Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1980

(House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with an amendment)

Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1980 - =Title I: Department of Transportation= - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for expenses of the Office of the Secretary of Transportation for: (1) salaries and expenses; (2) transportation planning, research, and development; and (3) expenses of the Department of Transportation Working Capital Fund. Authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard for: (1) operating expenses; (2) the acquisition, construction, or rebuilding of navigational aids, shore facilities, vessels, and aircraft; (3) the alteration or removal of obstructive bridges; (4) retired pay; (5) reserve training; (6) research, development, test and evaluation; and (7) a Pollution Fund for carrying out the oil and hazardous substance liability provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. Authorizes the use of such funds as may be necessary from the Offshore Oil Pollution Compensation Fund for the cleanup of and compensation for damages caused by oil pollution associated with activity on the Outer Continental Shelf.

Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 to the Federal Aviation Administration for: (1) operating expenses; (2) the acquisition and modernization of facilities and equipment and service testing; (3) air navigation and experimental facilities; (4) research, engineering, and development; (5) the liquidation of obligations incurred for airport development projects; and (6) operation, maintenance, and construction for National Airport and Dulles Airport. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make such expenditures and investments as may be necessary for the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund.

Makes appropriations for Surface Transportation to be used for: (1) carpooling and vanpooling programs; (2) bonus payments for control of outdoor advertising; (3) the safer off-system roads programs; (4) enforcement of the national maximum speed limit (55 m.p.h.); (5) urban discretionary grants and urban formula grants for urban mass transportation; and (6) public transportation projects in areas other than urbanized areas.

Makes appropriations for such fiscal year to the Federal Highway Administration for: (1) administrative and operating expenses; (2) motor carrier safety programs; (3) highway safety research and development; (4) the payment of obligations incurred in carrying out highway beautification programs; (5) the payment of obligations incurred for highway related safety grants; (6) railroad-highway crossings demonstration projects; (7) territorial highways; (8) off-system roads; (9) the Great River Road; (10) access highways to lakeside public recreation areas; (11) the federal-aid highway program; (12) highways crossing Federal projects; (13) bicycle programs; and (14) the Alaska Highway.

Makes appropriations for such fiscal year to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for operations and research and for State and community highway safety programs.

Makes appropriations for such fiscal year to the Federal Railroad Administration for: (1) expenses of the Office of the Administrator; (2) railroad safety programs; (3) railroad research and development; (4) rail service assistance programs; (5) the Northeast Corridor Improvement Program; (6) grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation; and (7) the Alaska Railroad Revolving Fund. Authorizes the Secretary to expend specified proceeds from the sale of Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Fund notes to carry out the uses authorized for such Fund. Authorizes the Secretary to issue to the Secretary of the Treasury notes and other obligations to pay any amounts necessary for rail facilities improvement and development loan guarantees. Stipulates that the principal amount of such obligations shall not exceed $600,000,000.

Makes appropriations for such fiscal year for programs of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration authorized by the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 including: (1) administrative expenses; (2) research and development; (3) the urban discretionary grant program; (4) rural and small urban grants; (5) urban formula grants; and (6) the liquidation of contractual obligations incurred pursuant to such Act. Stipulates that grants for the acquisition of rolling stock with Federal financial assistance shall only be awarded based on factors the Secretary deems relevant. Makes appropriations for the New York, New York waterborne transportation project as authorized by the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1978. Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for grants to construct substitute Interstate System Highway projects. Rescinds $713,100,000 of the contract authority authorized for Interstate System highway grants.

Authorizes the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation to make such expenditures, within the limits of its funds and borrowing authority, to carry out its programs. Limits the administrative expenses of the Corporation.

Makes appropriations for expenses of the Research and Special Programs Administration.

Makes appropriations for expenses of the Office of Inspector General. Provides for the transfer of funds from specified appropriations for such expenses.

=Title II: Related Agencies= - Makes appropriations for the: (1) National Transportation Safety Board; (2) Civil Aeronautics Board; (3) Interstate Commerce Commission and the Office of Rail Public Counsel, including funds for payments for rail service to railroads directed to provide emergency rail service over the properties of other carriers; (4) Panama Canal Commission; (5) acquisition of Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Fund anticipation notes by the Department of the Treasury; (6) United States Railway Association (including the purchase of ConRail securities); (7) the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; (8) National Alcohol Fuels Commission; and (9) National Transportation Policy Study Commission.

=Title III: General Provisions= - Sets forth limitations on the use of funds appropriated by this Act. Prohibits the use of funds provided in this Act to implement or enforce any regulation which requires any motor vehicle to be equipped with an occupant restraint system (other than a belt system). Stipulates that funds may be used for research and development activity relating to such restraint systems.

Prohibits the use of funds appropriated in this Act for: (1) the Panama Canal Commission unless in conformance with the Panama Canal Treaties of 1977 and any law implementing such treaties; and (2) rail-highway crossing demonstration projects in Connecticut.

Directs the Secretary to designate a specified route on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. Appropriates a specified sum for the replacement of publicly-owned facilities within the proposed right-of-way of Interstate 170 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Stipulates that funds in this Act shall be available for the guarantee of loans for the refinancing of aircraft purchased after January 20, 1979, under certain circumstances.