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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 215. Territorial highway program
(a) Recognizing the mutual benefits that will accrue to the
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, and to the United States from the
improvement of highways in such territories of the United States,
the Secretary is authorized to assist each such territorial
government in a program for the construction and improvement of a
system of arterial highways, and necessary interisland connectors
designated by the Governor of such territory and approved by the
Secretary. Federal financial assistance shall be granted under this
subsection to such territories upon the basis of a Federal
contribution of 100 per centum of the cost of any project.
(b) In order to establish a long-range highway development
program, the Secretary is authorized to provide technical
assistance for the establishment of an appropriate agency to
administer on a continuing basis highway planning, design,
construction and maintenance operations, the development of a
system of arterial and collector highways, including necessary
interisland connectors, and the establishment of advance
acquisition of right-of-way and relocation assistance programs.
(c) No part of the appropriations authorized under this section
shall be available for obligation or expenditure with respect to
any territory until the Governor enters into an agreement with the
Secretary providing that the government of such territory (1) will
design and construct a system of arterial and collector highways,
including necessary interisland connectors, built in accordance
with standards approved by the Secretary; (2) will not impose any
toll, or permit any such toll to be charged, for use by vehicles or
persons of any portion of the facilities constructed or operated
under the provisions of this section; (3) will provide for the
maintenance of such facilities in a condition to adequately serve
the needs of present and future traffic; (4) will implement
standards for traffic operations and uniform traffic control
devices which are approved by the Secretary.
(d)(1) Three per centum of the sums authorized to be appropriated
for each fiscal year for carrying out subsection (a) of this
section shall be available for expenditure only for engineering and
economic surveys and investigations, for the planning of future
highway programs and the financing thereof, for studies of the
economy, safety, and convenience of highway usage and the desirable
regulation and equitable taxation thereof, and for research and
development, necessary in connection with the planning, design, and
maintenance of the highway system, and the regulation and taxation
of their use.
(2) In addition to the percentage provided in paragraph (1) of
the subsection, not to exceed 2 per centum of sums authorized to be
appropriated for each fiscal year for carrying out subsection (a)
of this section may be expended upon request of the Governor and
with the approval of the Secretary for the purposes enumerated in
paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(e) None of the funds authorized to be appropriated for carrying
out this section shall be obligated or expended for maintenance of
the highway system.
(f) The provisions of chapter 1 of this title that are applicable
to Federal-aid primary highway funds, other than provisions
relating to the apportionment formula and provisions limiting the
expenditure of such funds to the Federal-aid systems, shall apply
to the funds authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section, except as determined by the Secretary to be inconsistent
with this section.
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