Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1984

(Reported to Senate from the Committee on Environment and Public Works with amendment, S. Rept. 98-524)

Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1984 - Approves the interstate highway cost estimate for FY 1985 and 1986 and the interstate substitute cost estimate for FY 1984 and 1985. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to adjust and reallocate the minimum allocation made on March 9, 1984, to reflect the apportionments made under this Act. Revises the procedures for releasing interstate construction funds and interstate substitute funds, including allowing the Secretary to release such funds without congressional approval.

Decreases the Federal share payable for emergency relief funds for repair projects on the Federal-aid highway system and the Interstate System, unless such emergency repairs are to minimize damage, protect facilities, or restore essential traffic and are accomplished within 30 days after the occurrence.

Provides for the funding of certain highway projects with interstate discretionary funds.

Requires that a specified percentage of State withdrawal funds be available to the Secretary for State highway research and planning.

Authorizes Federal matching funds for bridge replacement and rehabilitation for specified bridges not on the Federal-aid highway system.

Amends the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 to include small business concerns owned and controlled by women among such concerns that are eligible for a specified percentage of expenditures under such Act.

Amends the General Bridge Act of 1906, the General Bridge Act of 1946, the International Bridge Act of 1972, the Department of Transportation Act, and various other Acts to repeal provisions which regulate toll facilities. Requires toll increases on such facilities to be just and reasonable.

Declares that no report, list, schedule, or survey compiled by a State concerning the evaluation of hazardous roadway conditions or rail-highway crossings in order to plan and prioritize safety projects shall be required to be admitted into evidence or used for any other purpose in a Federal or State court.

Requires toll authorities to certify to the State Governor that such facilities are adequately maintained and that funding is available for the replacement or repair of such facilities. Provides that if funds from the Highway Trust Fund are used for such repairs, then such State's apportionment for the next fiscal year shall be reduced by such amount. Exempts international toll facilities and such facilities on the Federal-aid system from such requirement.

Provides for: (1) crediting the fair market value of right-of-way donations for highway projects to the State matching share when such donations are made to the State; and (2) revesting such property to the donor if it is not required after environmental assessments.

Directs the Secretary to reserve amounts expended for right-of-way for a route withdrawal until the right-of-way disposition decision has been made.

Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program. Sets forth the following items for inclusion in such study: (1) an analysis of the progress made toward replacing and rehabilitating inadequate bridges on or off the Federal-aid system; (2) a review of the bridge inspection program; (3) an analysis of the effectiveness of the bridge discretionary program; and (4) a review of the bridge program's effect on the rehabilitation of historic bridges.

Requires the Transportation Research Board of the National Research Council to carry out a study of the bridge formula with respect to vehicle weights and the life span of bridges.

Makes costs incurred to mitigate harm to historic bridges as a result of Federal-aid projects, eligible for Federal-aid highway funds. Permits States to use demolition funds for preservation of historic bridges.

Requires (currently, authorizes) States to inventory bridges on the Federal-aid system for historic significance.

Directs the Secretary to approve the planting of native wildflowers for landscaping and scenic enhancement of Federal-aid highways.

Makes the repair or reconstruction of a Federal-aid primary route in the vicinity of Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, which has experienced slide damage, eligible for emergency relief funds.

Requires an annual minimum allocation of 85 percent of estimated tax payments attributable to States in the Highway Trust Fund. Specifies the programs applicable to such requirement.

Permits an interstate transfer project in Maryland to be completed in increments.

Requires the Secretary to assist the District of Columbia and Virginia in carrying out a demonstration project on Interstate 95 and 395 which restricts the use of express lanes during certain rush hours after the District of Columbia completes reconstruction of a specified bridge. (Currently, the Secretary is required to carry out such demonstration project after the District of Columbia begins actual reconstruction.)

Provides that the Federal share payable for individual projects authorized by statute after September 30, 1983, and for which authorizations are provided out of the Highway Trust Fund, shall not exceed 50 percent of the total costs or a specified amount, whichever is less.

Directs the Secretary to carry out the following demonstration projects designed: (1) in Cattaraugus County, New York, to demonstrate the extent to which the economy of an Indian reservation can be improved by completion of key elements of a modern, grade-separated access controlled highway which serves the reservation; (2) in the vicinity of Buckhannon, West Virginia, to demonstrate the efficient movement of traffic around an area of active coal mining and industrial development; (3) in Montana, to demonstrate the improved serviceability of rural roads when provided with specified reconstruction; (4) in the vicinity of Cleveland, Texas, to demonstrate the reduction in congestion by providing a four-line divided highway with interchanges in an area with at-grade crossings; (5) in the vicinity of Knoxville, Tennessee, to demonstrate the benefits of a high technology developmental highway project; (6) in Idaho, to determine the economic and social impact of controlled-access highway services on a redeveloping central business district of a certain population; (7) in Manchester, New Hampshire, to demonstrate the feasibility of replacing a functionally obsolete and structurally deficient bridge located in a historic district, with a modern structure while preserving the integrity of the district; (8) in the State of Washington, to determine the economic and social impact of utilizing the air space above a controlled-access highway to mitigate the impact on a major urban area of construction of the highway and for other transportation uses; and (9) in the area of Brunswick-Topsham, Maine, to demonstrate increased access to defense related facilities by the construction of a limited access highway connecting a major interstate highway corridor with a naval air station and a shipyard engaged in defense production activities. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) to carry out such projects and sets forth reporting dates after the completion of such projects.

Amends the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 to increase the authorized appropriations for the demonstration project near Devils Lake, North Dakota.

Makes "Buy American" provisions applicable to projects whose total costs exceed $500,000.

Authorizes appropriations for the upgrading of certain highways in New Mexico for the transportation of nuclear waste generated during defense-related activities.

Sets forth obligation limitations for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs for FY 1985.

Declares the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike free of restrictions on the imposition of tolls upon the repayment by the Commonwealth of Virginia of certain Federal-aid highway funds relating to such turnpike.

Provides for the apportionment of funds for forest highways.

Makes sums apportioned or allocated for highway substitute projects available for constructing bicycle facilities.

Authorizes States to adjust their interstate substitution programs which were approved in concept by the Secretary on or before September 30, 1983. Authorizes States to add and delete projects until September 30, 1985, without altering the existing entitlement.

Directs the Secretary to study the feasibility of constructing a New East-West Highway linking the Delaware Memorial Bridge with the Atlantic City Expressway and other north-south arteries in southern New Jersey. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for such study.