PUBLIC LAW 100-17—APR. 2, 1987
101 STAT. 163
non-Federal share of the cost of the projects in such State which are eligible for Federal funds under this section. Such crediting shall be in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary may establish.", (f) HISTORIC BRIDGES.— 23 USC 144 note. (1) FINDINGS.—Congress hereby finds and declares it to be in the national interest to encourage the rehabilitation, reuse and preservation of bridges significant in American history, architecture, engineering and culture. Historic bridges are important links to our past, serve as safe and vital transportation routes in the present, and can represent significant resources for the future. (2) PROGRAM.—Such section 144 is further amended by insert- 23 USC 144. ing after subsection (1) the following new subsection: "(o) HISTORIC BRIDGE PROGRAM.—
'•
^' ^"
"(1) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall, in cooperation with the States, implement the programs described in this section in a manner that encourages the inventory, retention, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and future study of historic bridges. "(2) STATE INVENTORY.—The Secretary shall require each State to complete an inventory of all bridges on and off the Federal-aid system to determine their historic significance. "(3) ELIGIBILITY.—Reasonable costs associated with actions to preserve, or reduce the impact of a project under this chapter on, the historic integrity of historic bridges shall be eligible as reimbursable project costs under this title (including this section) if the load capacity and safety features of the bridge are adequate to serve the intended use for the life of the bridge; except that in the case of a bridge which is no longer used for motorized vehicular traffic, the costs eligible as reimbursable project costs pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed the estimated cost of demolition of such bridge. "(4) PRESERVATION.—Any State which proposes to demolish a historic bridge for a replacement project with funds made available to carry out this section shall first make the bridge available for donation to a State, locality, or responsible private entity if such State, locality, or responsible entity enters into an agreement to— "(A) maintain the bridge and the features that give it its historic significance; and "(B) assume all future legal and financial responsibility for the bridge, which may include an agreement to hold the State highway agency harmless in any liability action. Costs incurred by the State to preserve the historic bridge, including funds made available to the State, locality, or private entity to enable it to accept the bridge, shall be eligible as reimbursable project costs under this chapter up to an amount not to exceed the cost of demolition. Any bridge preserved pursuant to this paragraph shall thereafter not be eligible for any other funds authorized pursuant to this title. "(5) HISTORIC BRIDGE DEFINED.—As used in this subsection, 'historic bridge' means any bridge that is listed on, or eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic Places.". (3) STUDY.— (A) TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD.—The
- .
a
" *?; ^iH
Secretary 23 USC 144 note. shall make appropriate arrangements with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences
�
