H.R. 4585: Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program Act

This bill, known as the Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program Act, aims to establish a new program focused on enhancing roads that serve agricultural and rural areas. The main objectives of the bill are as follows:

Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program

The Secretary of Transportation is tasked with implementing this program, which will:

• Improve access to and from farms, as well as facilities involved in producing, supplying, storing, and transporting agricultural products.
• Reduce the number of bridges with weight restrictions and enhance the capacity of local roads and minor rural road systems in communities.
• Enhance the safety, resilience, and overall efficiency of local roads critical for the agriculture sector and the rural economy.

Eligible Projects

Funding under this bill can only be used for specific types of projects that meet certain criteria. These include:

• Replacing or rehabilitating bridges to remove weight restrictions.
• Projects that enhance access to farms and facilities central to agricultural activities.
• Highway safety improvements, specifically aimed at high-risk rural roads.

Funding Structure

The federal government will cover a significant portion of project costs. The federal share for any approved project cannot exceed 90% of the total project cost.

Amendments to Existing Laws

The bill also includes amendments to the existing title 23 of the United States Code, which relates to transportation, to incorporate this new program. Specifically, it adjusts funding distributions to ensure that resources are allocated appropriately for the agricultural and rural road improvement projects.

Conforming Amendments

In line with establishing the new program, the bill makes some conforming amendments to current legislation regarding the apportionment of federal funds for various transportation initiatives.

Federal Funding Allocation

A portion of federal funds would be set aside specifically for the agricultural and rural road improvement program as part of the overall distribution of funds for road projects.

Overall Impact

The implementation of this program is expected to lead to improved infrastructure for rural communities, thereby enhancing the efficiency of agricultural operations and contributing to the local economy.

Relevant Companies

• None found