§124. Advances to States

If the Secretary shall determine that it is necessary for the expeditious completion of projects on any of the Federal-aid systems, including the Interstate System, he may advance to any State out of any existing appropriations the Federal share of the cost of construction thereof to enable the State transportation department to make prompt payments for acquisition of rights-of-way, and for the construction as it progresses. The sums so advanced shall be deposited in a special revolving trust fund, by the State official authorized under the laws of the State to receive Federal-aid highway funds, to be disbursed solely upon vouchers approved by the State transportation department for rights-of-way which have been or are being acquired, and for construction which has been actually performed and approved by the Secretary pursuant to this chapter. Upon determination by the Secretary that any part of the funds advanced to any State under the provisions of this section are no longer required, the amount of the advance, which is determined to be in excess of current requirements of the State, shall be repaid upon his demand, and such repayments shall be returned to the credit of the appropriation from which the funds were advanced. Any sum advanced and not repaid on demand shall be deducted from sums due the State for the Federal pro rata share of the cost of construction of Federal-aid projects.

( Pub. L. 85–767, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 901 ; Pub. L. 95–599, title I, §118, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2699 ; Pub. L. 105–178, title I, §§1212(a)(2)(A)(i), 1226(c), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 193 ; Pub. L. 105–206, title IX, §9003(a), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 837 .)

Amendments

1998-Pub. L. 105–178, §1226(c), as added by Pub. L. 105–206, §9003(a), struck out subsec. (a) designation before "If the Secretary" and struck out subsec. (b), which had: authorized advance of 100 per centum of cost of construction where Secretary determined that toll bridge, toll tunnel, or approach thereto meeting section 129 requirements was necessary to complete essential gap in Interstate System; provided repayment schedule; and directed that advance be made from funds apportioned to State for Interstate System and that section 103(e)(4) provisions would not apply.

Pub. L. 105–178, §1212(a)(2)(A)(i), substituted "State transportation department" for "State highway department" in two places.

1978-Pub. L. 95–599 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Title IX of Pub. L. 105–206 effective simultaneously with enactment of Pub. L. 105–178 and to be treated as included in Pub. L. 105–178 at time of enactment, and provisions of Pub. L. 105–178, as in effect on day before July 22, 1998, that are amended by title IX of Pub. L. 105–206 to be treated as not enacted, see section 9016 of Pub. L. 105–206, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Acceleration of Projects

Pub. L. 94–280, title I, §141, May 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 444 , as amended by Pub. L. 95–599, title I, §136, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2709 , provided that: "Not later than six months after the completion of such project, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit a report to Congress which includes, but is not limited to, a description of the methods used to reduce the time necessary for the completion of such project, recommendations for applying such methods to other highway projects, and any changes which may be necessary to existing law to permit further reductions in the time necessary to complete highway projects."