[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 860 Reported in House (RH)]





                                                 Union Calendar No. 318

105th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 860

                      [Report No. 105-503, Part I]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To authorize appropriations to the Department of Transportation for 
    surface transportation research and development, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                              June 3, 1998

   The Committees on Commerce and Transportation and Infrastructure 
 discharged; committed to the Committee on the State of the Union, and 
                         ordered to be printed





                                                 Union Calendar No. 318
105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 860

                      [Report No. 105-503, Part I]

  To authorize appropriations to the Department of Transportation for 
    surface transportation research and development, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 27, 1997

 Mrs. Morella (for herself and Mr. Brown of California) introduced the 
     following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science

                             April 29, 1998

 Reported with an amendment and referred to the Committees on Commerce 
  and Transportation and Infrastructure for a period ending not later 
than June 2, 1998 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and 
 amendment reported from the Committee on Science as fall within their 
  jurisdiction pursuant to clause 1(e) and (q) of rule X, respectively
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

                              June 2, 1998

     Referral to the Committees on Commerce and Transportation and 
Infrastructure extended for a period ending not later than June 3, 1998

                              June 3, 1998

 Additional sponsors: Mr. Forbes, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, 
                            and Ms. Stabenow

                              June 3, 1998

   The Committees on Commerce and Transportation and Infrastructure 
discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 
                 of the Union and ordered to be printed
    [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on 
                           February 27, 1997]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize appropriations to the Department of Transportation for 
    surface transportation research and development, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Surface 
Transportation Research and Development Act of 1997''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Purposes.
Sec. 3. Limitations.
Sec. 4. Notice.
Sec. 5. Sense of Congress on the year 2000 problem.

                           TITLE VI--RESEARCH

                  Subtitle A--Programs and Activities

Sec. 6001. Transportation research and technology development.
Sec. 6002. Surface transportation research and technology development 
                            program.
Sec. 6003. Statistics research.
Sec. 6004. Applied research and technology utilization program.
Sec. 6005. Technology transfer and technology partnerships.
Sec. 6006. Long-term pavement performance and advanced research.
Sec. 6007. State research.
Sec. 6008. Minimum expenditures on long-term research projects.
Sec. 6009. Authorization of appropriations.

             Subtitle B--Intelligent Transportation Systems

Sec. 6021. Short title amendment.
Sec. 6022. Establishment and scope of program.
Sec. 6023. General authorities and requirements.
Sec. 6024. Strategic plan, implementation, and report to Congress.
Sec. 6025. Technical, planning, and operational testing project 
                            assistance.
Sec. 6026. Applications of technology.
Sec. 6027. Funding.
Sec. 6028. Definitions.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to promote an inclusive approach to surface 
        transportation research and development by requiring a 
        multimodal focus, facilitating cooperation among industry, 
        institutions of higher education, and government, and 
        increasing coordination between Federal and State research 
        organizations;
            (2) to promote high standards in research, development, and 
        technology utilization through merit review, competitive 
        awards, enhanced technology transfer, accelerated standards 
        development, and better understanding of and increased use of 
        life cycle costing of projects;
            (3) to strengthen basic and longer term transportation 
        research efforts and strengthen the role of institutions of 
        higher education in those programs;
            (4) to strengthen the efforts of the Department of 
        Transportation at strategic and long-range planning, and to 
        streamline data collection, measurement of research results, 
        and utilization of research results by others; and
            (5) to enhance the impact of transportation research and 
        development by ensuring the consideration of safety, the 
        efficient movement of people and goods, the environment, and 
        life cycle cost savings of transportation decisions.

SEC. 3. LIMITATIONS.

    (a) Prohibition of Lobbying Activities.--No funds appropriated to 
the Secretary of Transportation shall be available for any activity 
whose purpose is to influence any pending Federal, State, or local 
legislation, except that this subsection shall not prevent officers or 
employees of the United States or of its departments or agencies from 
communicating to Members of Congress on the request of any Member or to 
Congress, through the proper channels, requests for legislation or 
appropriations which they deem necessary for the efficient conduct of 
the public business. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit officers 
or employees of the United States or its departments or agencies from 
testifying before any Federal, State, or local legislative body upon 
the invitation of such legislative body.
    (b) Limitation on Appropriations.--No sums are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for fiscal years 1998, 
1999, and 2000 for the purposes for which sums are authorized by this 
Act and the amendments made by this Act, unless such sums are 
specifically authorized to be appropriated by this Act or the 
amendments made by this Act.
    (c) Eligibility for Awards.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
        exclude from consideration for grant agreements made by the 
        Department of Transportation after fiscal year 1997 any person 
        who received funds, other than those described in paragraph 
        (2), appropriated for a fiscal year after fiscal year 
1997, under a grant agreement from any Federal funding source for a 
project that was not subjected to a competitive, merit-based award 
process. Any exclusion from consideration pursuant to this subsection 
shall be effective for a period of 5 years after the person receives 
such Federal funds.
            (2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the 
        receipt of Federal funds by a person due to the membership of 
        that person in a class specified by law for which assistance is 
        awarded to members of the class according to a formula provided 
        by law.
            (3) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the term 
        ``grant agreement'' means a legal instrument whose principal 
        purpose is to transfer a thing of value to the recipient to 
        carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized 
        by a law of the United States, and does not include the 
        acquisition (by purchase, lease, or barter) of property or 
        services for the direct benefit or use of the United States 
        Government. Such term does not include a cooperative agreement 
        (as such term is used in section 6305 of title 31, United 
        States Code) or a cooperative research and development 
        agreement (as such term is defined in section 12(d)(1) of the 
        Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
        3710a(d)(1))).

SEC. 4. NOTICE.

    (a) Notice of Reprogramming.--If any funds authorized by this Act 
or the amendments made by this Act are subject to a reprogramming 
action that requires notice to be provided to the Appropriations 
Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, notice of 
such action shall concurrently be provided to the Committees on Science 
and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate.
    (b) Notice of Reorganization.--The Secretary of Transportation 
shall provide notice to the Committees on Science, Transportation and 
Infrastructure, and Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and 
the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and 
Appropriations of the Senate, not later than 15 days before any major 
reorganization of any program, project, or activity of the Department 
of Transportation for which funds are authorized by this Act or the 
amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM.

    With the year 2000 fast approaching, it is the sense of Congress 
that the Department of Transportation should--
            (1) give high priority to correcting all 2-digit date-
        related problems in its computer systems to ensure that those 
        systems continue to operate effectively in the year 2000 and 
        beyond;
            (2) assess immediately the extent of the risk to the 
        operations of the Department of Transportation posed by the 
        problems referred to in paragraph (1), and plan and budget for 
        achieving Year 2000 compliance for all of its mission-critical 
        systems; and
            (3) develop contingency plans for those systems that the 
        Department of Transportation is unable to correct in time.

                           TITLE VI--RESEARCH

                  Subtitle A--Programs and Activities

SEC. 6001. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Research and Technology Development.--Subtitle III of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
chapter:

           ``CHAPTER 61--RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

               ``SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

``Sec.
``6101. Authority for research and technology development program.
``6102. Transactional authority.
``6103. Definitions.

                       ``SUBCHAPTER II--PLANNING

``6121. Planning.
``6122. Implementation.
``6123. Surface transportation research and technology development 
                            plan.
``6124. Merit review and performance measurement.
``6125. Governmental procedures.
``6126. Role of Deputy Secretary.
``6127. Funding.

                 ``SUBCHAPTER III--UNIVERSITY RESEARCH

``6131. University research in general.
``6132. National university transportation centers.
``6133. Research grants program involving undergraduate students.
``6134. Authorization of appropriations.

      ``SUBCHAPTER IV--COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT RESEARCH

``6141. Community and Environmental Impact Research Program.
``6142. Transportation-Environment Cooperative Research Program.

               ``SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

``Sec. 6101. Authority for research and technology development program
    ``The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to carry out a 
program of research and technology development activities in support of 
the Department's mission. Such activities shall be carried out in 
accordance with the plan developed under section 6123, and shall 
include--
            ``(1) strategic planning and policy analysis, including 
        State planning and research;
            ``(2) research and technology development;
            ``(3) collection, analysis, and dissemination of research 
        data and results;
            ``(4) systems engineering and systems assessments;
            ``(5) technology demonstrations and operational tests; and
            ``(6) technology transfer and skills development.
``Sec. 6102. Transactional authority
    ``To carry out the activities described in section 6101, the 
Secretary of Transportation may enter into contracts, grants, and 
cooperative agreements with any public or private sector entity.
``Sec. 6103. Definitions
    ``For purposes of this chapter--
            ``(1) the term `institution of higher education' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 1201 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965; and
            ``(2) the term `operating administrations' means the 
        Administrations that are components of the Department of 
        Transportation, and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

                       ``SUBCHAPTER II--PLANNING

``Sec. 6121. Planning
    ``The Secretary of Transportation shall--
            ``(1) establish a strategic planning process, consistent 
        with section 306 of title 5, United States Code, for the 
        Department of Transportation to determine national 
        transportation research and technology development priorities;
            ``(2) coordinate Federal transportation research and 
        technology development activities; and
            ``(3) measure the results of those activities and how they 
        impact the performance of the national transportation system.
``Sec. 6122. Implementation
    ``In implementing section 6121, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall--
            ``(1) provide for the integrated planning, coordination, 
        and consultation among the operating administrations, all other 
        Federal agencies with responsibility for transportation 
        research and technology development, State and local 
        governments, institutions of higher education, industry, and 
        other private and public sector organizations engaged in 
        transportation-related research and development activities;
            ``(2) ensure that the Department's research and technology 
        development programs do not duplicate other Federal, State, or 
        private sector research and development programs;
            ``(3) develop and implement methods for evaluating the 
        comparative utility, life cycle costs, and environmental and 
        social impacts of various transportation alternatives; and
            ``(4) provide for independent validation of the scientific 
        and technical assumptions underlying the Department's research 
        and technology development plans.
``Sec. 6123. Surface transportation research and technology development 
              plan
    ``(a) Development.--In implementing section 6121, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall develop an integrated surface transportation 
research and technology development plan (in this section referred to 
as the `plan').
    ``(b) Contents.--The plan shall include--
            ``(1) an identification of the general goals and objectives 
        of the Department of Transportation for surface transportation, 
        including--
                    ``(A) enhancement of advanced and long-term 
                research and technology development;
                    ``(B) development of a seamless transportation 
                system by integrating transportation modes; and
                    ``(C) enhancement of the role of universities in 
                surface transportation research and technology 
                development and technology transfer;
            ``(2) a description of the roles of the Department of 
        Transportation and other Federal agencies in achieving the 
        goals identified under paragraph (1), in order to avoid 
        unnecessary duplication of effort;
            ``(3) a description of the roles of each Federal agency 
        in--
                    ``(A) collecting, assessing, and disseminating 
                research and technology development results from other 
                countries that are relevant to surface transportation; 
                and
                    ``(B) analyzing and applying research and 
                technology development from other fields and industries 
                that may have applications for the surface 
                transportation sector;
            ``(4) a description of the Department's overall strategy, 
        and the role of each of the operating administrations in 
        carrying out the plan over the next 5 years including a 
        description of procedures for coordination of its efforts with 
        the other operating administrations and with other Federal 
        agencies;
            ``(5) an assessment of how State and local research and 
        technology development activities are contributing to the 
        achievement of the goals identified under paragraph (1);
            ``(6) details of the Department's surface transportation 
        research and technology development programs, including 
        performance goals, resources needed to achieve those goals, and 
        performance indicators as described in section 1115(a) of title 
        31, United States Code, for the next 5 years for each area of 
        research and technology development;
            ``(7) significant comments on the plan and its contents 
        obtained from outside sources; and
            ``(8) responses to significant comments obtained from the 
        National Research Council and other advisory bodies, and a 
        description of any corrective actions taken pursuant thereto.
    ``(c) Cooperation With Industry.--A primary component of the plan 
shall be cooperation with industry in carrying out this chapter and 
strengthening the manufacturing capabilities of United States firms in 
order to produce products for transportation systems.
    ``(d) National Research Council Review.--The Secretary shall enter 
into an agreement for the review by the National Research Council of 
the details of each--
            ``(1) strategic plan or revision required under section 306 
        of title 5, United States Code;
            ``(2) performance plan required under section 1115 of title 
        31, United States Code; and
            ``(3) program performance report required under section 
        1116 of title 31, United States Code,
with respect to surface transportation research and technology 
development.
    ``(e) Strategic Plan.--
            ``(1) Initial transmittal.--Within 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of the Surface Transportation Research and 
        Development Act of 1997, the Secretary shall transmit to the 
        Director of the Office of Management and Budget and to the 
        Congress a strategic plan as described in section 306(a) of 
        title 5, United States Code, which shall include the plan 
        developed under this section.
            ``(2) Update and revision.--The strategic plan transmitted 
        under paragraph (1) shall be updated and revised, as required 
        by section 306(b) of title 5, United States Code, in 
        coordination with other updating and revision by the Department 
        under such section 306(b).
    ``(f) Performance Plans and Reports.--In complying with sections 
1115 and 1116 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary shall 
include--
            ``(1) a summary of the results for the previous fiscal year 
        of surface transportation research and technology development 
        programs to which the Department of Transportation contributes, 
        along with--
                    ``(A) an analysis of the relationship between those 
                results and the goals identified under subsection 
                (b)(1); and
                    ``(B) a description of the methodology used for 
                assessing the results;
            ``(2) a description of significant surface transportation 
        research and technology development initiatives, if any, 
        undertaken during the previous fiscal year which were not in 
        the plan developed under subsection (a), and any significant 
        changes in the plan from the previous year's plan; and
            ``(3) a list of all surface transportation research and 
        technology development grants, contracts, and cooperative 
        agreements entered into by the Department of Transportation 
        that were not competitively awarded on the basis of merit 
        review.
``Sec. 6124. Merit review and performance measurement
    ``The Secretary of Transportation shall, within one year after the 
date of the enactment of the Surface Transportation Research and 
Development Act of 1997, transmit to the Congress a report describing 
competitive merit review procedures for research and technology 
development, and performance measurement procedures for research and 
technology development and demonstrations, developed in consultation 
with the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology.
``Sec. 6125. Governmental procedures
    ``In implementing section 6121, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall--
            ``(1) develop model procurement procedures that encourage 
        the use of advanced technologies; and
            ``(2) develop model transactions for carrying out and 
        coordinating Federal and State surface transportation research 
        and technology development activities.
``Sec. 6126. Role of Deputy Secretary
    ``The implementation of this subchapter shall be coordinated 
through the Deputy Secretary of Transportation.
``Sec. 6127. Funding
    ``(a) Authorizations.--There is available from the Highway Trust 
Fund, other than the Mass Transit Account, for the Secretary of 
Transportation--
            ``(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            ``(2) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
            ``(3) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
to carry out this subchapter.
    ``(b) Availability of Funds.--Funds authorized for carrying out 
this subchapter shall be available for obligation in the same manner as 
if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United 
States Code, and such funds shall remain available for obligation for a 
period of two years after the last day of the fiscal year for which 
such funds are made available under subsection (a).

                 ``SUBCHAPTER III--UNIVERSITY RESEARCH

``Sec. 6131. University research in general
    ``(a) Coordination.--The Secretary of Transportation, acting 
through the Deputy Secretary of Transportation, shall coordinate the 
efforts of the Department to enhance the role of institutions of higher 
education in transportation research and technology development and 
technology transfer.
    ``(b) Assistance.--The Secretary may make grants to and enter into 
contracts and cooperative agreements with institutions of higher 
education to provide assistance as the Secretary considers necessary to 
carry out the Department's research and technology development and 
technology transfer responsibilities and programs.
    ``(c) Program Coordination.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) provide for coordination of research and technology 
        development and technology transfer activities that 
        institutions of higher education carry out with funds provided 
        directly or indirectly by the Department of Transportation;
            ``(2) provide for the dissemination of the results of 
        activities described in paragraph (1), including, to the 
        maximum extent practicable, dissemination through the National 
        Technical Information Service; and
            ``(3) at least annually, consistent with the plan developed 
        under section 6123, review and evaluate the priorities of such 
        activities and their effectiveness in carrying out this 
        section.
``Sec. 6132. National university transportation centers
    ``(a) Regionally Based Centers.--The Secretary of Transportation 
shall make grants to institutions of higher education to establish and 
operate 1 university transportation center in each of the 10 regions 
that comprise the Standard Federal Regional Boundary System.
    ``(b) Other Centers.--The Secretary may make grants to institutions 
of higher education to establish and operate up to 10 other university 
transportation centers to address transportation research, development, 
training, technology transfer, and policy issues designated by the 
Secretary, consistent with section 6101 and the plan developed under 
section 6123.
    ``(c) Selection Criteria.--An institution interested in receiving a 
grant under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit an application to the 
Secretary in the manner and containing the information the Secretary 
prescribes. The Secretary shall select recipients through a 
competitive, independent, peer-reviewed process on the basis of--
            ``(1) the research and technology development resources 
        available to the recipient to carry out this section;
            ``(2) the capability of the recipient to provide leadership 
        in making national and regional contributions to the solution 
        of immediate and long-range transportation problems;
            ``(3) the recipient's demonstrated ability to disseminate 
        results of transportation research through a statewide or 
        regionwide technology transfer program; and
            ``(4) the strategic plan the recipient proposes to carry 
        out under the grant.
    ``(d) Objectives.--Each university transportation center 
established and operated under this section shall conduct--
            ``(1) competitively awarded, peer reviewed transportation 
        research;
            ``(2) an education program that includes multidisciplinary 
        course work and participation in research; and
            ``(3) an ongoing program of transportation technology 
        transfer.
    ``(e) Maintenance of Effort.--As a condition of receiving a grant 
under subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary shall require the recipient 
to agree to maintain total expenditures from all sources, other than 
under this section, for the university transportation center and 
related research activities at a level at least equal to the average 
level of expenditures for such activities in the 2 fiscal years prior 
to award of the grant.
    ``(f) Matching Requirement.--A grant under subsection (a) or (b) 
shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of establishing and operating 
the university transportation center and related research activities 
the recipient carries out for the fiscal year or years for which the 
grant is made.
``Sec. 6133. Research grants program involving undergraduate students
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation may establish 
a program for awarding grants to researchers at primarily undergraduate 
institutions who involve undergraduate students in research on subjects 
of relevance to transportation. Grants may be awarded under this 
section for--
            ``(1) research projects to be carried out at primarily 
        undergraduate institutions; or
            ``(2) research projects that combine research at primarily 
        undergraduate institutions with other research supported by the 
        Department of Transportation.
    ``(b) Notice of Criteria.--Within 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of the Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 
1997, the Secretary shall establish and publish in the Federal Register 
criteria for the submittal of proposals for a grant under this section, 
and for the awarding of such grants.
    ``(c) Principal Criteria.--The principal criteria for the awarding 
of grants under this section shall be--
            ``(1) the relevance of the proposed research to the plan 
        developed under section 6123;
            ``(2) the scientific and technical merit of the proposed 
        research; and
            ``(3) the potential for participation by undergraduate 
        students in the proposed research.
    ``(d) Competitive, Merit-Based Evaluation.--Grants shall be awarded 
under this section on the basis of evaluation of proposals through a 
competitive, merit-based process.
``Sec. 6134. Authorization of appropriations
    ``(a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated, out 
of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), to the 
Secretary of Transportation--
            ``(1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            ``(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
            ``(3) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
for carrying out sections 6132 and 6133.
    ``(b) Availability of Funds.--Funds authorized for carrying out 
sections 6132 and 6133 shall be available for obligation in the same 
manner as if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, 
United States Code, and such funds shall remain available for 
obligation for a period of two years after the last day of the fiscal 
year for which such funds are made available under subsection (a).

      ``SUBCHAPTER IV--COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT RESEARCH

``Sec. 6141. Community and Environmental Impact Research Program
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
establish a Community and Environmental Impact Research Program to 
assess the relationships between transportation modes, programs, and 
projects and their environmental and community impacts. As appropriate, 
in carrying out the program, the Secretary shall consult with the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of 
Energy, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services, and the heads of other appropriate 
Federal departments and agencies and shall maximize the involvement of 
State and local governments and metropolitan planning organizations, 
United States colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations and 
research institutes, and the private sector.
    ``(b) Research.--The program to be carried out under this section 
shall include research designed to--
            ``(1) develop transportation alternatives which improve 
        mobility and access, and reduce negative impacts on communities 
        and the environment of transportation systems;
            ``(2) reduce emissions;
            ``(3) develop more accurate models for evaluating 
        alternative transportation control measures and alternative 
        transportation system designs, including pedestrian and 
        bicycle-related measures and system designs which may reduce 
        emissions, and are appropriate for use by metropolitan planning 
        organizations and State and local governments in designing 
        implementation plans to meet air quality standards under the 
        Clean Air Act;
            ``(4) improve understanding of the factors that contribute 
        to the demand for transportation, including transportation 
        system design, demographic change, and land use planning;
            ``(5) develop indicators of economic, social, and 
        environmental performance of transportation systems to 
        facilitate analysis of potential alternatives, with respect to 
        energy efficiency, crash-related deaths and injuries, emission 
        of pollutants, and transportation delays;
            ``(6) develop more comprehensive information regarding the 
        role of trails designed for pedestrians, bicycles, and other 
        nonmotorized transportation in facilitating accessibility, and 
        mobility within communities; and
            ``(7) examine the effects on transportation demand of the 
        use of communications and other information technologies.
    ``(c) Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts.--The Secretary 
may make grants and enter into cooperative agreements and contracts to 
carry out this section. Awards shall be made on the basis of a 
competitive, merit-based process.
    ``(d) Information Clearinghouse.--The Secretary shall establish and 
maintain a repository for summary data and results of federally 
sponsored projects carried out pursuant to this section and shall make, 
upon request, such information readily available to all users of the 
repository at an appropriate cost.
    ``(e) Funding.--(1) There are authorized to be appropriated, out of 
the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), 
$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000 to carry out 
this section.
    ``(2) Funds authorized for carrying out this section shall be 
available for obligation in the same manner as if such funds were 
apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, and such 
funds shall remain available for obligation for a period of two years 
after the last day of the fiscal year for which such funds are made 
available under paragraph (1).
``Sec. 6142. Transportation-Environment Cooperative Research Program
    ``(a) Independent Governing Board.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation, 
        after consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
        Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
        shall establish and maintain an independent governing board to 
        recommend environmental and energy conservation, technology, 
        and technology transfer research projects related to 
        transportation.
            ``(2) Membership.--The board shall include--
                    ``(A) at least 15 persons who are not Federal 
                employees who collectively comprise an appropriate 
                balance of representatives of State transportation and 
                environmental agencies, environmental scientists and 
                engineers, representatives of environmental 
                organizations, and representatives of metropolitan 
                planning organizations and transit operating agencies; 
                and
                    ``(B) 1 representative each from--
                            ``(i) the Department of Transportation;
                            ``(ii) the Department of Energy;
                            ``(iii) the Environmental Protection 
                        Agency;
                            ``(iv) the Department of the Interior; and
                            ``(v) the Department of Health and Human 
                        Services.
        Members appointed under subparagraph (A) shall be selected so 
        as to maintain an appropriate geographic balance among the 
        members.
            ``(3) Travel expenses.--Each member of the board shall 
        receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 
        5, United States Code.
            ``(4) Nonapplicability.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act shall not apply to the board.
    ``(b) National Academy of Sciences.--The Secretary of 
Transportation shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy 
of Sciences under which the National Academy of Sciences will award 
grants, through a competitive, merit-based, peer-reviewed process, for 
carrying out research recommended by the independent governing board 
established under subsection (a).
    ``(c) Funding.--(1) There are authorized to be appropriated, out of 
the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), 
$4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000 to carry out 
this section.
    ``(2) Funds authorized for carrying out this section shall be 
available for obligation in the same manner as if such funds were 
apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, and such 
funds shall remain available for obligation for a period of two years 
after the last day of the fiscal year for which such funds are made 
available under paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The table of chapters of subtitle III 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new item:

``61. RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT...................    6101''.

SEC. 6002. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 
              PROGRAM.

    Section 307 of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1)(C);
                    (B) by adding at the end of paragraph (1) the 
                following new subparagraphs:
                    ``(C) Technological innovation.--The programs and 
                activities carried out under this section shall be 
                consistent with the plan developed under section 6123 
                of title 49.
                    ``(D) Funds.--Of the amounts authorized to be 
                appropriated under section 6009(a) of the Surface 
                Transportation Research and Development Act of 1997, 
                not more than--
                            ``(i) $116,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
                            ``(ii) $116,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) $116,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
                and such funds as may be deposited by any cooperating 
                organization or person in a special account of the 
                Treasury of the United States established for such 
                purposes, shall be available for carrying out this 
                subsection and subsection (b). Such funds shall be 
                available for obligation in the same manner as if such 
                funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of this title, 
                and such funds shall remain available for obligation 
                for a period of three years after the last day of the 
                fiscal year for which the funds are made available.'';
                    (C) by striking ``highway'' in paragraph (2)(A) and 
                inserting in lieu thereof ``surface transportation'';
                    (D) by striking paragraph (3); and
                    (E) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph 
                (3);
            (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Mandatory Contents of Program.--The surface transportation 
research and technology development programs of the Department of 
Transportation shall be consistent with the plan developed under 
section 6123 of title 49, and shall include--
            ``(1) a coordinated long-term program of research for the 
        development, use, and dissemination of performance indicators 
        to measure the performance of the surface transportation system 
        of the United States, including indicators for productivity, 
        efficiency, energy use, air quality, congestion, safety, 
        maintenance, and other factors which reflect the overall 
        performance of such system; and
            ``(2) a program to strengthen and expand surface 
        transportation infrastructure research and technology 
        development, including--
                    ``(A) methods, materials, and testing to improve 
                the durability of surface transportation infrastructure 
                facilities and extend the life of bridge structures, 
                including new and innovative technologies to reduce 
                corrosion and tests simulating seismic activity, 
                vibration, and weather;
                    ``(B) a research and development program directed 
                toward the reduction of costs associated with the 
                construction of highways and mass transit systems;
                    ``(C) research on the use of recycled materials 
                such as paper and plastic fiber reinforcement systems;
                    ``(D) research and development on the 
                implementation of new and innovative fuel technologies, 
                including biodiesel fuel, that enable recycled and 
                renewable resources to be used as transportation fuels;
                    ``(E) a surface transportation research program to 
                develop evaluation equipment for infrastructure 
                facilities, including facilities that utilize advanced 
                materials;
                    ``(F) information technology including--
                            ``(i) appropriate computer programs to 
                        collect and analyze data on the status of the 
                        existing infrastructure facilities for 
                        enhancing management, growth, and capacity; and
                            ``(ii) models of surface transportation 
                        systems for--
                                    ``(I) predicting capacity, safety, 
                                and infrastructure durability problems;
                                    ``(II) evaluating planned research 
                                projects; and
                                    ``(III) testing the strengths and 
                                weaknesses of proposed revisions in 
                                surface transportation operations 
                                programs;
                    ``(G) new innovative technologies to enhance and 
                facilitate field construction and rehabilitation 
                techniques for minimizing disruption during repair and 
                maintenance of structures; and
                    ``(H) an increased understanding of the extent to 
                which traditional contracting and specification 
                practices impede innovation, and of the role of 
                alternative practices and incentives to overcoming 
                barriers to the utilization of advanced technologies 
                and research results.'';
            (3) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(d) Study of Future Strategic Highway Research Program.--
            ``(1) Study.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 120 days after 
                the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
                shall make a grant to, or enter into a cooperative 
                agreement or contract with, the Transportation Research 
                Board of the National Academy of Sciences (referred to 
                in this section as the `Board') to conduct a study to 
                determine the goals, purposes, research agenda and 
                projects, administrative structure, and fiscal needs 
                for a new strategic highway research program to replace 
                the program established under section 307(d) (as in 
                effect on the day before the date of enactment of this 
                section), or a similar effort.
                    ``(B) Consultation.--In conducting the study, the 
                Board shall consult with the American Association of 
                State Highway and Transportation Officials and such 
                other entities as the Board determines to be necessary 
                to the conduct of the study.
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after making a grant 
        or entering into a cooperative agreement or contract under 
        subsection (a), the Board shall submit a final report on the 
        results of the study to the Secretary, the Committee on 
        Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the Committee 
        on Science and the Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.'';
            (4) by striking subsection (e);
            (5) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), and (h) as 
        subsections (e), (f), and (g), respectively;
            (6) in subsection (e), as so redesignated by paragraph (5) 
        of this section--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        program to study the vulnerability of the Federal-aid highway 
        system and other surface transportation systems to seismic 
        activity and to develop and implement cost-effective methods to 
        reduce such vulnerability.'';
                    (B) by striking paragraphs (2), (4), and (5);
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (2); and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--(A) Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated under section 6009(a) of the 
        Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 1997, 
        not more than--
                    ``(i) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
                    ``(ii) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
                    ``(iii) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
        shall be available for carrying out this subsection.
            ``(B) Funds authorized for carrying out this subsection 
        shall be available for obligation in the same manner as if such 
        funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of this title, and such 
        funds shall remain available for obligation for a period of 
        three years after the last day of the fiscal year for which 
        such funds are made available under subparagraph (A).'';
            (7) in subsection (f), as so redesignated by paragraph (5) 
        of this section, by inserting ``Definition.--'' before ``As 
        used in''; and
            (8) in subsection (g), as so redesignated by paragraph (5) 
        of this section--
                    (A) by inserting ``Reports.--'' before ``The 
                Secretary shall'';
                    (B) by inserting ``and the Committee on Science'' 
                after ``Transportation and Infrastructure''; and
                    (C) by striking ``1983'' and inserting in lieu 
                thereof ``1999''.

SEC. 6003. STATISTICS RESEARCH.

    Section 111 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Research and Development Grants.--The Secretary may make 
grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with, 
public and nonprofit private entities for--
            ``(1) the investigation of subjects listed in subsection 
        (c)(1), and for research and development of new methods of data 
        collection, management, integration, dissemination, 
        interpretation, and analysis;
            ``(2) development of electronic clearinghouses of 
        transportation data and related information; and
            ``(3) development and improvement of methods for sharing 
        geographic data.
There are authorized to be appropriated, out of the Highway Trust Fund 
(other than the Mass Transit Account), to the Secretary $500,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000 for carrying out this 
subsection. Such funds shall be available for obligation in the same 
manner as if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, 
United States Code, and such funds shall remain available for 
obligation for a period of two years after the last day of the fiscal 
year for which the funds are made available.''.

SEC. 6004. APPLIED RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 326 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 326. Applied research and technology utilization program
    ``(a) Identification of Goals and Implementation.--The Secretary 
shall, beginning 30 days after the transmittal of the plan developed 
under section 6123 of title 49, identify the 3 highest priority applied 
research and technology utilization goals of the Department, consistent 
with that plan, and shall implement a program to achieve those goals. 
The Secretary shall give preference to projects that leverage Federal 
funds against significant resources from other sources, public or 
private.
    ``(b) Funding.--Funds authorized for carrying out this section 
shall be available for obligation in the same manner as if such funds 
were apportioned under chapter 1 of this title, except that the Federal 
share of the cost of any activity under this section shall not exceed 
50 percent, and such funds shall remain available for obligation for a 
period of 3 years after the last day of the fiscal year for which the 
funds are appropriated.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The item relating to section 326 in the 
table of sections of chapter 3 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:

``326. Applied research and technology utilization program.''.

SEC. 6005. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS.

    (a) Technology Transfer and Technology Partnerships.--Chapter 3 of 
title 23, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following new section:
``Sec. 327. Technology transfer and technology partnerships
    ``(a) Local Technical Assistance Program.--
            ``(1) Authority.--The Secretary shall carry out a 
        transportation technology transfer program, which is consistent 
        with the plan developed under section 6123 of title 49, to 
        provide access to modern highway technology to public 
        authorities and the private sector.
            ``(2) Assistance.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary may make grants and enter into contracts and 
        cooperative agreements for technology transfer activities, 
        technology assistance, and related support services that will--
                    ``(A) make research results and technology 
                available to assist public authorities and the private 
                sector to--
                            ``(i) develop and expand their expertise in 
                        highway technology (including pavement, 
                        concrete, bridge, and safety management 
                        systems) and in contracting practices which 
                        favor the use, when cost effective on a life 
                        cycle basis, of advanced products and 
                        technologies of innovative designs and 
                        construction techniques;
                            ``(ii) improve highway and safety 
                        technology;
                            ``(iii) enhance programs for the movement 
                        of passengers and freight;
                            ``(iv) promote intergovernmental 
                        transportation planning, life cycle costing, 
                        and project selection in a manner that 
                        incorporates state-of-the-art knowledge related 
                        to land use planning, environmental protection, 
                        and preventive maintenance;
                            ``(v) expand knowledge of implementing life 
                        cycle cost assessment, including establishing 
                        the appropriate analysis period and discount 
                        rates, learning how to value and properly 
                        consider user costs, determining tradeoffs 
                        between reconstruction and rehabilitation, and 
                        establishing methodologies for balancing higher 
                        initial costs of new technologies and improved 
                        or advanced materials against lower maintenance 
                        costs;
                            ``(vi) in conjunction with the National 
                        Institute of Standards and Technology and other 
                        appropriate organizations, develop standardized 
                        estimates of useful life under various 
                        conditions for advanced materials of use in 
                        surface transportation; and
                            ``(vii) deal effectively with road-related 
                        problems by preparing and providing training 
                        packages, manuals, guidelines, and technical 
                        resource materials;
                    ``(B) identify, package, promote, and deliver 
                usable highway technology to local jurisdictions to 
                assist transportation agencies in developing and 
                expanding their ability to deal effectively with road-
                related problems; and
                    ``(C) operate, in cooperation with public 
                authorities and institutions of higher education, 
                technology transfer centers.
            ``(3) Federal share.--Funds appropriated for carrying out 
        this subsection shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of 
        establishing and maintaining a technology transfer center 
        described in paragraph (2)(C), except that in the case of a 
        technology transfer center operated by or through an American 
        Indian tribal government up to 100 percent of the costs may be 
        provided pursuant to this subsection.
            ``(4) Funding.--Funds authorized for carrying out this 
        subsection shall be available for obligation in the same manner 
        as if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of this 
        title, and such funds shall remain available for obligation for 
        a period of 3 years after the last day of the fiscal year for 
        which the funds are appropriated.
    ``(b) Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program.--
            ``(1) General authority.--The Secretary may, acting either 
        independently or in cooperation with other Federal departments, 
        agencies, and instrumentalities, make grants for fellowships 
        for any purpose for which research, technology development, or 
        technology transfer is authorized by this section.
            ``(2) Implementation.--The Secretary shall implement a 
        transportation fellowship program for the purpose of attracting 
        qualified students to the field of transportation research. 
        Such program shall be known as the `Dwight David Eisenhower 
        Transportation Fellowship Program'. The program shall offer 
        fellowships to students at institutions of higher education. 
        The recipients of the fellowships must be United States 
        citizens.
            ``(3) Funding.--Funds authorized for carrying out this 
        subsection shall be available for obligation in the same manner 
        as if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of this 
        title, and such funds shall remain available for obligation for 
        a period of one year after the last day of the fiscal year for 
which such funds are appropriated.
    ``(c) Technology Partnerships.--
            ``(1) Authority.--In a manner consistent with the plan 
        developed under section 6123 of title 49, the Secretary may 
        make competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements 
        to or with States and, after peer review, to or with 
        institutions of higher education, for the purpose of--
                    ``(A) technology transfer and the further 
                development and validation of the results of applied 
                research programs such as the Strategic Highway 
                Research Program, including the Superpave system, to 
                establish a complete program that is well validated and 
                implements performance prediction algorithms;
                    ``(B) providing Federal leadership and support in 
                areas like initiation of regional technology excellence 
                centers, user-producer groups, Long-Term Pavement 
                Performance product implementation, and technology 
                access and exchange programs; and
                    ``(C) dissemination of information to States, 
                academia, and industry.
            ``(2) Funding.--Funds authorized for carrying out this 
        subsection shall be available for obligation in the same manner 
        as if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of this 
        title, and such funds shall remain available for obligation for 
        a period of 3 years after the last day of the fiscal year for 
        which such funds are appropriated.''.
    (b) National Highway Institute.--Section 321 of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``training programs 
        of instruction for Federal Highway Administration'' and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``education and training programs 
        focusing on new and rapidly changing surface transportation 
        technologies for Federal'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``highway'' and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``surface transportation'';
            (3) in subsection (b), by striking ``highway department'' 
        both places it appears and inserting in lieu thereof 
        ``transportation agency'';
            (4) in subsection (c), by striking ``highway employees'' 
        and inserting in lieu thereof ``transportation employees'';
            (5) in subsection (d), by striking ``, or any other 
        person''; and
            (6) in subsection (e)(4), by inserting at the end the 
        following new sentence: ``All fees collected under this 
        subsection shall be used to defray costs associated with the 
        development or administration of education and training 
        programs authorized by this section.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--(1) The table of sections of chapter 3 
of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new item:

``327. Technology transfer and technology partnerships.''.
    (2) Section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after the undesignated paragraph relating to ``Indian 
reservation roads'' the following new paragraph:
    ``The term `institution of higher education' has the meaning given 
that term in section 1201 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.''.
    (3) Section 204(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``section 326'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 
327(a)''.

SEC. 6006. LONG-TERM PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE AND ADVANCED RESEARCH.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 3 of title 23, United States Code, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 328. Long-term pavement performance and advanced research
    ``(a) Long-Term Pavement Performance.--
            ``(1) Continuation of program.--The Secretary of 
        Transportation may make grants and enter into contracts and 
        cooperative agreements for the continuation of activities under 
        the Long-Term Pavement Performance research program begun under 
        the Strategic Highway Research Program.
            ``(2) Funding.--Funds authorized for carrying out this 
        subsection shall remain available for obligation for a period 
        of three years after the last day of the fiscal year for which 
        such funds are appropriated.
    ``(b) Advanced Research.--
            ``(1) Authority.--The Secretary shall establish an advanced 
        research program, which is consistent with the plan developed 
        under section 6123 of title 49, to address longer-term, higher-
        risk research that shows potential benefits for improving the 
        durability, longevity, mobility, efficiency, environmental 
        impact, productivity, and safety of surface transportation 
        systems. In carrying out such program, the Secretary shall seek 
        to develop partnerships with the public and private sectors.
            ``(2) Activities.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary may make grants, and enter into contracts and 
        cooperative agreements, for--
                    ``(A) characterization of the composition and 
                performance characteristics of basic construction 
                materials used in the infrastructure;
                    ``(B) diagnostics for evaluation of the condition 
                of surface transportation structures to enable the 
                assessment of risks of failure from seismic activity, 
                vibration, and weather;
                    ``(C) design and construction details for composite 
                structures;
                    ``(D) safety research and technology development;
                    ``(E) environmental research;
                    ``(F) data acquisition and analysis techniques for 
                system condition and performance monitoring; and
                    ``(G) human factors research.
    ``(c) Funding.--Funds authorized for carrying out this section 
shall be available for obligation in the same manner as if such funds 
were apportioned under chapter 1 of this title.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections of chapter 3 of 
title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new item:

``328. Long-term pavement performance and advanced research.''.

SEC. 6007. STATE RESEARCH.

    Section 307(c) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``and the evaluation and utilization of 
        advanced materials, innovative construction techniques, and 
        advanced technology'' after ``135 of this title'' in paragraph 
        (1)(B);
            (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) Minimum expenditures on research, development, and 
        technology transfer activities.--Not less than 25 percent of 
        the funds that are apportioned to a State for a fiscal year and 
        are subject to subsection (a) shall be expended by the State 
        transportation agency for research, development, and technology 
        transfer activities described in subsection (a) relating to 
        surface transportation systems, in a manner that is consistent 
        with the plan developed under section 6123 of title 49.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) Annual report.--Each State shall report annually to 
        the Secretary on the level of its funding for activities 
        described in paragraph (1)(E).''.

SEC. 6008. MINIMUM EXPENDITURES ON LONG-TERM RESEARCH PROJECTS.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 3 of title 23, United States Code, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 329. Minimum expenditures on long-term research projects
    ``Not less than 15 percent of the funds made available to the 
Secretary of Transportation under this title for research and 
development, not including amounts apportioned to States, shall be 
expended on basic research and on long-term applied research projects 
which are expected to have a duration of 10 years or more. Such 
expenditures may include expenditures made under section 328.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections of chapter 3 of 
title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new item:

``329. Minimum expenditures on long-term research projects.''.

SEC. 6009. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Surface Transportation Research and Technology Development 
Program.--There are authorized to be appropriated, out of the Highway 
Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account)--
            (1) $118,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            (2) $118,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
            (3) $118,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
to carry out section 307 of title 23, United States Code.
    (b) Applied Research and Technology Program.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated, out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass 
Transit Account)--
            (1) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            (2) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
            (3) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
to carry out section 326 of title 23, United States Code. Where 
appropriate to achieve the goals established under subsection (a) of 
that section, the Secretary may allocate such funds to States.
    (c) Local Technical Assistance Program.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated, out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass 
Transit Account)--
            (1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            (2) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
            (3) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
to carry out section 327(a) of title 23, United States Code.
    (d) National Highway Institute.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated, out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass 
Transit Account)--
            (1) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            (2) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
            (3) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
to carry out section 321 of title 23, United States Code.
    (e) Transportation Fellowship Program.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated, out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass 
Transit Account)--
            (1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            (2) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
            (3) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
to carry out section 327(b) of title 23, United States Code.
    (f) Technology Partnerships.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated, out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass 
Transit Account)--
            (1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            (2) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
            (3) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
to carry out section 327(c) of title 23, United States Code.
    (g) Long-Term Pavement Performance.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated, out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass 
Transit Account)--
            (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            (2) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
            (3) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
to carry out section 328(a) of title 23, United States Code.
    (h) Advanced Research.--There are authorized to be appropriated, 
out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account)--
            (1) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            (2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
            (3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
to carry out section 328(b) of title 23, United States Code.

             Subtitle B--Intelligent Transportation Systems

SEC. 6021. SHORT TITLE AMENDMENT.

    Section 6051 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
Act of 1991 is amended by striking ``Vehicle-Highway Systems Act of 
1991'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Transportation Systems Act of 
1997''.

SEC. 6022. ESTABLISHMENT AND SCOPE OF PROGRAM.

    Section 6052 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
Act of 1991 is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 6052. ESTABLISHMENT AND SCOPE OF PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--Subject to the provisions of this part, and 
consistent with the plan developed under section 6123 of title 49, 
United States Code, the Secretary shall conduct a program to research, 
develop, and operationally test intelligent transportation systems and 
promote implementation of integrated and interoperable intelligent 
transportation systems as a component of the Nation's surface 
transportation systems.
    ``(b) Goals.--The goals of the program to be carried out under this 
part shall include, but not be limited to--
            ``(1) the protection and enhancement of the environment 
        affected by surface transportation;
            ``(2) the enhancement of safe and efficient operation of 
        the Nation's highway systems with a particular emphasis on 
        aspects of systems that will increase safety and identification 
        of aspects of the system that may degrade safety;
            ``(3) the reduction of traffic congestion;
            ``(4) the development, in advance of Federally supported 
        deployment efforts, of the standards and protocols required to 
        ensure the interoperability of intelligent transportation 
        systems;
            ``(5) the collection and analysis of data to enable 
        purchasers of such systems to understand how best to apply 
        intelligent transportation systems to their local situations, 
        to understand life cycle costs, and to determine the benefits 
        of their systems in rural and urban settings;
            ``(6) the development of a workforce capable of operating 
        intelligent transportation systems;
            ``(7) the development of new generations of intelligent 
        transportation systems which are cost-efficient and easier to 
        operate; and
            ``(8) the completion of the Federal financial role in the 
        Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks and 
        transfer of responsibility for its operations and maintenance 
        to a non-Federal entity by October 1, 2002.''.

SEC. 6023. GENERAL AUTHORITIES AND REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 6053 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
Act of 1991 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``colleges and 
        universities, and State'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
        ``institutions of higher education and State, regional,'';
            (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Standards.--Consistent with section 12(d) of the National 
Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995, the Secretary shall 
expedite the development, implementation, and maintenance of a National 
Architecture and of the required voluntary consensus standards and 
protocols to promote and support the widespread use and evaluation of 
interoperable intelligent transportation systems technology as a 
component of the Nation's surface transportation systems. Not later 
than 6 months after the date of the enactment of the Surface 
Transportation Research and Development Act of 1997, the Secretary 
shall develop a prioritized list of intelligent transportation systems 
standards. The Secretary shall annually update such list. To the extent 
practicable, such standards and protocols shall promote 
interoperability among intelligent transportation systems technologies 
implemented or likely to be implemented in the future throughout the 
States. The Secretary may enter into agreements with private sector 
standards development organizations, with national laboratories, and 
with the National Institute of Standards and Technology in carrying out 
this subsection.'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by inserting ``independent'' after 
                ``requirements for the''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, including provisions to ensure 
                the objectivity and independence of the evaluator 
                needed to avoid any real or apparent conflict of 
                interest or potential influence on the outcome by 
                parties to such tests or to any other formal evaluation 
                conducted under this part'' after ``section 6055''; and
            (4) in subsection (e), by striking ``vehicle-highway'' and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``transportation''.

SEC. 6024. STRATEGIC PLAN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Section 6054 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
Act of 1991 is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (a)(2)(E) to read as follows:
                    ``(E) promote interoperability and integration of 
                intelligent transportation systems and require that 
                systems using Federal funds conform to the National 
                Architecture and to interoperability standards.'';
            (2) by amending subsection (c)(2)(A) to read as follows:
                    ``(A) describe in detail the extent to which the 
                goals, objectives, and milestones specified under 
                subsection (a)(2)(A) were met in the previous fiscal 
                year, including standards development;''; and
            (3) by striking subsection (d).

SEC. 6025. TECHNICAL, PLANNING, AND OPERATIONAL TESTING PROJECT 
              ASSISTANCE.

    Section 6055 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
Act of 1991 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``vehicle-highway'' each place it appears;
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``for a designated 
        corridor'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``under a project 
        selected under section 6056''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) by striking ``universities'' and inserting in 
                lieu thereof ``institutions of higher education'';
                    (B) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (1)(A);
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (1)(B) the 
                following new subparagraphs:
                    ``(C) validate and accelerate the establishment and 
                widespread conformance with the National Architecture 
                and related standards and protocols, including 
                demonstrations and tests related to integrating and 
                increasing the interoperability of currently installed 
                intelligent transportation systems;
                    ``(D) demonstrate innovative contracting or 
                financing strategies, or address legal, technological, 
                or institutional barriers to the widespread utilization 
                of intelligent transportation systems technology;
                    ``(E) validate the effectiveness of integrated 
                intelligent transportation systems and infrastructure, 
                including multimodal applications, in enhancing the 
                safety and efficiency of surface transportation;
                    ``(F) demonstrate advanced traffic management 
                technologies, including the use of fiber optic cables 
                and video, to monitor and control traffic flow and 
                volume; and
                    ``(G) contribute to the development of a workforce 
                capable of operating and maintaining intelligent 
                transportation systems and infrastructure;''; and
                    (D) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) require that operational tests utilizing Federal 
        funds under this part--
                    ``(A) are designed for the collection of data to 
                permit objective evaluation of the success of the tests 
                and the derivation of cost-benefit information that is 
                useful to others contemplating the purchase of similar 
                systems; and
                    ``(B) have a written evaluation of the intelligent 
                transportation systems technologies investigated and of 
                the results of the investigation which--
                            ``(i) is consistent with the guidelines 
                        developed pursuant to section 6053(c); and
                            ``(ii) includes detailed information on the 
                        benefits and costs of the intelligent 
                        transportation systems being tested to aid 
                        similarly situated localities who are 
                        contemplating intelligent transportation 
                        systems purchases.''.

SEC. 6026. APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY.

    Section 6056 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
Act of 1991 is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 6056. APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY.

    ``(a) Technology Utilization.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
program to promote the utilization of regional integrated, intermodal 
intelligent transportation systems, including--
            ``(1) validating and accelerating the establishment of 
        national intelligent transportation systems standards and 
        protocols; and
            ``(2) technical assistance and training in advanced 
        technologies by institutions of higher education and others.
    ``(b) Project Selection.--Project selection under this section 
shall--
            ``(1) help fulfill the goals and objectives outlined in the 
        plan developed under section 6054(a)(1);
            ``(2) when applicable, be part of approved plans and 
        programs developed under Statewide and metropolitan 
        transportation planning processes;
            ``(3) involve significant non-Federal investment; and
            ``(4) include an analysis of life cycle costs and a 
        financial plan for operations and maintenance.
    ``(c) Standardization of Intelligent Transportation Systems.--(1) 
Funds authorized for carrying out this section may be obligated to 
deploy intelligent transportation systems technologies only in 
accordance with provisional or final voluntary consensus standards and 
protocols necessary to ensure interoperability. In the absence of 
required standards and protocols, available funds obligated under this 
section shall be used exclusively for the research and technology 
development and operational tests of intelligent transportation 
systems.
    ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term `provisional' means 
approved by the appropriate subunit of a private sector standards 
development organization and, in the judgment of the Secretary, not 
likely to change significantly in its final form.
    ``(d) Funding Restrictions.--Eligibility for funding under this 
section for projects in metropolitan areas shall be limited to items 
necessary to integrate intelligent transportation systems elements. At 
least 15 percent of funds available for intelligent transportation 
systems shall be available only for basic research and longer-term 
applied research, including--
            ``(1) research on new, unproven intelligent transportation 
        systems which are at least 5 years from utilization, and are 
        designed to reduce congestion, enhance safety, and improve cost 
        effectiveness;
            ``(2) human factors research, including research in the 
        science of the driving process, to improve the operational 
        efficiency and safety of intelligent transportation systems;
            ``(3) research on environmental, weather, and natural 
        conditions that impact intelligent transportation systems, 
        including the effects of cold climates;
            ``(4) research to increase intelligent transportation 
        systems and infrastructure durability; and
            ``(5) materials or magnetics research.''.

SEC. 6027. FUNDING.

    Section 6058 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
Act of 1991 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``IVHS Corridors Program'' in the heading 
        of subsection (a) and inserting in lieu thereof ``Applications 
        of Technology'';
            (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``section 6056'' and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``this part'';
            (3) in subsection (a), by striking ``$71,000,000'' and all 
        that follows through ``authorized under this part'' and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``$235,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
        years 1998 through 2000'';
            (4) by striking subsections (b) and (c);
            (5) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
        (b) and (c), respectively; and
            (6) in subsection (b), as so redesignated by paragraph (5) 
        of this section, by striking ``80 percent'' and all that 
        follows through ``funding of such activities'' and inserting in 
        lieu thereof ``50 percent of the cost of such activities''.

SEC. 6028. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 6059 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
Act of 1991 is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 6059. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For the purposes of this part--
            ``(1) the term `institution of higher education' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 1201 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965;
            ``(2) the term `intelligent transportation systems' means 
        the development or application of electronics, communications, 
        or information processing (including advanced traffic 
        management systems, commercial vehicle operations, advanced 
        traveler information systems, commercial and advanced vehicle 
        control systems, advanced public transportation systems, 
        satellite vehicle tracking systems, and advanced vehicle 
        communications systems) used singly or in combination to 
        improve the efficiency and safety of surface transportation 
        systems;
            ``(3) the term `National Architecture' means the common 
        framework adopted by the Secretary, including technical 
        guidelines, details, and standards, to ensure the coordinated 
        development of interoperable intelligent transportation 
        systems; and
            ``(4) the term `State' has the meaning given that term in 
        section 101 of title 23, United States Code.''.