Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 92 Part 3.djvu/88

 92 STAT. 2720

Report to Congress.

PUBLIC LAW 95-599—NOV. 6, 1978 agencies, the State departments of transportation or highway departments, and other affected parties, to make a study and investigation of— (A) the need for, and desirability of, imiformity in maximum truck size and weight limits throughout the United States; (B) the effect upon the construction, reconstruction and maintenance of roads, upon the economy of a State or region upon energy consumption, and upon carriers of reducing to limits set forth in section 127, title 23, United States Code, those maximum size and weight limits currently higher than limits in such section; (C) the relation of highway and bridge design, construction practices, and maintenance costs in those States with weights above the Federal maximum, including an analysis of the adequacy of such design practices for these weights, as compared to the same factors in States adhering to the weight limits set forth in section 127 of title 23, United States Code; and (D) the adequacy of current highway and bridge design standards with respect to the present and future transportation needs, considering costs, economy of transportation and fuel efficiency. (2) The Secretary shall report to the Congress the findings and recommendations of this study no later than January 15, 1981. Such report shall include recommendations on the desirability of uniform maximum truck weights and, if desirable, appropriate means to bring about such uniformity, and the appropriateness of current maximum vehicle weights. IMPACT OF INCREASED U N I T TRAIN TRAEFIC

Investigation and study. 23 USC 130 note.

SEC. 162. (a) The Secretary of Transportation, in cooperation with the State highway departments, and appropriate officials of local government, is authorized and directed to undertake a comprehensive investigation and study of techniques for alleviating the environmental, social, economic, and developmental impacts of increased unit train traffic to meet national energy requirements in communities located along rail corridors experiencing such increased traffic. Such study and investigation shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) identification of specific adverse impacts on affected communities; (2) examination of specific techniques to alleviate such impacts, including but not limited to low cost systems management methods, grade crossing separation, and rail line relocation, together with an assessment of the cost and benefits of each such technique; (3) delineation of criteria to determine whether grade crossing separation or rail line relocation is appropriate for a given location; (4) determination of the proper share of the cost of implementation for each such technique to be borne by the railroad or railroads based on the net benefit derived; and (5) determination of various costs for different types of separation construction based on such factors as number of rail lines and number of highway lanes intersecting at the crossing. (b) In the conduct of the investigation and study authorized by subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall specifically consider the following rail corridors:

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