§165 — Title 23 Highways | U.S. Code

Summary

The law sets exact yearly highway money for Puerto Rico and for the U.S. territories from 2022 through 2026. Puerto Rico gets $173,010,000 for 2022, $176,960,000 for 2023, $180,120,000 for 2024, $183,675,000 for 2025, and $187,230,000 for 2026. The territorial program gets $45,990,000 for 2022, $47,040,000 for 2023, $47,880,000 for 2024, $48,825,000 for 2025, and $49,770,000 for 2026. The Secretary of Transportation must give Puerto Rico its money to run a highway program. For penalty rules, those funds are treated as if they were split among programs the same way Puerto Rico’s 1997 apportionments were split, and amounts counted for the National Highway System, the Surface Transportation Block Grant program, and Interstate maintenance are treated 50% for the National Highway Performance Program and 50% for the Surface Transportation Program. For Puerto Rico, at least 50% of its yearly money must be used for projects allowed under section 119, at least 25% for projects allowed under section 148, and any leftover may pay for chapter 1 activities and preventive maintenance on the National Highway System. Puerto Rico may not get state-apportioned funds unless the law specifically allows it. The word “territory” here means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Secretary may run a program to help each territory build and improve arterial and collector highways and needed inter-island connectors that the territory chooses and the Secretary approves. The federal share follows section 120(g). The Secretary can give technical help for planning, environmental reviews, right-of-way work, design, construction, operation, and maintenance, and the terms for that help must be in an agreement between the territory’s chief executive and the Secretary. That agreement must promise to follow the applicable highway rules, build to territory-appropriate standards approved by the Secretary, keep facilities in good working condition, and use Secretary-approved traffic standards. The agreement must describe the technical help, information sharing, and oversight, and be reviewed at least every two years; older agreements keep working until replaced. Territory funds may be used for block-grant–type projects, cost-effective preventive maintenance, ferries and terminals (per section 129), planning and financing studies, safety and use studies, fair regulation and taxation of highway use, and related research. Funds may not pay for routine maintenance, and most territorial projects cannot be on roads that are classified as local.

Title 23, §165

Highways — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Of funds made available in a fiscal year for the territorial and Puerto Rico highway program—

(1)for the Puerto Rico highway program under subsection (b)—

(A)$173,010,000 shall be for fiscal year 2022;

(B)$176,960,000 shall be for fiscal year 2023;

(C)$180,120,000 shall be for fiscal year 2024;

(D)$183,675,000 shall be for fiscal year 2025; and

(E)$187,230,000 shall be for fiscal year 2026; and

(2)for the territorial highway program under subsection (c)—

(A)$45,990,000 shall be for fiscal year 2022;

(B)$47,040,000 shall be for fiscal year 2023;

(C)$47,880,000 shall be for fiscal year 2024;

(D)$48,825,000 shall be for fiscal year 2025; and

(E)$49,770,000 shall be for fiscal year 2026.

(b)(1)The Secretary shall allocate funds made available to carry out this subsection to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to carry out a highway program in the Commonwealth.

(2)Amounts made available to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year shall be administered as follows:

(A)(i)For the purpose of imposing any penalty under this title or title 49, the amounts shall be treated as being apportioned to Puerto Rico under section 104(b) and 144 (as in effect for fiscal year 1997) for each program funded under those sections in an amount determined by multiplying—

(I)the aggregate of the amounts for the fiscal year; by

(II)the proportion that—

(aa)the amount of funds apportioned to Puerto Rico for each such program for fiscal year 1997; bears to

(bb)the total amount of funds apportioned to Puerto Rico for all such programs for fiscal year 1997.

(ii)Funds identified under clause (i) as having been apportioned for the national highway system, the surface transportation block grant program, and the Interstate maintenance program shall be deemed to have been apportioned 50 percent for the national highway performance program and 50 percent for the surface transportation program for purposes of imposing such penalties.

(B)The amounts treated as being apportioned to Puerto Rico under each section referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be deemed to be required to be apportioned to Puerto Rico under that section for purposes of the imposition of any penalty under this title or title 49.

(C)Of amounts allocated to Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Highway Program for a fiscal year—

(i)at least 50 percent shall be available only for purposes eligible under section 119;

(ii)at least 25 percent shall be available only for purposes eligible under section 148; and

(iii)any remaining funds may be obligated for activities eligible under chapter 1 and preventative maintenance on the National Highway System.

(3)Except as otherwise specifically provided, Puerto Rico shall not be eligible to receive funds apportioned to States under this title.

(c)(1)In this subsection, the term “territory” means any of the following territories of the United States:

(A)American Samoa.

(B)The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(C)Guam.

(D)The United States Virgin Islands.

(2)(A)Recognizing the mutual benefits that will accrue to the territories and the United States from the improvement of highways in the territories, the Secretary may carry out a program to assist each government of a territory in the construction and improvement of a system of arterial and collector highways, and necessary inter-island connectors, that is—

(i)designated by the Governor or chief executive officer of each territory; and

(ii)approved by the Secretary.

