Smart Intersections Act of 2021

II 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 1984 To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program to improve the functioning of traffic signals through the implementation of innovative technology, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JUNE 9, 2021 Mr. ROMNEY (for himself, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. PETERS, and Ms. HASSAN) intro- duced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Com- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program to improve the functioning of traffic sig- nals through the implementation of innovative tech- nology, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Smart Intersections 4 Act of 2021’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:45 Jun 17, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1984.IS S1984 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 1984 IS SEC. 2. SMART TECHNOLOGY TRAFFIC SIGNALS GRANT 1 PROGRAM. 2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 3 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es- 4 tablish a grant program, to be known as the ‘‘Smart Tech- 5 nology Traffic Signals Grant Program’’, under which the 6 Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities to improve 7 the functioning of traffic signals in a manner that— 8 (1) reduces traffic congestion; 9 (2) improves the safety and effectiveness of 10 roadways; 11 (3) reduces fuel costs for drivers; 12 (4) reduces air pollution; and 13 (5) improves emergency response. 14 (b) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a grant 15 under the program, an eligible entity shall submit to the 16 Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and 17 containing such information as the Secretary may require. 18 (c) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—An eligible entity that 19 receives a grant under the program shall use the grant— 20 (1) to improve active management of traffic sig- 21 nals, including through the use of automated traffic 22 signal performance measures; 23 (2) to implement strategies, activities, and 24 projects that support active management of traffic 25 signal operations, including through— 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:45 Jun 17, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1984.IS S1984 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •S 1984 IS (A) optimization of corridor timing; 1 (B) improved vehicle, pedestrian, and bicy- 2 cle detection at traffic signals; and 3 (C) the use of connected vehicle tech- 4 nologies; 5 (3) to replace outdated traffic signals, as need- 6 ed; and 7 (4) in the case of an eligible entity that is a 8 local government entity serving a population of less 9 than 500,000, to pay the costs of temporary staffing 10 hours dedicated to updating traffic signal tech- 11 nology. 12 (d) TIMING OF EXPENDITURES.—An eligible entity 13 that receives a grant under the program shall fully expend 14 the grant funds by the date that is 3 years after the date 15 on which grant funds are first made available to the eligi- 16 ble entity. 17 (e) FEDERAL SHARE.— 18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the 19 costs of a project assisted with a grant under the 20 program may not exceed 80 percent. 21 (2) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.—The non-Fed- 22 eral share of the costs of a project assisted with a 23 grant under the program may be derived in whole or 24 in part from in-kind contributions. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:45 Jun 17, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1984.IS S1984 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •S 1984 IS (f) PROHIBITION.—A grant awarded under the pro- 1 gram may not be used to purchase, operate, or maintain 2 an automated traffic enforcement system. 3 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 4 are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such 5 sums as are necessary to carry out the program. 6 (h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 7 (1) AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SYS- 8 TEM.—The term ‘‘automated traffic enforcement 9 system’’ means any device that captures an image 10 of, or information from, a vehicle for the purposes 11 of traffic law enforcement. 12 (2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti- 13 ty’’ means a State, local, or Tribal government enti- 14 ty. 15 (3) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 16 the Smart Technology Traffic Signals Grant Pro- 17 gram established under subsection (a). 18 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 19 the Secretary of Transportation. 20 SEC. 3. GAO STUDY. 21 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 22 of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 23 shall carry out, and submit to Congress a report describ- 24 ing the results of, a study on the potential for reducing 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:45 Jun 17, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1984.IS S1984 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •S 1984 IS greenhouse gas emissions by improving the efficiency of 1 traffic systems. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:45 Jun 17, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S1984.IS S1984 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS