1508 - Federal funding.

     § 1508.  Federal funding.        (a)  General rule.--The department shall administer the     programs established under this chapter in a manner that permits     full cooperation between Federal, State and local governments,     agencies and instrumentalities, local transportation     organizations and private interests, so as to result in as     effective and economical a program as possible.        (b)  Agreements.--The department may enter into agreements     for mutual cooperation between or among the department and a     Federal agency, local transportation organization or     transportation company concerning a project to be funded with     financial assistance under this chapter, including joint     applications for Federal grants.        (c)  General authority of department.--The department may do     anything necessary or desirable to secure financial aid or     cooperation of a Federal agency for a project funded with     financial assistance under this chapter and to comply with a     Federal statute or lawful requirement of a Federal agency     authorized to administer a program of Federal aid to     transportation. The department may enter into a protective     agreement with organized labor to the extent required under 49     U.S.C. § 5333 (relating to labor standards) in order to obtain     Federal grant money for transportation assistance. Protective     agreements shall be narrowly drawn and strictly construed to     provide no more than the minimum protections required by the     United States Department of Labor for the agreements.        (d)  Direct recipients.--Local transportation organizations     that are direct recipients of Federal funding shall be under no     obligation to enter into contracts with the department for     expenditure of those funds, except that the department may     require a contract for expenditure of the State portion of the     project assisted by those Federal funds.