106 STAT. 1552 PUBLIC LAW 102-388—OCT. 6, 1992 SEC. 339. For the piirpose of carrying out a demonstration of the construction of public toll roads in Orange County, California, authorized by 23 U.S.C. 129(d), there is nereby appropriated $9,600,000 for the Secretary to enter into an agreement to make a loan or loans not to exceed $120,000,000 to the public entity or entities with the statutory duty to construct such facilities, to be available upon the completion of construction of such facilities for five years from the date capitalized interest funds are exhausted and only if and to the extent revenues from toll operations and standard reserves are less than revenue necessary for debt service established under the eligibility criteria applicable thereto and no more than 20 percent of the total loan amount would be payable in any one year of operation: Provided, That all funds appropriated under this head shall be exempted from any limitation on obligations for Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs: Provided further. That such loan or loans shall draw interest at the 30-year United States Treasury Bond rate on the date such loan or loans are made and shall be repedd in not more than 30 years. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, such loan or loans shall not constitute a guarantee of the payment of principal or interest with respect to any indebtedness heretofore or herearter issued by said public entity or entities. Contracts. SEC. 340. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shall Virginia. execute an agreement with the State of Virginia (regarding Federal Aid Proiect-Q -RS 1046(101) re. Fairfax Coimty, Virginia) pursuant to whicn loan repayment can be concluded by September 30, 1997. SEC. 341. Section 1023 of the Intermodal Surface Transpor- 23 USC 127 note, tation Efficiency Act (Public Law 102-240) is amended by adding a new subsection (h) as follows: "(h) PUBLIC TRANSIT VEHICLES. — "(1) TEMPORARY EXEMPTION. —The second sentence of section 127 of title 23, United States Code, relating to axle weight limitetions for vehicles using the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstete and Defense Highways, shall not applv, for the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, to any vehicle which is regularly and exclusively used as an intrastete public agency transit passenger bus. The Secretary may extend such 2-year period for an additional year. "(2) STUDY. — The Secretary shall conduct a study on the maximum axle weight limitations on the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstete and Defense Highways established under section 127 of title 23, United States Code, or under State laws, as they apply to public transit vehicles. The study shall determine whether or not public transit vehicles should be exempted from the requirements of section 127 or State laws or if such laws should be modified with regard to public transit vehicles. In making such determination, the Secretary shall consider current transit vehicle design standards, the implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Clean Air Act requiremente on such design standards, and the potential impact of revised design stendards on transit ridership capacity, operating and replacement coste, air quality concerns, and highway wear and tear.
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