However , ▁there ▁was ▁a ▁carry over ▁of ▁$ 3 . 1 ▁billion ▁from ▁the ▁Urban ▁Mass ▁Transport ation ▁Act ▁of ▁ 1 9 6 4 , ▁so ▁total ▁construction ▁authority ▁was ▁$ 6 . 1 ▁billion .) ▁Highway ▁safety : ▁For ▁impro ving ▁railway - road ▁cross ings , ▁and ▁for ▁a ▁highway ▁design ▁improvement ▁program ▁within ▁D OT , ▁$ 4 5 5 ▁million ▁was ▁appropri ated ▁in ▁fis cal ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁and ▁$ 8 0 0 ▁million ▁per ▁year ▁in ▁fis cal ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁and ▁ 1 9 7 6 . ▁ ▁A ▁major ▁new ▁restriction ▁on ▁the ▁rece ipt ▁of ▁federal ▁highway ▁funds ▁was ▁that ▁states ▁were ▁required ▁to ▁en act ▁a ▁ ▁speed ▁limit . ▁The ▁just ification ▁for ▁the ▁speed ▁limit ▁was ▁to ▁save ▁fuel ▁during ▁the ▁gas oline ▁short age . ▁The ▁speed ▁limit ▁was ▁temporary , ▁and ▁due ▁to ▁exp ire ▁with ▁the ▁act . ▁ ▁New ▁programs ▁established ▁by ▁the ▁act ▁included : ▁Highway ▁Saf ety ▁Im prov ement : ▁ ▁The ▁act ▁provided ▁fund ing ▁for ▁capital ▁improvements ▁to ▁roads ▁that ▁improved ▁safety , ▁such ▁as ▁guard ▁rails ▁or ▁improved ▁railway - road ▁at - grade ▁cross ings . ▁The ▁act ▁also ▁required ▁D OT ▁to ▁establish ▁program ▁of ▁data ▁collection , ▁research , ▁and ▁demonstr ation ▁programs ▁to ▁improve ▁highway ▁safety ▁by ▁impro ving ▁highway ▁construction ▁standards . ▁Additionally , ▁D OT ▁was ▁author ized ▁to ▁pay ▁for ▁demonstr ation ▁projects ▁to ▁determine ▁the ▁effect