PUBLIC LAW 109–59—AUG. 10, 2005
119 STAT. 1857
‘‘(7) PLANNING FINDING.—A finding shall be made by the Secretary at least every 4 years that the transportation planning process through which statewide transportation plans and programs are developed is consistent with this section and section 134. ‘‘(8) MODIFICATIONS TO PROJECT PRIORITY.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, action by the Secretary shall not be required to advance a project included in the approved transportation improvement program in place of another project in the program. ‘‘(h) FUNDING.—Funds set aside pursuant to section 104(f) of this title and section 5305(g) of title 49, shall be available to carry out this section. ‘‘(i) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN STATE LAWS AS CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROCESSES.—For purposes of this section and section 134, and sections 5303 and 5304 of title 49, State laws, rules, or regulations pertaining to congestion management systems or programs may constitute the congestion management process under this section and section 134, and sections 5303 and 5304 of title 49, if the Secretary finds that the State laws, rules, or regulations are consistent with, and fulfill the intent of, the purposes of this section and section 134 and sections 5303 and 5304 of title 49, as appropriate. ‘‘(j) CONTINUATION OF CURRENT REVIEW PRACTICE.—Since the statewide transportation plan and the transportation improvement program described in this section are subject to a reasonable opportunity for public comment, since individual projects included in the statewide transportation plans and the transportation improvement program are subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and since decisions by the Secretary concerning statewide transportation plans or the transportation improvement program described in this section have not been reviewed under such Act as of January 1, 1997, any decision by the Secretary concerning a metropolitan or statewide transportation plan or the transportation improvement program described in this section shall not be considered to be a Federal action subject to review under such Act.’’. (b) SCHEDULE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall issue guidance on a schedule for implementation of the changes made by this section, taking into consideration the established planning update cycle for States and metropolitan planning organizations. The Secretary shall not require a State or metropolitan planning organization to deviate from its established planning update cycle to implement changes made by this section. Beginning July 1, 2007, State or metropolitan planning organization plan or program updates shall reflect changes made by this section. (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 1 of such title is amended by striking the items relating to sections 134 and 135 and inserting the following:
Guidelines. 23 USC 134 note.
Effective date.
‘‘134. Metropolitan transportation planning. ‘‘135. Statewide transportation planning.’’. SEC. 6002. EFFICIENT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS FOR PROJECT DECISIONMAKING.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 138 the following:
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