motor vehicle driving records of individuals. Requires the Secretary to promulgate a final rule which provides for orderly transition from the system regarding motor vehicle driving records in the Department of Commerce to the Register established under this Act.

Prohibits the Secretary from maintaining information in such Register after: (1) more than a seven-year period from the date of its entry; (2) the State of record removes it from the State's file; or (3) the date of establishment of a fully electronic Register system.

Allows any State to participate in such Register system. Directs the chief driver licensing official of a participating State to transmit to the Secretary specified information on certain drivers.

Allows access to such information to specified individuals, including the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration and the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Limits the use of such information to official investigations and other specified purposes. Restricts employer access to such information to three years from its date of entry.

Directs the Secretary to implement a pilot test program to demonstrate the potential effectiveness of a system for electronic referral and relay of information regarding the motor vehicle driving records of individuals. Describes State participation in such program. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the program.

Sets forth criminal penalties for the unauthorized disclosure of information from the National Driver Register.

Establishes a National Driver Register Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary directly on the efficiency of the maintenance and operation of the National Driver Register.

Directs the Secretary, within nine years of the date of enactment of this Act, to report to Congress on the level of State participation in and the effectiveness of the Register system.

Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act after FY 1982.

Title III: Federal Public Transportation Act of 1982 - Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to authorize appropriations for FY 1983 for: (1) the discretionary capital grant program; (2) the innovative methods and techniques grant program; (3) the planning program; (4) the block grant program; (5) the program to meet the special needs of the elderly and handicapped; and (6) the formula grant program for other than urbanized areas.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1983 for: (1) the research and development program; (2) the training grant program; (3) the university research grant program; (4) administrative expenses; and (5) the human resource grant program. Requires research and development funding to remain available until expended.

Creates a block grant program for mass transportation projects in urbanized areas. Sets forth a formula for distribution of funds for such areas with populations of less than 200,000 and another formula for areas of more than 200,000. Provides certification procedures for persons in receipt of such grants.

Requires the Secretary to notify the appropriate congressional committees prior to the issuance of a letter of intent to obligate future Appropriation Act funds for a project.

Extends the authorization for grants for research and training in urban transportation problems from FY 1982 until FY 1983. Permits matching funds for university operating grants to consist of any non-Federal funds (in lieu of State funds).

Permits contracts for the pruchase of rolling stock to be based on a competitive procurement process. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress within one year of enactment of this Act on any legislative or administrative revisions required to ensure that procurement procedures are fair and competitive.

Revises the definition of "fixed guideway" to include a public transportation facility which uses a fixed catenary system and utilizes a right-of-way usable by other forms of transportation.

Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1965 to repeal provisions relating to bus seat specifications.

Directs the Secretary to report to Congress in January 1983 and biennially thereafter on the current performance and condition of public mass transportation systems and an assessment of the future needs of such facilities.

Sets forth conditions applicable for Federal assistance to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.

Exempts the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority from repaying a certain percentage of a transit loan to acquire rail properties. Grants the Secetary discretionary authority relative to the remaining percentage.

Title IV - Amends the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1978 to extend its Buy American provisions to Federal-aid highway programs, the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 and funds authorized under this Act.