(B)The Federal share of Federal financial assistance provided to territories under this subsection shall be in accordance with section 120(g).

(3)(A)To continue a long-range highway development program, the Secretary may provide technical assistance to the governments of the territories to enable the territories, on a continuing basis—

(i)to engage in highway planning;

(ii)to conduct environmental evaluations;

(iii)to administer right-of-way acquisition and relocation assistance programs; and

(iv)to design, construct, operate, and maintain a system of arterial and collector highways, including necessary inter-island connectors.

(B)Technical assistance provided under subparagraph (A), and the terms for the sharing of information among territories receiving the technical assistance, shall be included in the agreement required by paragraph (5).

(4)(A)Except to the extent that provisions of this chapter are determined by the Secretary to be inconsistent with the needs of the territories and the intent of this subsection, this chapter (other than provisions of this chapter relating to the apportionment and allocation of funds) shall apply to funds made available under this subsection.

(B)The agreement required by paragraph (5) for each territory shall identify the sections of this chapter that are applicable to that territory and the extent of the applicability of those sections.

(5)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (D), none of the funds made available under this subsection shall be available for obligation or expenditure with respect to any territory until the chief executive officer of the territory has entered into an agreement (including an agreement entered into under section 215 as in effect on the day before the enactment of this section) with the Secretary providing that the government of the territory shall—

(i)implement the program in accordance with applicable provisions of this chapter and paragraph (4);

(ii)design and construct a system of arterial and collector highways, including necessary inter-island connectors, in accordance with standards that are—

(I)appropriate for each territory; and

(II)approved by the Secretary;

(iii)provide for the maintenance of facilities constructed or operated under this subsection in a condition to adequately serve the needs of present and future traffic; and

(iv)implement standards for traffic operations and uniform traffic control devices that are approved by the Secretary.

(B)The agreement required by subparagraph (A) shall—

(i)specify the kind of technical assistance to be provided under the program;

(ii)include appropriate provisions regarding information sharing among the territories; and

(iii)delineate the oversight role and responsibilities of the territories and the Secretary.

(C)The agreement entered into under subparagraph (A) shall be reevaluated and, as necessary, revised, at least every 2 years.

(D)With respect to an agreement under this subsection or an agreement entered into under section 215 of this title as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this subsection—

(i)the agreement shall continue in force until replaced by an agreement entered into in accordance with subparagraph (A); and

(ii)amounts made available under this subsection under the existing agreement shall be available for obligation or expenditure so long as the agreement, or the existing agreement entered into under subparagraph (A), is in effect.

(6)(A)Funds made available under this subsection may be used only for the following projects and activities carried out in a territory:

(i)Eligible surface transportation block grant program projects described in section 133(b).

(ii)Cost-effective, preventive maintenance consistent with section 116(e).

(iii)Ferry boats, terminal facilities, and approaches, in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of section 129.

(iv)Engineering and economic surveys and investigations for the planning, and the financing, of future highway programs.

(v)Studies of the economy, safety, and convenience of highway use.

(vi)The regulation and equitable taxation of highway use.

(vii)Such research and development as are necessary in connection with the planning, design, and maintenance of the highway system.

(B)None of the funds made available under this subsection shall be obligated or expended for routine maintenance.

(7)Territorial highway program projects (other than those described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (5) of section 133(c) and section 133(b)(13)) may not be undertaken on roads functionally classified as local.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 215 as in effect on the day before the enactment of this section and section 215 of this title as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (c)(5)(A), (D), probably mean section 215 of this title as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of Pub. L. 112–141, which was approved July 6, 2012, and which amended this section generally and repealed section 215.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–58, § 11126(1), added pars. (1) and (2) and struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which read as follows: “(1) $158,000,000 shall be for the Puerto Rico highway program under subsection (b); and “(2) $42,000,000 shall be for the territorial highway program under subsection (c).” Subsec. (b)(2)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 117–58, § 11126(2), inserted “and preventative maintenance on the National Highway System” after “chapter 1”. Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 117–58, § 11126(3), substituted “paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (5) of section 133(c) and section 133(b)(13)” for “paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 133(c) and section 133(b)(12)”. 2015—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1115(1), substituted “$158,000,000” for “$150,000,000”. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1115(2), substituted “$42,000,000” for “$40,000,000”. Subsecs. (b)(2)(A)(ii), (c)(6)(A)(i). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1109(c)(5), substituted “surface transportation block grant program” for “surface transportation program”. Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1446(a)(11), substituted “paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 133(c) and section 133(b)(12)” for “paragraphs (2), (4), (7), (8), (14), and (19) of section 133(b)”. 2012—Pub. L. 112–141 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to Puerto Rico highway program.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2021 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 117–58 effective Oct. 1, 2021, see section 10003 of Pub. L. 117–58, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Effective Date

of 2012 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.

§165 Territorial and Puerto Rico Highway Program

Summary

Title 23, §165

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata