[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3551 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3551

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 20, 2003

  Mr. Ehlers introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
       Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on 
  Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 2003''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
                TITLE I--SURFACE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 102. Goals, principles, and processes.
Sec. 103. Transportation research and development strategic planning 
                            and annual reporting.
Sec. 104. Surface transportation research and development.
Sec. 105. Technology deployment.
Sec. 106. Training and education.
Sec. 107. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Sec. 108. State planning and research.
Sec. 109. Future Strategic Highway Research Program.
Sec. 110. University Transportation Centers.
Sec. 111. Intelligent Transportation systems.
Sec. 112. National Multimodal Trends Research Program.
                        TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 201. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 202. Transit research.
Sec. 203. National Transit Institute.
Sec. 204. Human resource programs.
Sec. 205. Highway safety research and development.
Sec. 206. Motor carrier research and technology program.
Sec. 207. Transportation, energy, and environment.
Sec. 208. National Cooperative Freight Transportation Research Program.
Sec. 209. Next Generation National Transportation Policy Study 
                            Commission.
Sec. 210. Real-time system management information program.
Sec. 211. Planning capacity building initiative.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Research and development is critical to developing and 
        maintaining a transportation system that meets the goals of 
        safety, mobility, economic vitality, efficiency, equity, and 
        environmental protection.
            (2) Federally sponsored surface transportation research and 
        development has produced many successes. The development of 
        rumble strips has increased safety; research on materials has 
        increased the lifespan of pavements, saving money and reducing 
        the disruption caused by construction; and Geographic 
        Information Systems have improved the management and efficiency 
        of transit fleets.
            (3) Despite these important successes, the Federal surface 
        transportation research and development investment represents 
        only about 0.5 percent of overall government spending on 
        surface transportation.
            (4) While Congress increased funding for overall 
        transportation programs by about 40 percent in the 
        Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, funding for 
        transportation research and development remained relatively 
        flat.
            (5) The Federal investment in research and development 
        should be balanced between short-term applied and long-term 
        fundamental research and development. The investment should 
        also cover a wide range of research areas, including research 
        on materials and construction, research on operations, research 
        on transportation trends and human factors, and research 
        addressing the institutional barriers to deployment of new 
        technologies.
            (6) Therefore, Congress finds that it is in the United 
        States interest to increase the Federal investment in 
        transportation research and development, and to conduct 
        research in critical research gaps, in order to ensure that the 
        transportation system meets the goals of safety, mobility, 
        economic vitality, efficiency, equity, and environmental 
        protection.

                TITLE I--SURFACE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Surface transportation research, development, and 
        deployment.--To carry out sections 502, 503, 506, 507, and 509 
        of title 23, United States Code, and section 112 of this Act, 
        relating to research and development, there are authorized to 
        be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation the 
        following:
                    (A) $228,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, of which--
                            (i) $15,000,000 shall be set aside to carry 
                        out the Surface Transportation Environment and 
                        Planning Cooperative Research Program under 
                        section 507 of title 23, United States Code;
                            (ii) $7,000,000 shall be set aside to carry 
                        out advanced exploratory research under section 
                        502(d) of title 23, United States Code; and
                            (iii) $5,000,000 shall be set aside to 
                        carry out the National Multimodal Trends 
                        Research Progam under section 112 of this Act.
                    (B) $272,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, of which--
                            (i) $15,000,000 shall be set aside to carry 
                        out the Surface Transportation Environment and 
                        Planning Cooperative Research Program under 
                        section 507 of title 23, United States Code;
                            (ii) $10,000,000 shall be set aside to 
                        carry out research under section 502(d) of 
                        title 23, United States Code; and
                            (iii) $5,000,000 shall be set aside to 
                        carry out research under section 112 of this 
                        Act.
                    (C) $316,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, of which--
                            (i) $20,000,000 shall be set aside to carry 
                        out the Surface Transportation Environment and 
                        Planning Cooperative Research Program under 
                        section 507 of title 23, United States Code;
                            (ii) $15,000,000 shall be set aside to 
                        carry out research under section 502(d) of 
                        title 23, United States Code; and
                            (iii) $5,000,000 shall be set aside to 
                        carry out research under section 112 of this 
                        Act.
                    (D) $367,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which--
                            (i) $20,000,000 shall be set aside to carry 
                        out the Surface Transportation Environment and 
                        Planning Cooperative Research Program under 
                        section 507 of title 23, United States Code;
                            (ii) $15,000,000 shall be set aside to 
                        carry out research under section 502(d) of 
                        title 23, United States Code; and
                            (iii) $5,000,000 shall be set aside to 
                        carry out research under section 112 of this 
                        Act.
                    (E) $423,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which--
                            (i) $30,000,000 shall be set aside to carry 
                        out the Surface Transportation Environment and 
                        Planning Cooperative Research Program under 
                        section 507 of title 23, United States Code;
                            (ii) $15,000,000 shall be set aside to 
                        carry out research under section 502(d) of 
                        title 23, United States Code; and
                            (iii) $5,000,000 shall be set aside to 
                        carry out research under section 112 of this 
                        Act.
                    (F) $490,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which--
                            (i) $30,000,000 shall be set aside to carry 
                        out the Surface Transportation Environment and 
                        Planning Cooperative Research Program under 
                        section 507 of title 23, United States Code;
                            (ii) $15,000,000 shall be set aside to 
                        carry out research under section 502(d) of 
                        title 23, United States Code; and
                            (iii) $5,000,000 shall be set aside to 
                        carry out research under section 112 of this 
                        Act.
            (2) Training and education.--To carry out section 504 of 
        title 23, United States Code, there are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation the following:
                    (A) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
                    (B) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
                    (C) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.
                    (D) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
                    (E) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
                    (F) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
            (3) Bureau of transportation statistics.--For the Bureau of 
        Transportation Statistics to carry out section 111 of title 49, 
        United States Code, there are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Transportation the following:
                    (A) $36,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, of which 
                $5,000,000 shall be set aside for research and 
                development grants under subsection (k)(1)(B) of such 
                section.
                    (B) $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, of which 
                $5,000,000 shall be set aside for research and 
                development grants under subsection (k)(1)(B) of such 
                section.
                    (C) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, of which 
                $5,000,000 shall be set aside for research and 
                development grants under subsection (k)(1)(B) of such 
                section.
                    (D) $43,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which 
                $5,000,000 shall be set aside for research and 
                development grants under subsection (k)(1)(B) of such 
                section.
                    (E) $47,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which 
                $5,000,000 shall be set aside for research and 
                development grants under subsection (k)(1)(B) of such 
                section.
                    (F) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which 
                $5,000,000 shall be set aside for research and 
                development grants under subsection (k)(1)(B) of such 
                section.
            (4) University transportation research.--For carrying out 
        section 5505 of title 49, United States Code, there are 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
        Transportation the following:
                    (A) $56,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
                    (B) $66,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
                    (C) $76,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.
                    (D) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
                    (E) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
                    (F) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
            (5) Intelligent transportation systems research.--For 
        carrying out the Intelligent Transportation Systems Act of 
        2003, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
        of Transportation the following:
                    (A) $130,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
                    (B) $135,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
                    (C) $140,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.
                    (D) $140,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
                    (E) $145,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
                    (F) $145,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
    (b) Collaborative Research and Development.--Section 502(b) of 
title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (3); and
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs 
        (3) and (4), respectively.

SEC. 102. GOALS, PRINCIPLES, AND PROCESSES.

    (a) Goals.--The Federal Government shall support surface 
transportation research in order to support the goals established for 
the surface transportation system as set forth in the Transportation 
Equity Act for the 21st Century, including supporting economic 
vitality, improving safety and security, increasing mobility, 
protecting and enhancing the environment, improving integration between 
modes of transportation, promoting efficiency, and emphasizing the 
preservation of the existing transportation system.
    (b) Basic Principles Governing Research and Development.--
            (1) Federal responsibility.--Funding and conducting surface 
        transportation research and development and technology transfer 
        activities shall be the responsibility of the Federal 
        Government when--
                    (A) the work is of national significance;
                    (B) it supports research in which there is a clear 
                public benefit, and private sector investment is less 
                than optimal due to market failure;
                    (C) it supports critical research that is not 
                otherwise being conducted by the public or private 
                sector;
                    (D) it supports a Federal stewardship role in 
                ensuring that State and local governments use national 
                resources efficiently; or
                    (E) it presents the best means to support Federal 
                policy goals compared to other policy alternatives.
            (2) Role.--Consistent with these Federal responsibilities, 
        the Secretary of Transportation shall--
                    (A) conduct research;
                    (B) support and facilitate research and development 
                and technology transfer activities by State highway 
                agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, and 
                local governments;
                    (C) share results of completed research; and
                    (D) support and facilitate technology and 
                innovation deployment.
            (3) Program content.--The surface transportation research 
        and development program shall include--
                    (A) fundamental, long-term research;
                    (B) research aimed at significant research gaps, 
                and emerging issues with national implications; and
                    (C) research related to policy and planning.
    (c) Processes.--
            (1) Stakeholder input.--Federally sponsored surface 
        transportation research and development activities shall 
        address the needs of partners and stakeholders. Stakeholders 
        include users of research (such as States, metropolitan 
        planning organizations, local governments, and the private 
        sector), researchers, research sponsors, and other affected 
        parties, including public interest groups. Stakeholders shall 
        be included at every level of research including strategic 
        planning, agenda setting, and program evaluation. The Secretary 
        shall expand the range and diversity of stakeholders engaged in 
        the process.
            (2) Competition and peer review.--All parties entering into 
        contracts or cooperative agreements with the Secretary, or 
        receiving grants, to perform research and development 
        activities or provide technical assistance under this Act shall 
        be selected on a competitive basis, and on the basis of the 
        results of peer review of proposals submitted to the Secretary.
            (3) Performance review and evaluation.--All surface 
        transportation research and development projects shall include 
        a component of performance measurement and evaluation. 
        Performance measures shall be established during the proposal 
        stage of a research project and shall, to the maximum extent 
        possible, be outcome-based. All evaluations shall be made 
        readily available to the public. The results of all surface 
        transportation research and development funded under this Act 
        shall be peer reviewed.

SEC. 103. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING 
              AND ANNUAL REPORTING.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 508 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 508. Transportation research and development strategic planning 
              and annual reporting
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) establish a strategic planning process, consistent 
        with section 306 of title 5 for the Department of 
        Transportation to determine national transportation research 
        and development priorities;
            ``(2) set national transportation strategic goals and 
        research and development priorities;
            ``(3) coordinate Federal transportation research and 
        development activities;
            ``(4) measure the results of those activities and how they 
        impact the performance of the transportation systems of the 
        United States; and
            ``(5) ensure that planning and reporting activities carried 
        out under this section are coordinated with all other 
        transportation planning and reporting requirements.
    ``(b) Implementation.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) provide for the integrated planning, coordination, 
        and consultation among the operating administrations of the 
        Department of Transportation, including the aviation, transit, 
        and rail operating administrations, all other Federal agencies 
        with responsibility for surface transportation research and 
        technology development, State and local governments, 
        institutions of higher education, industry, and other private 
        and public sector organizations engaged in surface 
        transportation-related research and development activities;
            ``(2) ensure that the transportation research and 
        development programs of the Department do not duplicate other 
        Federal, State, or private sector research and development 
        programs; and
            ``(3) provide for independent validation of the scientific 
        and technical assumptions underlying the transportation 
        research and development programs of the Department.
    ``(c) Transportation Research and Development Strategic Plan.--
            ``(1) Development.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Surface Transportation Research and 
        Development Act of 2003 the Secretary shall develop an 
        integrated transportation research and development strategic 
        plan. The Secretary shall periodically revise such plan.
            ``(2) Contents.--The plan shall--
                    ``(A) include the general goals and principles of 
                the Department of Transportation for transportation 
                research and development program set forth in section 
                102 of the Surface Transportation Research and 
                Development Act of 2003;
                    ``(B) define the roles of the Department and other 
                Federal agencies in achieving the goals and principles 
                identified under subparagraph (A), in order to avoid 
                unnecessary duplication of effort;
                    ``(C) define the Department's overall strategy and 
                research and development priorities, and for each 
                research area specified in section 502, set out--
                            ``(i) specific research strategies;
                            ``(ii) research objectives and priorities;
                            ``(iii) projects to be carried out;
                            ``(iv) recommended technology transfer 
                        activities to promote the deployment of 
                        research results; and
                            ``(v) short-term, medium-term, and long-
                        term technology development and deployment 
                        activities;
                    ``(D) define the role of each of the operating 
                administrations of the Department in carrying out the 
                plan over the next 5 years, including a description of 
                procedures for coordination of the efforts of the 
                Secretary with the efforts of the operating 
                administrations of the Department and other Federal 
                agencies;
                    ``(E) assess how State and local research and 
                development activities are contributing to the 
                achievement of the goals identified under subparagraph 
                (A) and priorities identified under subparagraph (C);
                    ``(F) provide details of the transportation 
                research and development programs of the Department, 
                including performance goals, resources needed to 
                achieve those goals, and performance indicators as 
                described in section 1115(a) of title 31 for the next 5 
                years for each area of research and development;
                    ``(G) incorporate input from a wide range of 
                interests in the transportation community, including 
                State transportation officials, metropolitan planning 
                organizations, local governments, business, 
                environmental and community organizations, academia, 
                and other relevant Federal agencies, and summarize 
                significant comments on the plan obtained from these 
                interests; and
                    ``(H) incorporate the input of the National Academy 
                of Sciences and include responses to significant 
                comments obtained from the Academy and other advisory 
                bodies, and describe any corrective actions taken 
                pursuant to such comments.
            ``(3) National academy of sciences review.--The Secretary 
        shall enter into an agreement for the review by the National 
        Academy of Sciences of the details of each--
                    ``(A) strategic plan or revision required under 
                section 306 of title 5;
                    ``(B) performance plan required under section 1115 
                of title 31; and
                    ``(C) program performance report required under 
                section 1116 of title 31--
        with respect to transportation research and development.
            ``(4) Performance plans and reports.--In reports submitted 
        under sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, the Secretary shall 
        include--
                    ``(A) a summary of the results for the previous 
                fiscal year of transportation research and development 
                programs to which the Department of Transportation 
                contributes, along with--
                            ``(i) an analysis of the relationship 
                        between those results and the goals identified 
                        under paragraph (2)(A); and
                            ``(ii) a description of the methodology 
                        used for assessing the results; and
                    ``(B) a description of significant transportation 
                research and development initiatives, if any, 
                undertaken during the previous fiscal year that were 
                not in the plan developed under paragraph (1), and any 
                significant changes in the plan from the previous 
                year's plan.
    ``(d) Merit Review and Performance Measurement.--Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of the Surface Transportation Research 
and Development Act of 2003, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a 
report describing competitive merit review procedures for use in 
selecting grantees and contractors in the programs covered by the plan 
developed under subsection (c) and performance measurement procedures 
for evaluating the programs.
    ``(e) Procurement Procedures.--The Secretary 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 transportation research and 
        development activities.
    ``(f) Annual Project Reports.--The Secretary shall publish and make 
publicly available an annual report documenting all transportation 
research and development activities of the Department. The report shall 
include detailed accounting of how Federal funds were expended.
    ``(g) Consistency With Government Performance and Results Act of 
1993.--The plans and reports developed under this section shall be 
consistent with and incorporated as part of the plans developed under 
section 306 of title 5 and sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 5 of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended by striking the item related to section 
508 and inserting the following:

``508. Transportation research and development strategic planning and 
                            annual reporting.''.

SEC. 104. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Surface Transportation Research and Development.--Section 502 
of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) of 
                paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) all phases of transportation planning and 
                development (including construction, transportation 
                system management and operation, modernization, 
                development, design, maintenance, safety, data 
                collection, performance analysis, multimodal 
                assessment, financing, demand forecasting, and traffic 
                conditions);
                    ``(C) institutional arrangements and support; and
                    ``(D) the effect of State laws on the activities 
                described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ``academic 
                researcher,'' after ``association, institution,'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``accessibility, 
                connectivity,'' after ``United States, including'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (11) as 
                paragraphs (5) through (12), respectively;
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(4) Methods and testing to determine the impacts, both 
        positive and negative, to communities from major transportation 
        investments.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated by 
                subparagraph (B) of this paragraph--
                            (i) by striking ``research project'' and 
                        inserting ``improvements against policy 
                        objectives'' in subparagraph (B); and
                            (ii) by inserting ``and management'' after 
                        ``transportation operations'' in subparagraph 
                        (C);
                    (E) in paragraph (12), as so redesignated by 
                subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, by striking ``, 
                including unobtrusive eyetracking technology''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:
            ``(13) Environmental research, including research described 
        in the Transportation Research Board Special Report 268, 
        entitled `Surface Transportation Environmental Research: A 
        Long-Term Strategy', published in 2002.
            ``(14) Assessment of planning strategies that link land use 
        and transportation in metropolitan areas.
            ``(15) Exploratory advanced research under subsection (d).
            ``(16) Research aimed at understanding how emerging trends 
        (including demographic, economic, and social trends) will 
        affect and are affected by surface transportation usage and 
        needs.
            ``(17) Research on the link between transportation and 
        health (including asthma and obesity).
            ``(18) Research on, and dissemination of recommendations 
        and best practices aimed at addressing, nontechnical barriers 
        to technology deployment (which include fragmented local 
        authority, rigid procurement rules, and privacy and liability 
        considerations).
            ``(19) Research on the effects of climate conditions (such 
        as freezing, thawing, and precipitation) on highway 
        construction and maintenance, including research to reduce or 
        repair damage caused by climatic conditions, development of 
        materials that can withstand climatic conditions, and research 
        on the effects of climatic conditions on the costs of highway 
        construction and maintenance.
            ``(20) Research to improve the infrastructure investment 
        needs report under subsection (g) through new methods of 
        collecting better quality data, monitoring in a system-wide 
        manner, the determination of critical metrics to assess 
        condition and performance, and new methods of statistical 
        analysis and computer models to improve the prediction of 
        future needs.
            ``(21) Research, development, and technology transfer 
        related to asset management.
            ``(22) Any other surface transportation research topics 
        that the Secretary determines, in accordance with the strategic 
        planning process under section 508, to be critical.'';
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``exploratory'' after 
                        ``shall establish an''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``fundamental'' after 
                        ``508, that addresses''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following new paragraphs:
            ``(2) Goal.--The goal of the research program under this 
        subsection shall be to achieve breakthroughs in understanding 
        transportation phenomena. Exploratory advanced research should 
        have a broader objective, longer time frame, multidisciplinary 
        nature, and have both a higher risk and a higher potential 
        payoff than for problem-solving research.
            ``(3) Agenda.--Not later than 15 months after that date of 
        enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall develop an 
        agenda for exploratory advanced research. The agenda shall 
        outline key questions to be addressed and proposed areas of 
        research to address these questions. The agenda shall also 
        document the best way to accomplish this research (such as 
        through Federal laboratories or academic researchers). Upon 
        completion, the agenda shall be transmitted to the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science 
        of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
        Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and made available 
        to the general public.
            ``(4) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with the 
        National Science Foundation in reviewing fundamental research 
        proposals, and to obtain advice on peer review protocols.
            ``(5) Workshop.--In order to develop the agenda for 
        exploratory advanced research under paragraph (3), the 
        Secretary shall convene a workshop with appropriate researchers 
        and policymakers from Federal and State agencies, as well as 
        academic researchers, to gather recommendations. The goal of 
        the workshop shall be to determine priority areas of 
        exploratory advanced research for Federal investment. Emphasis 
        shall be placed on hearing from a diverse group of 
        stakeholders. The Secretary shall make the results of the 
        workshop widely available to the public. The workshop shall be 
        held within 9 months after the date of the enactment of this 
        paragraph.
            ``(6) Use of funds.--In any fiscal year with respect to 
        which $5,000,000 or more is appropriated for carrying out this 
        subsection, at least \1/2\ of the funds in excess of $5,000,000 
        shall be used to carry out the grant program described in 
        paragraph (7). Funds appropriated for carrying out this 
        subsection not used for the grant program described in 
        paragraph (7) shall be used to carry out the agenda developed 
        under paragraph (3). All exploratory advanced research 
        proposals and results under this subsection shall be peer 
        reviewed.
            ``(7) Grant program.--If funds are available under 
        paragraph (6), the Secretary shall administer a competitive, 
        merit-reviewed and peer-reviewed grant program to support 
        fundamental research outside of the Federal Government. 
        Eligible applicants include academic researchers, and for-
        profit and not-for-profit research institutions. Under this 
        grant program, research solicitations shall be open and broad 
        in order to spur creativity and innovation. Funds may be used 
        under this paragraph to support research in a range of topics, 
        including materials, operations, and social science. Proposals 
        with the greatest merit shall be funded, and projects may 
        receive funding for multiple years.'';
            (4) in subsection (e), by striking ``(105 Stat.'' and all 
        that follows through ``performance program'' and inserting 
        ``and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century'';
            (5) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
    ``(f) Long-Term Bridge Performance Program.--
            ``(1) Authority.--The Secretary shall establish a 20 year 
        long-term bridge performance program.
            ``(2) Grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.--Under 
        the program, the Secretary shall make grants and enter into 
        cooperative agreements and contracts to--
                    ``(A) monitor, material-test, and evaluate test 
                bridges;
                    ``(B) analyze the data obtained in carrying out 
                subparagraph (A); and
                    ``(C) prepare products to fulfill program 
                objectives and meet future bridge technology needs.'';
            (6) in subsection (g)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``1999'' and inserting 
                        ``2005''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``highway and bridge'' 
                        each place it appears and inserting ``surface 
                        transportation''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``biannual 
                reports'' and all that follows through ``21st Century'' 
                and inserting ``previous reports under this 
                subsection''; and
            (7) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall operate in the 
        Federal Highway Administration a Turner-Fairbank Highway 
        Research Center.
            ``(2) Uses of the center.--The Turner-Fairbank Highway 
        Research Center shall support the--
                    ``(A) conduct of highway research and development 
                related to new highway technology;
                    ``(B) development of understandings, tools, and 
                techniques that provide solutions to complex technical 
                problems through the development of economical and 
                environmentally sensitive designs, efficient and 
                quality controlled construction practices, and durable 
                materials; and
                    ``(C) development of innovative highway products 
                and practices.''.
    (b) Geospatial Information Systems.--Section 5113 of the 
Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (23 U.S.C. 502 note) is 
amended by revising subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Program.--
            ``(1) National policy.--The Secretary shall establish and 
        maintain a national policy for the use of commercial remote 
        sensing products and geospatial information technologies in 
        national transportation infrastructure development and 
        construction.
            ``(2) Policy implementation.--The Secretary shall develop 
        new applications of commercial remote sensing products and 
        geospatial information technologies for the implementation of 
        the national policy established and maintained under (b)(1) of 
        this section.''.
    (c) Environment and Planning.--
            (1) Amendment.--Section 507 of title 23, United States 
        Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 507. Surface transportation environment and planning cooperative 
              research program-
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and support a 
collaborative, public-private, multimodal surface transportation 
environment and planning cooperative research program.
    ``(b) Agreement.--The Secretary shall make grants to or enter into 
cooperative agreements with the National Academy of Sciences, or 
another nonprofit research organization established for this purpose, 
to support, administer, and manage the surface transportation 
environment and planning cooperative research program.
    ``(c) Advisory Board.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The organization described in 
        subsection (b) shall establish an independent advisory board 
        drawn from core partners that represent environment, 
        transportation, scientific, and other interests, including the 
        Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection 
        Agency, the National Science Foundation, other Federal 
        agencies, the States, regional and local governments, nonprofit 
        organizations, academia, foundations, and the private sector.
            ``(2) Responsibilities.--The Advisory Board shall have the 
        responsibility for--
                    ``(A) development of a research agenda, which shall 
                be published annually, shall serve as the basis of the 
                annual project solicitation, and shall be based on the 
                multiyear strategy described in subsection (e), as 
                revised under subparagraph (D) of this paragraph;
                    ``(B) annual solicitation of project proposals, 
                including open competition and peer review of research 
                proposals;
                    ``(C) development of project selection criteria, 
                through an open and public consultation process with 
                stakeholders, that emphasize--
                            ``(i) the development of fundamental 
                        knowledge; and
                            ``(ii) collaborative research and funding; 
                        and
                    ``(D) revision of the contents of the multiyear 
                strategy described in subsection (e), through an open 
                and public consultation process, with the first 
                revision to be completed 3 years after the first grants 
                are awarded under this section and subsequent revisions 
                biennially thereafter.
    ``(d) Dissemination of Research Findings.--The organization 
described in subsection (b) and the Department of Transportation shall 
proactively disseminate research findings under this section to 
researchers, practitioners, and decisionmakers, through conferences and 
seminars, field demonstrations, workshops, training programs, 
presentations, testimony to government officials, the Internet, and 
publications for the general public.
    ``(e) Contents.--The national research agenda for the surface 
transportation environment and planning cooperative research program 
required under subsection (c)(2)(C) shall be based on Transportation 
Research Board Special Report 268, entitled `Surface Transportation 
Environmental Research: A Long-Term Strategy', published in 2002, which 
included the following research areas:
            ``(1) Human Health.
            ``(2) Ecology and Natural Systems.
            ``(3) Environmental and Social Justice.
            ``(4) Emerging Technologies.
            ``(5) Land Use.
            ``(6) Planning and Performance Measures.
    ``(f) Project Funding.--
            ``(1) Multiyear funding.--Projects may receive funding for 
        multiple years under this section.
            ``(2) Joint project funding.--In addition to using funds 
        authorized for this section, the organization that administers 
        this program may seek and accept additional funding sources 
        from public and private entities capable of attracting and 
        accepting funding from Federal agencies, States, local 
        governments, nonprofit foundations, and the private sector.
    ``(g) Programmatic Evaluations.--(1) Not later than 2 years after 
the first research project grants or contracts are awarded under this 
section, the Secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the 
National Academy of Public Administration to review the program under 
this section, and recommend improvements.
    ``(2) The National Academy of Public Administration review shall--
            ``(A) assess the degree to which the projects funded under 
        this section have addressed the research topics identified in 
        the strategy established in the Transportation Research Board 
        Special Report 268, including identifying those topics which 
        have not yet been addressed;
            ``(B) assess the peer review process for project proposals, 
        and assess research project results; and
            ``(C) assess the extent of stakeholder involvement in all 
        facets of the program.
    ``(h) Annual Report.--The organization described in subsection (b) 
shall prepare and transmit to the Secretary an annual report that 
includes a project summary for every project funded under this section. 
Each summary shall characterize the project, summarize its status, and 
identify sponsors.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--The analysis for chapter 5 of 
        title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking the item 
        related to section 507 and inserting the following:

``507. Surface transportation environment and planning cooperative 
                            research program.''.

SEC. 105. TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT.

    Section 503 of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (7) to read as follows:
            ``(7) Grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Under the program, the Secretary 
                may make grants and enter into cooperative agreements 
                and contracts with States, metropolitan planning 
                organizations, local governments, other Federal 
                agencies, universities and colleges, private sector 
                entities, and nonprofit organizations to foster 
                alliances and support efforts to stimulate advances in 
                transportation technology, and to pay the Federal share 
                of the costs of research, development, and technology 
                transfer concerning innovative technologies.
                    ``(B) Applications.--To receive a grant, 
                cooperative agreement, or contract, under this 
                paragraph, an entity described in subparagraph (A) 
                shall submit an application to the Secretary. The 
                application shall be in such form and contain such 
                information as the Secretary may require. The Secretary 
                shall select and approve the applications based on the 
                applications' merit and on whether the project that is 
                the subject of the grant, cooperative agreement, or 
                contract meets the goals of the program described in 
                paragraph (3).'';
                    (B) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``and the 
                Committee on Science'' after ``Transportation and 
                Infrastructure'';
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph 
                (11); and
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following 
                new paragraphs:
            ``(9) Technology and information transfer.--The Secretary 
        shall ensure that the information and technology resulting from 
        research conducted under this subsection is made available to 
        State and local transportation departments, metropolitan 
        planning organizations, and other interested parties.
            ``(10) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of a 
        project under this subsection shall be determined by the 
        Secretary.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``Bridge Research and 
                Construction'' and inserting ``Research and 
                Deployment'' in the subsection heading;
                    (B) by amending paragraphs (1) and (2) to read as 
                follows:
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and carry 
        out a program to demonstrate the application of innovative 
        technology in surface transportation infrastructure 
        construction (such as bridges, pavements, and other structures) 
        and safety.
            ``(2) Goals.--The goals of the program shall include--
                    ``(A) the development of new, cost-effective 
                innovative material for surface transportation 
                infrastructure applications;
                    ``(B) the deployment and evaluation of safety 
                technologies and innovations at the State and local 
                levels, and the deployment of best practices in 
                training, management, design, and planning;
                    ``(C) the reduction of life-cycle costs of surface 
                transportation infrastructure, including the costs of 
                new construction, replacement, maintenance, and 
                rehabilitation of deficient highway infrastructure;
                    ``(D) the development and deployment of 
                construction techniques to increase safety and reduce 
                construction time and traffic congestion;
                    ``(E) the development of engineering design 
                criteria for innovative products and materials for use 
                in surface transportation infrastructure;
                    ``(F) the development of cost-effective and 
                innovative techniques to separate vehicle and 
                pedestrian traffic from railroad traffic;
                    ``(G) the evaluation and documentation of the 
                performance and benefits of innovative technologies 
                deployed to improve life, performance, cost 
                effectiveness, safety, and customer satisfaction;
                    ``(H) the refinement of innovative technologies 
                based on the evaluation described in subparagraph (G);
                    ``(I) the wide dissemination of information 
                developed under subparagraph (G);
                    ``(J) the development of surface transportation 
                infrastructure, including alternative processes for the 
                seismic retrofit of bridges, that will withstand 
                natural disasters and terrorist attacks;
                    ``(K) for pavements, the development of designs and 
                materials to reduce impacts of storm water runoff;
                    ``(L) the development of new nondestructive 
                infrastructure evaluation technologies and techniques; 
                and
                    ``(M) effective technology transfer and information 
                dissemination to accelerate implementation of 
                innovative technologies.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (5), by striking ``section'' and 
                inserting ``subsection''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                subsection:
    ``(c) Research on the Nontechnical Barriers to Technology 
Deployment.--In order to support the deployment goals established under 
subsection (a)(3), the Secretary shall carry out a research program 
addressing the nontechnical barriers to technology deployment, 
including fragmented authority at the local and regional level and 
rigid procurement rules. The goal of this research shall be to generate 
proposals for how to overcome these nontechnical barriers.

SEC. 106. TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

    (a) National Highway Institute.--Section 504(a) of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
following:
            ``(3) Courses.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Institute shall develop or 
                update existing courses in asset management, 
                application of emerging technologies, including 
                intelligent transportation systems, and in techniques, 
                methods, regulations, information technology, general 
                management, environmental stewardship, engineering, 
                safety, transportation system management and 
                operations, construction, maintenance, contract 
                administration, inspection, and finance.
                    ``(B) Additional courses.--In addition to the 
                courses developed under subparagraph (A), the 
                Institute, in consultation with State transportation 
                departments and the American Association of State 
                Highway and Transportation Officials, may develop other 
                courses as it considers necessary.
                    ``(C) Revision of courses offered.--The Institute 
                shall periodically--
                            ``(i) review the course inventory of the 
                        Institute; and
                            ``(ii) revise or cease to offer courses 
                        based on course content, applicability, and 
                        need.''.
    (b) Federal Share.--Section 504(b) of title 23, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Federal share.--
                    ``(A) Grants.--The grant funds authorized to carry 
                out this subsection may be used to cover up to 50 
                percent of the program costs relating to local 
                technical assistance. Funds available for technology 
                transfer and training purposes under this title and 
                title 49 may be used to cover the remaining 50 percent 
                of the program costs.
                     ``(B) Tribal technical assistance centers.--The 
                Federal share of the cost of activities carried out by 
                the tribal technical assistance centers under paragraph 
                (2)(D)(ii) of this subsection shall be 100 percent.''.
    (c) Definitions and Declaration of Policy.--Section 101(a) of title 
23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by--
                    (A) striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (G);
                    (B) striking the period at the end of subparagraph 
                (H) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) adding after subparagraph (H) the following:
                    ``(I) surface transportation workforce development, 
                training, and education.'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (35) through (37) as 
        paragraphs (36) through (38) respectively; and
            (3) by adding after paragraph (34) the following:
            ``(35) Surface transportation workforce development, 
        training, and education.--The term `surface transportation 
        workforce development, training, and education' means 
        activities associated with surface transportation career 
        awareness, student transportation career preparation, and 
        training and professional development for surface 
        transportation workers.''.

SEC. 107. BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS.

    Section 111 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 111. Bureau of Transportation Statistics
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of 
Transportation a Bureau of Transportation Statistics to provide 
information to public decisionmakers, private industry, research 
organizations, and the public on the extent, use, condition, 
performance, and consequences of the Nation's transportation system.
    ``(b) Director.--
            ``(1) Appointment.--The Bureau shall be headed by a 
        Director who shall be appointed by the President, by and with 
        the advice and consent of the Senate.
            ``(2) Qualifications.--The Director shall be appointed from 
        among individuals who are qualified to serve as the Director by 
        virtue of their training and experience in the collection, 
        analysis, and use of transportation statistics.
            ``(3) Reporting.--The Director shall report directly to the 
        Secretary.
            ``(4) Term.--The term of the Director shall be 5 years. The 
        Director may continue to serve after the expiration of the term 
        until a successor is appointed and confirmed.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Director of the Bureau shall be 
responsible for carrying out the following duties:
            ``(1) Secretary's senior advisor.--Serving as the 
        Secretary's senior advisor on data and statistics.
            ``(2) Providing data, statistics, and analysis to 
        transportation decisionmakers.--Ensuring that the statistics 
        compiled under paragraph (6) support transportation 
        decisionmaking by the Federal Government, State and local 
        governments, metropolitan planning organizations, 
        transportation-related associations, private businesses 
        (including the freight community), and consumers.
            ``(3) Coordinating collection of information.--Coordinating 
        the collection of information by the Department of 
        Transportation required for statistics to be compiled under 
        paragraph (6) with related information gathering activities 
        conducted by other Federal departments and agencies and 
        collecting appropriate data not elsewhere gathered.
            ``(4) Data modernization.--Implement a data modernization 
        program to improve surveys and data collection methods to 
        ensure that nationally collected data accurately characterize 
        all modes of transportation and transportation users and are 
        useful for decisionmakers throughout the transportation 
        community.
            ``(5) Encouraging data standardization.--Encouraging 
        standardization of data, data collection methods, and data 
        management and storage technologies for data collected by the 
        Bureau, the operating administrations of the Department of 
        Transportation, States, local governments, metropolitan 
        planning organizations, and private sector entities.
            ``(6) Compiling transportation statistics.--Compiling, 
        analyzing, and publishing a comprehensive set of transportation 
        statistics on--
                    ``(A) productivity in various parts of the 
                transportation sector;
                    ``(B) traffic flows for all modes of 
                transportation;
                    ``(C) other elements of the Intermodal 
                Transportation Database established under subsection 
                (g);
                    ``(D) travel times and measures of congestion;
                    ``(E) vehicle weights and other vehicle 
                characteristics;
                    ``(F) demographic, economic, and other variables 
                influencing--
                            ``(i) travel;
                            ``(ii) traveling behavior, including choice 
                        of transportation mode; and
                            ``(iii) goods movement;
                    ``(G) transportation costs for passenger travel and 
                goods movement;
                    ``(H) performance and impacts of the national 
                transportation system;
                    ``(I) availability and use of mass transit 
                (including the number of passengers served by each mass 
                transit authority) and other forms of for-hire 
                passenger travel;
                    ``(J) frequency of vehicle and transportation 
                facility repairs and other interruptions of 
                transportation service;
                    ``(K) safety and security for travelers, vehicles, 
                and transportation systems;
                    ``(L) consequences of transportation for the human 
                and natural environment;
                    ``(M) the extent, connectivity, and condition of 
                the transportation system, including elements of the 
                National Transportation Atlas Database developed under 
                subsection (i); and
                    ``(N) transportation-related variables that 
                influence the domestic economy and global 
                competitiveness.
            ``(7) National spatial data infrastructure.--Building and 
        disseminating the transportation layer of the National Spatial 
        Data Infrastructure, including coordinating the development of 
        transportation geospatial data standards, compiling intermodal 
        geospatial data, and collecting geospatial data that is not 
        being collected by others.
            ``(8) Implementing long-term data collection program.--
        Establishing and implementing, in cooperation with the heads of 
        the operating administrations of the Department of 
        Transportation, the States, metropolitan planning 
        organizations, the national statistical organizations of the 
        United States, and other Federal officials, a comprehensive, 
        long-term program for the collection and analysis of data to 
        support the statistics compiled, analyzed, and published under 
        paragraph (6) and other data on the performance of the 
        transportation systems of the United States. Such program 
        shall--
                    ``(A) be coordinated with efforts to measure 
                outputs and outcomes of the Department of 
                Transportation and the transportation systems of the 
                United States under the Government Performance and 
                Results Act of 1993 (107 Stat. 285 et seq.) and the 
                amendments made by such Act;
                    ``(B) ensure that data is collected under this 
                subsection in a manner which will maximize the ability 
                to compare data from different regions and for 
                different time periods; and
                    ``(C) ensure that data collected under this 
                subsection is controlled for accuracy, made relevant to 
                the States and metropolitan planning organizations, and 
                disseminated to the States and other interested 
                parties.
            ``(9) Issuing guidelines.--Issuing guidelines for the 
        collection and publication of information by the Department of 
        Transportation required for statistics to be compiled under 
        paragraph (6) in order to ensure that such information is 
        accurate, reliable, relevant, and in a form that permits 
        systematic analysis. The Bureau shall review and report to the 
        Secretary of Transportation on the sources and reliability of 
        the statistics proposed by the heads of the operating 
        administrations of the Department to measure outputs and 
        outcomes as required by the Government Performance and Results 
        Act of 1993, and the amendments made by such Act, and shall 
        carry out such other reviews of the sources and reliability of 
        other data collected or statistical information published by 
        the heads of the operating administrations of the Department as 
        shall be requested by the Secretary.
            ``(10) Making statistics accessible.--Making the statistics 
        published under this subsection readily accessible.
    ``(d) Information Needs Assessment.--
            ``(1) In general.--Within 60 days after the date of the 
        enactment of the Surface Transportation Research and 
        Development Act of 2003, the Secretary shall enter into an 
        arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to develop 
        and publish a National Transportation Information Needs 
        Assessment. The Assessment shall be published not later than 24 
        months after such arrangement is entered into.
            ``(2) Content.--The Assessment shall--
                    ``(A) identify the major data needs of the 
                transportation community, including all levels of 
                government, the private and nonprofit sectors, and 
                academia, through a statistically valid needs survey, 
                the results of which shall be published;
                    ``(B) identify critical gaps, shortcomings, and 
                lack of standardization in existing data collection and 
                survey methods;
                    ``(C) identify data collection required under 
                subsection (c)(6) that is not currently being carried 
                out; and
                    ``(D) recommend data modernization goals, specific 
                improvements, and the estimated funding levels needed 
                to accomplish those improvements.
            ``(3) Consultation.--In developing the Assessment, the 
        National Academy of Sciences shall consult with the 
        Department's Advisory Council on Transportation Statistics and 
        a representative cross-section of the transportation community, 
        including business, the freight community, State and local 
        governments, metropolitan planning organizations, transit, 
        environmental, and community organizations, academia, and other 
        Federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection 
        Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Housing 
        and Urban Development.
    ``(e) Strategic Plan.--
            ``(1) Development and revision.--The Director shall develop 
        an integrated, multimodal data strategic plan within 3 years 
        after the date of the enactment of the Surface Transportation 
        Research and Development Act of 2003, and revise it every 3 
        years thereafter.
            ``(2) Content.--The strategic plan shall include--
                    ``(A) national goals for developing high quality 
                national, State, local, and metropolitan transportation 
                data;
                    ``(B) national goals for encouraging improvements 
                in non-Federal transportation data collection and 
                management to improve quality, reliability, and 
                comparability;
                    ``(C) detailed strategies for--
                            ``(i) addressing the needs and gaps 
                        identified in the Assessment conducted under 
                        subsection (d);
                            ``(ii) integrating federally collected 
                        transportation data collection and systems, and 
                        coordinating data collection; and
                            ``(iii) encouraging improvements in data 
                        collected by entities other than the Federal 
                        Government;
                    ``(D) a plan to strengthen the Intermodal 
                Transportation Data Base required under subsection (g) 
                and the National Transportation Library under 
                subsection (h);
                    ``(E) an assessment of how data collection by 
                entities other than the Federal Government is 
                contributing to the achievement of the goals of this 
                section;
                    ``(F) responses to significant comments received 
                through the consultation required under subsection 
                (d)(2);
                    ``(G) provision for the integrated planning, 
                coordination, and consultation among the operating 
                administrations of the Department of Transportation, 
                all other Federal agencies with responsibilities 
                related to transportation data, State and local 
                governments, metropolitan planning organizations, 
                institutions of higher education, industry, and other 
                private and public sector organizations engaged in 
                transportation-related data activities and 
                decisionmaking; and
                    ``(H) details of the Department of Transportation's 
                data 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 
                data collection and management.
            ``(3) Consultation.--In developing the strategic plan, the 
        Director shall consult with the National Academy of Sciences, 
        the Advisory Council on Transportation Statistics, the 
        Department's operating administrations, other Federal agencies, 
        State and local governments, metropolitan planning 
        organizations, business, and the public.
    ``(f) Review.--The Comptroller General shall assess the 
Department's progress addressing the gaps identified in the Assessment 
required under subsection (d) and in preparing and implementing the 
strategic plan required under subsection (e). The assessment under this 
subsection shall be completed not later than 4 years after the date of 
the enactment of the Surface Transportation Research and Development 
Act of 2003.
    ``(g) Intermodal Transportation Data Base.--
            ``(1) In general.--In consultation with the Associate 
        Deputy Secretary, the Assistant Secretaries, and the heads of 
        the operating administrations of the Department of 
        Transportation, the Director shall establish and maintain a 
        transportation data base for all modes of transportation.
            ``(2) Use.--The data base shall be suitable for analyses 
        carried out by the Federal Government, the States, and 
        metropolitan planning organizations.
            ``(3) Contents.--The data base shall include--
                    ``(A) information on the volumes and patterns of 
                movement of goods, including local, interregional, and 
                international movement, by all modes of transportation 
                and intermodal combinations, and by relevant 
                classification;
                    ``(B) information on the volumes and patterns of 
                movement of people, including local, interregional, and 
                international movements, by all modes of transportation 
(including bicycle and pedestrian modes) and intermodal combinations, 
and by relevant classification;
                    ``(C) information on the location and connectivity 
                of transportation facilities and services; and
                    ``(D) a national accounting of expenditures and 
                capital stocks on each mode of transportation and 
                intermodal combination.
    ``(h) National Transportation Library.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall establish and 
        maintain a National Transportation Library, which shall contain 
        a collection of statistical and other information needed for 
        transportation decisionmaking at the Federal, State, and local 
        levels.
            ``(2) Access.--The Director shall facilitate and promote 
        access to the Library, with the goal of improving the ability 
        of the transportation community to share information and the 
        ability of the Director to make statistics readily accessible 
        under subsection (c)(10).
            ``(3) Coordination.--The Director shall work with other 
        transportation libraries and other transportation information 
        providers, both public and private, to achieve the goal 
        specified in paragraph (2).
    ``(i) National Transportation Atlas Data Base.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall develop and maintain 
        geospatial data bases that depict--
                    ``(A) transportation networks;
                    ``(B) flows of people, goods, vehicles, and craft 
                over the networks; and
                    ``(C) social, economic, and environmental 
                conditions that affect or are affected by the networks.
            ``(2) Intermodal network analysis.--The data bases shall be 
        able to support intermodal network analysis.
    ``(j) Mandatory Response Authority for Freight Data Collection.--
Whoever, being the owner, official, agent, person in charge, or 
assistant to the person in charge, of any corporation, company, 
business, institution, establishment, or organization of any nature 
whatsoever, neglects or refuses, when requested by the Director or 
other authorized officer, employee or contractor of the Bureau, to 
answer completely and correctly to the best of his/her knowledge all 
questions relating to the corporation, company, business, institution, 
establishment, or other organization, or to records or statistics in 
his/her official custody, contained in a data collection request 
prepared and submitted under the authority of subsection (c)(6), shall 
be fined not more than $500; and if the individual willfully gives a 
false answer to a question, shall be fined not more than $10,000.
    ``(k) Research and Development Grants.--The Secretary may make 
grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with, 
public and nonprofit private entities (including State transportation 
departments, metropolitan planning organizations, and institutions of 
higher education) for--
            ``(1) investigation of the subjects specified in subsection 
        (c)(6) and research and development of new methods of data 
        collection, standardization, management, integration, 
        dissemination, interpretation, and analysis;
            ``(2) demonstration programs by States, local governments, 
        and metropolitan planning organizations to harmonize data 
        collection, reporting, management, storage, and archiving to 
        simplify data comparisons across jurisdictions;
            ``(3) development of electronic clearinghouses of 
        transportation data and related information, as part of the 
        National Transportation Library under subsection (h); and
            ``(4) development and improvement of methods for sharing 
        geographic data, in support of the national transportation 
        atlas data base under subsection (i) and the National Spatial 
        Data Infrastructure developed under Executive Order No. 12906.
    ``(l) Research and Guidelines on Statistical Methods.--The 
Secretary shall conduct or support research relating to methods of 
gathering or analyzing transportation statistics and issuing guidelines 
for the collection of information by the Department in order to ensure 
that such information is accurate, relevant, comparable, accessible, 
and in a form that permits systematic analysis.
    ``(m) Limitations on Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this 
section shall be construed--
            ``(1) to authorize the Bureau to require any other 
        department or agency to collect data; or
            ``(2) to reduce the authority of any other officer of the 
        Department of Transportation to collect and disseminate data 
        independently.
    ``(n) Prohibition on Certain Disclosures.--
            ``(1) In general.--An officer or employee of the Bureau may 
        not--
                    ``(A) make any disclosure in which the data 
                provided by an individual or organization under 
                subsection (c)(8) can be identified;
                    ``(B) use the information provided under subsection 
                (c)(8) for a nonstatistical purpose; or
                    ``(C) permit anyone other than an individual 
                authorized by the Director to examine any individual 
                report provided under subsection (c)(8).
            ``(2) Prohibition on requests for certain data.--
                    ``(A) Government agencies.--No department, bureau, 
                agency, officer, or employee of the United States 
                (except the Director in carrying out this section) may 
                require, for any reason, a copy of any report that has 
                been filed under subsection (c)(8) with the Bureau or 
                retained by an individual respondent.
                    ``(B) Courts.--Any copy of a report described in 
                subparagraph (A) that has been retained by an 
                individual respondent or filed with the Bureau or any 
                of its employees, contractors, or agents--
                            ``(i) shall be immune from legal process; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) shall not, without the consent of 
                        the individual concerned, be admitted as 
                        evidence or used for any purpose in any action, 
                        suit, or other judicial or administrative 
                        proceeding.
                    ``(C) Applicability.--This paragraph shall apply 
                only to reports that permit information concerning an 
                individual or organization to be reasonably inferred by 
                direct or indirect means.
            ``(3) Data collected for nonstatistical purposes.--In a 
        case in which the Bureau is authorized by statute to collect 
        data or information for a nonstatistical purpose, the Director 
        shall clearly distinguish the collection of the data or 
        information, by rule and on the collection instrument, so as to 
        inform a respondent that is requested or required to supply the 
        data or information of the nonstatistical purpose.
    ``(o) Transportation Statistics Annual Report.--The Director shall 
transmit to the President and Congress a Transportation Statistics 
Annual Report which shall include information on items referred to in 
subsection (c)(6), documentation of methods used to obtain and ensure 
the quality of the statistics presented in the report, and 
recommendations for improving transportation statistical information.
    ``(p) Implementation Annual Report.--The Secretary shall prepare an 
annual report summarizing the Department's progress in implementing the 
requirements of this section. The reports shall be submitted to 
Secretary of Transportation, to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives, and to Committee on Environment and Public Works of 
the Senate.
    ``(q) Proceeds of Data Product Sales.--Notwithstanding section 3302 
of title 31, United States Code, funds received by the Bureau from the 
sale of data products, for necessary expenses incurred, may be credited 
to the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for the 
purpose of reimbursing the Bureau for the expenses.
    ``(r) Advisory Council on Transportation Statistics.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Director of the Bureau of 
        Transportation Statistics shall establish an Advisory Council 
        on Transportation Statistics.
            ``(2) Function.--It shall be the function of the Advisory 
        Council established under this subsection to--
                    ``(A) advise the Director of the Bureau of 
                Transportation Statistics on the quality, reliability, 
                consistency, objectiveness, and relevance of 
                transportation statistics and analyses collected, 
                supported, or disseminated by the Bureau of 
                Transportation Statistics and the Department of 
                Transportation;
                    ``(B) provide input to and review the Department's 
                Assessment under subsection (d) and annual data 
                strategic plan required under subsection (e); and
                    ``(C) advise the Director on methods to encourage 
                harmonization and interoperability of transportation 
                data collected by the Bureau, the operating 
                administrations of the Department of Transportation, 
                States, local governments, metropolitan planning 
                organizations, and private sector entities.
            ``(3) Membership.--The Advisory Council established under 
        this subsection shall be composed of not less than 15 members 
        appointed by the Director, who are not officers or employees of 
        the United States, including--
                    ``(A) 2 members with specific expertise in 
                economics;
                    ``(B) 3 members with expertise in statistics; and
                    ``(C) additional members with expertise in 
                transportation statistics, analysis, and policy.
        Members shall include representatives of a cross-section of the 
        transportation community, including business, the freight 
        community, State and local governments, metropolitan planning 
        organizations, transit, environmental, and community 
        organizations, and academia.
            ``(4) Terms of appointment.--Members shall be appointed to 
        staggered terms not to exceed 3 years. A member may be 
        renominated for one additional 3-year term.
            ``(5) Applicability of federal advisory committee act.--The 
        Federal Advisory Committee Act shall apply to the Advisory 
        Council established under this subsection, except that section 
        14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to 
        such Advisory Council.''.

SEC. 108. STATE PLANNING AND RESEARCH.

    Section 505 of title 23, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 505. State planning and research
    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
$1,073,000,000 to States for each fiscal year for expenditure by the 
States, in consultation with the Secretary, only for the following 
purposes:
            ``(1) Engineering and economic surveys and investigations.
            ``(2) The planning of future highway programs and local 
        public transportation systems, the planning of the financing of 
        such programs and systems, including metropolitan and Statewide 
        planning under sections 134 and 135, freight planning, safety 
        planning, transportation systems management and operations 
        planning, transportation-related land use planning, and 
        transportation-related growth management activities within 
        these planning processes, and planning capacity building 
        activities.
            ``(3) Studies of the economy, safety, and convenience of 
        highway, local public transportation, bicycle, and pedestrian 
        systems and the desirable regulation and equitable taxation of 
        their use.
            ``(4) Research, development, and technology transfer 
        activities necessary in connection with the planning, design, 
construction, management, maintenance, regulation, and taxation of the 
use of highway, local public transportation, and intermodal 
transportation systems.
            ``(5) Research on the effects of design standards on 
        intermodal coordination, such as the highway-rail interface, 
        and on safe pedestrian access to transit on arterial roads and 
        urban highways.
            ``(6) Study, research, and training on the engineering 
        standards and construction materials, including accreditation 
        of inspection and testing, for highway, local public 
        transportation, bicycle, pedestrian, and intermodal 
        transportation systems.
    ``(b) Minimum Expenditures on Research, Development, and Technology 
Transfer Activities.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), not less than 
        25 percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) 
        to a State for a fiscal year shall be expended by the State for 
        research, development, and technology transfer activities 
        described in subsection (a), relating to highway, public 
        transportation, bicycle, pedestrian, and intermodal 
        transportation systems.
            ``(2) Waivers.--The Secretary may waive the application of 
        paragraph (1) with respect to a State for a fiscal year if the 
        State certifies to the Secretary for the fiscal year that the 
        funds described in paragraph (1) are not needed for research, 
        development, and technology transfer and the Secretary accepts 
        such certification.
            ``(3) Nonapplicability of assessment.--Funds expended under 
        paragraph (1) shall not be considered to be part of the 
        extramural budget of the agency for the purpose of section 9 of 
        the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
    ``(c) Minimum Expenditures for Improving the Quality of Collection 
and Reporting of Strategic Surface Transportation Data.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), not less than 
        10 percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) 
        for a fiscal year to a State shall be expended by the State to 
        improve the collection and reporting of strategic surface 
        transportation data to provide critical information about the 
        extent, condition, use, performance, and financing of the 
        Nation's surface transportation system (including intermodal 
        connectors) for passenger and freight movement.
            ``(2) Waivers.--The Secretary may waive the application of 
        paragraph (1) with respect to a State for a fiscal year if the 
        State certifies to the Secretary for the fiscal year that the 
        State is collecting and reporting strategic data consistent 
        with quality assurance guidelines developed cooperatively with 
        the States and the Secretary approves such certification.
    ``(d) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project 
carried out using funds subject to subsection (a) shall be matched in 
accordance with section 120(b) unless the Secretary determines that the 
interests of the surface transportation program would be best served 
without such matching.''.

SEC. 109. FUTURE STRATEGIC HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 509. Future strategic highway research program
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, 
shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences 
for the establishment of a Future Strategic Highway Research Program.
    ``(b) Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts.--The Secretary 
may make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements and contracts 
with, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation 
Officials and the National Academy of Sciences to carry out activities 
under this section. Advance payments may be made as necessary to carry 
out the program under this section. Although no matching funds are 
required for this program, collaborative research projects with 
multiple sources of funding shall be encouraged.
    ``(c) Period of Availability.--Funds set aside to carry out this 
section shall remain available for the fiscal year for which such funds 
are made available and the three succeeding fiscal years.
    ``(d) Set Aside.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Transportation for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2009, 
to carry out this section, $75,000,000.
    ``(e) Program Administration.--In carrying out the program under 
this section, the National Academy of Sciences shall ensure that--
            ``(1) the selection of projects and researchers shall be 
        based on the open solicitation of proposals and be reviewed by 
        panels of appropriate experts; and
            ``(2) State transportation officials and other 
        stakeholders, including business, local governments, 
        metropolitan planning organizations, environmental and 
        community organizations, academia, other relevant Federal 
        agencies, and other members of the transportation community are 
        involved in the governance of the program at the executive, the 
        overall program, and the technical levels, through the use of 
        expert panels and committees.
    ``(f) Contents.--The program established under this section shall 
be based on Transportation Research Board Special Report 260, entitled 
`Strategic Highway Research: Saving Lives, Reducing Congestion, 
Improving Quality of Life'. It shall include the following research 
areas:
            ``(1) Accelerating the renewal of America's highways.
            ``(2) Making a significant improvement in highway safety.
            ``(3) Providing a highway system with reliable travel 
        times.
            ``(4) Providing highway capacity in support of the Nation's 
        economic, environmental, multi-modal transportation, and social 
        goals.
    ``(g) Project Evaluation.--The products of all research grants, 
cooperative agreements, and contracts awarded under this section shall 
be subject to peer review.
    ``(h) Programmatic Evaluations.--Within 2 years after the first 
research project grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts are 
awarded under this section, the Secretary shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Academy of Public Administration to 
review the program under this section, and to recommend improvements. 
The review shall--
            ``(1) assess the degree to which projects funded under this 
        section have addressed the research topics identified in the 
        research agenda established in Transportation Research Board 
        Special Report 260, including identifying those topics which 
        have not yet been addressed;
            ``(2) assess the merit and peer review process for project 
        proposals, and assess research project results; and
            ``(3) assess the extent of stakeholder involvement in all 
        facets of the program.
    ``(i) Annual Progress and Performance Report.--The National Academy 
of Sciences shall produce an annual progress and performance report for 
the program under this section. The report shall summarize the status, 
funding, and sponsors of all funded projects by the research areas 
specified in subsection (f). It shall document the progress of each 
project relative to milestones included in the project proposal. The 
report shall identify research areas and projects remaining unfunded, 
and anticipated funding needs for completing that research. The report 
shall be submitted to the Secretary, to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives, and to the Committee on Environment and Public Works 
of the Senate.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis of chapter 5 of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
item:

``509. Future strategic highway research program.''.

SEC. 110. UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS.

    Section 5505 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 5505. University transportation research
    ``(a) Regional Centers.--The Secretary of Transportation shall make 
grants to nonprofit institutions of higher learning to establish and 
operate 1 university transportation center in each of the 10 United 
States Government regions that comprise the Standard Federal Regional 
Boundary System.
    ``(b) Other Centers.--The Secretary shall make grants to nonprofit 
institutions of higher learning to establish and operate university 
transportation centers, in addition to the centers receiving grants 
under subsection (a), to address transportation management and research 
and development matters, with special attention to increasing the 
number of highly skilled individuals entering the field of 
transportation.
    ``(c) Selection of Grant Recipients.--
            ``(1) Applications.--In order to be eligible to receive a 
        grant under this section, a nonprofit institution of higher 
        learning shall submit to the Secretary an application that is 
        in such form and contains such information as the Secretary may 
        require.
            ``(2) Selection criteria.--Except as otherwise provided by 
        this section, the Secretary shall select each recipient of a 
        grant under this section through a competitive, peer-reviewed 
        process on the basis of the following:
                    ``(A) For regional centers, the location of the 
                center within the Federal region to be served.
                    ``(B) The demonstrated research and extension 
                resources available to the recipient to carry out this 
                section.
                    ``(C) The capability of the recipient to provide 
                leadership in making national and regional 
                contributions to the solution of immediate and long-
                range transportation problems.
                    ``(D) The recipient's establishment of a surface 
                transportation program encompassing several modes of 
                transportation.
                    ``(E) The recipient's demonstrated commitment of at 
                least $200,000 in regularly budgeted institutional 
                amounts each year to support ongoing transportation 
                research and education programs.
                    ``(F) The recipient's demonstrated ability to 
                disseminate results of transportation research and 
                education programs through a statewide or regionwide 
                continuing education program.
                    ``(G) The strategic plan the recipient proposes to 
                carry out under the grant.
    ``(d) Objectives.--Each university transportation center receiving 
a grant under this section shall conduct the following programs and 
activities:
            ``(1) Basic and applied research that supports the 
        Department's research agenda consistent with section 508 of 
        title 23, the products of which are peer-reviewed by other 
        experts in the field to advance the body of knowledge in 
        transportation.
            ``(2) An education program that includes multidisciplinary 
        course work, faculty and student participation in research, and 
        an opportunity for practical experience.
            ``(3) An ongoing program of technology transfer that makes 
        research results available to potential users in a form that 
        can be implemented, utilized, or otherwise applied.
    ``(e) Maintenance of Effort.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an applicant shall--
            ``(1) enter into an agreement with the Secretary to ensure 
        that the applicant will maintain total expenditures from all 
        other sources to establish and operate a university 
        transportation center and related educational and research 
        activities at a level that is at least equal to the average 
        level of those expenditures during the 2 fiscal years before 
        the date on which the grant is provided;
            ``(2) provide the annual institutional contribution 
        required under subsection (c)(2);
            ``(3) submit to the Secretary, in a timely manner, for use 
        by the Secretary in the preparation of the annual research 
        report under section 508(c)(5) of title 23, an annual report on 
        the projects and activities of the university transportation 
        center for which funds are made available for the fiscal year 
        covered by the report, a description of--
                    ``(A) the goals of the center;
                    ``(B) the educational activities carried out by the 
                center (including a detailed summary of the budget for 
                those educational activities);
                    ``(C) teaching activities of faculty at the center;
                    ``(D) each research project carried out by the 
                center, including--
                            ``(i) the identity and location of each 
                        investigator working on a research project;
                            ``(ii) the overall funding amount for each 
                        research project (including the amounts 
                        expended for the project as of the date of the 
                        report);
                            ``(iii) the current schedule for each 
                        research project; and
                            ``(iv) the results of each research project 
                        through the date of submission of the report, 
                        with particular emphasis on results for the 
                        fiscal year covered by the report; and
                    ``(E) overall technology transfer and 
                implementation efforts of the center;
            ``(4) make use of National Research Council, Transportation 
        Research Board, and Transportation Research Information 
        Services online databases for--
                    ``(A) program development and strategic planning;
                    ``(B) reporting of activities funded under this 
                section; and
                    ``(C) input and dissemination of results and 
                reports from completed research; and
            ``(5) recommend a representative to serve as liaison to the 
        Transportation Research Board.
    ``(f) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the costs of activities 
carried out using a grant made under subsection (a) is 80 percent of 
costs, and under subsection (b) is 50 percent of costs. The non-Federal 
share may include funds provided to a recipient under section 503, 
504(b), or 505 of title 23, United States Code.
    ``(g) Program Coordination.--
            ``(1) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the 
        research, education, training, and technology transfer 
        activities that grant recipients carry out under this section, 
disseminate the results of the research, and establish and operate a 
clearinghouse.
            ``(2) Annual review and evaluation.--At least annually and 
        consistent with the plan developed under section 508 of title 
        23, United States Code, the Secretary shall review and evaluate 
        programs the grant recipients carry out.
            ``(3) Funding limitation.--The Secretary may use not more 
        than 1 percent of amounts made available from Government 
        sources to carry out this subsection.
    ``(h) Limitation on Availability of Funds.--Funds made available to 
carry out this program shall remain available for obligation for a 
period of 2 years after the last day of the fiscal year for which such 
funds are authorized.
    ``(i) Grants.--The Secretary may make grants under this section as 
follows:
            ``(1) For grants under subsection (a)--
                    ``(A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                    ``(B) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
                    ``(C) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
                    ``(D) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
                    ``(E) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
                    ``(F) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
            ``(2) For grants under subsection (b) to centers that 
        received funding for fiscal years 2002 and 2003 under this 
        section--
                    ``(A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                    ``(B) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
                    ``(C) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.
            ``(3) For 6 additional grants under subsection (b)--
                    ``(A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                    ``(B) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
                    ``(C) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.
            ``(4) For 16 grants under subsection (b), which may include 
        grants to centers described in paragraph (2)--
                    ``(A) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
                    ``(B) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
                    ``(C) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
    ``(j) Transportation Education Development Pilot Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        program to make grants to State Departments of Transportation, 
        who in conjunction with nonprofit institutions of higher 
        education, will develop and test new curricula to educate the 
        transportation workforce.
            ``(2) Selection of grant recipients.--In selecting 
        applications for awards under this subsection, the Secretary 
        shall consider--
                    ``(A) the degree to which the new curricula will 
                address the specific workforce needs of the State, 
                evaluated on the basis of a State's development of a 
                strategic human resources plan and how the new 
                curricula will help fulfill the plan;
                    ``(B) the degree to which the new curricula will 
                provide expertise in areas other than engineering, such 
                as business administration, economics, information 
                technology, environmental science, and law, as 
                determined necessary by the State; and
                    ``(C) a State's commitment to continuing the 
                program beyond the pilot effort.
            ``(3) Number and amount of grants.--For fiscal years 2004, 
        2005, and 2006, the Secretary shall make 4 grants under this 
        subsection, each in the amount of $1,000,000. For fiscal years 
        2007, 2008, and 2009, the Secretary shall make 4 grants under 
        this subsection, each in the amount of $500,000.''.

SEC. 111. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.

    (a) Amendment.--Subtitle C of title V of the Transportation Equity 
Act for the 21st Century is amended to read as follows:

            ``Subtitle C--Intelligent Transportation Systems

``SEC. 5201. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This subtitle may be cited as the `Intelligent Transportation 
Systems Act of 2003'.

``SEC. 5202. GOALS AND PURPOSES.

    ``(a) Goals.--The goals of the intelligent transportation system 
program include--
            ``(1) enhancement of surface transportation efficiency and 
        facilitation of intermodalism and international trade to enable 
        existing facilities to meet a significant portion of future 
        transportation needs, including public access to employment, 
        goods, and services, and to reduce regulatory, financial, and 
        other transaction costs to public agencies and system users;
            ``(2) achievement of national transportation safety goals, 
        including the enhancement of safe operation of motor vehicles 
        and nonmotorized vehicles, with particular emphasis on 
        decreasing the number and severity of collisions;
            ``(3) protection and enhancement of the natural environment 
        and communities affected by surface transportation, with 
        particular emphasis on assisting State and local governments to 
        achieve national environmental goals;
            ``(4) accommodation of the needs of all users of surface 
        transportation systems, including operators of commercial 
        vehicles, passenger vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles, and 
        including pedestrians and individuals with disabilities; and
            ``(5) improvement of the Nation's ability to respond to 
        security related or other man made emergencies and natural 
        disasters, and enhancement of national defense mobility.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The Secretary shall implement activities under the 
intelligent transportation system program to, at a minimum--
            ``(1) develop and test new and emerging technologies to 
        meet the goals described in subsection (a);
            ``(2) expedite deployment, in both metropolitan and rural 
        areas, and ensure integration and interoperability of proven 
        intelligent transportation systems;
            ``(3) ensure that Federal, State, and local transportation 
        officials have adequate knowledge of intelligent transportation 
        systems for full consideration in the transportation planning 
        process;
            ``(4) improve regional cooperation and operations planning 
        for effective intelligent transportation system deployment;
            ``(5) promote the innovative use of private resources;
            ``(6) develop a workforce capable of developing, operating, 
        and maintaining intelligent transportation systems; and
            ``(7) evaluate costs and benefits of intelligent 
        transportation systems projects.

``SEC. 5203. GENERAL AUTHORITIES AND REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) Scope.--Subject to the provisions of this subtitle, the 
Secretary shall conduct an ongoing intelligent transportation system 
program to research, develop, and operationally test intelligent 
transportation systems and advance nationwide deployment of proven 
systems through research on barriers to deployment as a component of 
the surface transportation systems of the United States.
    ``(b) Policy.--Intelligent transportation system research, 
development, operational tests, and deployment projects funded pursuant 
to this subtitle shall encourage and not displace public-private 
partnerships or private sector investment in such research and 
development tests and projects.
    ``(c) Cooperation With Governmental, Private, and Educational 
Entities.--The Secretary shall carry out the intelligent transportation 
system program in cooperation with State and local governments and 
other public entities, the United States private sector, the Federal 
laboratories, and colleges and universities, including historically 
black colleges and universities and other minority institutions of 
higher education.
    ``(d) Consultation With Federal Officials.--In carrying out the 
intelligent transportation system program, the Secretary, as 
appropriate, shall consult with the Secretary of Commerce, the 
Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of 
the National Science Foundation, and the heads of other Federal 
departments and agencies.
    ``(e) Technical Assistance, Training, and Information.--The 
Secretary shall provide technical assistance, training, and information 
to State and local governments seeking to implement, operate, maintain, 
or evaluate intelligent transportation system technologies and 
services.
    ``(f) Transportation planning.--The Secretary may provide funding 
to support adequate consideration of transportation system management 
and operations, including intelligent transportation systems, within 
metropolitan and statewide transportation planning processes.
    ``(g) Information Clearinghouse.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) maintain a repository for technical and 
                safety data collected as a result of federally 
                sponsored projects carried out under this subtitle; and
                    ``(B) make that information (except for proprietary 
                information and data) readily available to all users of 
                the repository at an appropriate cost.
            ``(2) Delegation of authority.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may delegate the 
                responsibility of the Secretary under this subsection, 
                with continuing oversight by the Secretary, to an 
                appropriate entity not within the Department of 
                Transportation.
                    ``(B) Federal assistance.--If the Secretary 
                delegates the responsibility, the entity to which the 
                responsibility is delegated shall be eligible for 
                Federal assistance under this section.
    ``(h) Advisory Committee.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary on carrying out this 
        subtitle.
            ``(2) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall have no 
        more than 20 members and include, at a minimum--
                    ``(A) a representative from a State highway 
                department;
                    ``(B) a representative from a local highway 
                department;
                    ``(C) a representative from a State, local, or 
                regional transit agency;
                    ``(D) a representative from a metropolitan planning 
                organization;
                    ``(E) a private sector vendor of intelligent 
                transportation system technologies;
                    ``(F) a private sector user of intelligent 
                transportation system technologies;
                    ``(G) an academic researcher who is a civil 
                engineer;
                    ``(H) an academic researcher who is a social 
                scientist;
                    ``(I) a representative from the Intelligent 
                Transportation Society of America;
                    ``(J) a representative from a public interest group 
                concerned with safety;
                    ``(K) a representative from a public interest group 
                concerned with community development; and
                    ``(L) members with expertise in planning, safety, 
                and operations.
            ``(3) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall, at a minimum, 
        perform the following duties--
                    ``(A) Provide input into the development of the 
                National ITS Program Plan, and the Intelligent 
                Transportation System portion of each strategic plan 
                under section 508 of title 23, United States Code.
                    ``(B) Review the National ITS Program Plan and the 
                Intelligent Transportation System portion of each 
                strategic plan under section 508 of title 23, United 
                States Code, and transmit the Advisory Committee's 
                views on the plans to Congress.
                    ``(C) Analyze intelligent transportation systems 
                technologies, for which a plan or budget proposal has 
                recommended funding for research and development 
                activities or operational tests, to advise the 
                Department on--
                            ``(i) whether the intelligent 
                        transportation system technologies are likely 
                        to be deployed by users, and, if not, to 
                        determine the barriers to deployment;
                            ``(ii) the appropriate roles for government 
                        and the private sector in investing in specific 
                        intelligent transportation system technologies; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) whether these activities are likely 
                        to advance either the state-of-the-practice or 
                        state-of-the-art in intelligent transportation 
                        systems.
            ``(4) Applicability of federal advisory committee act.--The 
        Advisory Committee shall be subject to the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(i) Procurement Methods.--
            ``(1) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall develop 
        appropriate technical assistance and guidance to assist State 
        and local agencies in evaluating and selecting appropriate 
        methods of procurement for intelligent transportation system 
        projects carried out using funds made available from the 
        Highway Trust Fund, including innovative and nontraditional 
        methods such as the Information Technology Omnibus Procurement.
            ``(2) Intelligent transportation system software.--To the 
        maximum extent practicable, contracting officials shall use as 
        a critical evaluation criterion the Software Engineering 
        Institute's Capability Maturity Model, or another similar 
        recognized software design and development methodology, to 
        reduce the cost, schedule, and performance risks associated 
        with the development, management, and integration of 
        intelligent transportation system software.
    ``(j) Evaluations.--
            ``(1) Guidelines and requirements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall issue 
                guidelines and requirements for the evaluation of 
                operational tests and model deployment projects carried 
                out under this subtitle.
                    ``(B) Content.--Such evaluations shall include 
                specific, quantitative measures to determine whether a 
                technology is meeting its intended goal. To the maximum 
                extent practicable, these measures shall evaluate the 
                outcome of the technology (such as accidents avoided or 
                decreased travel times or travel time variability).
                    ``(C) Objectivity and independence.--The guidelines 
                and requirements issued under subparagraph (A) shall 
                include provisions to ensure the objectivity and 
                independence of the evaluator so as to avoid any real 
                or apparent conflict of interest or potential influence 
                on the outcome by parties to any such test or 
                deployment project or by any other formal evaluation 
                carried out under this subtitle.
                    ``(D) Funding.--The guidelines and requirements 
                issued under subparagraph (A) shall establish 
                evaluation funding levels, based on the size and scope 
                of each test or project, that ensure adequate 
                evaluation of the results of the test or project.
                    ``(E) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall make 
                readily available through the Internet all information 
                collected through evaluations carried out under this 
                subtitle.
            ``(2) Special rule.--Any survey, questionnaire, or 
        interview that the Secretary considers necessary to carry out 
        the evaluation of any test, deployment project, or program 
        assessment activity under this subtitle shall not be subject to 
        chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code.
    ``(k) Use of Rights-of-Way.--Intelligent transportation system 
projects specified in section 5117(b)(3) and 5117(b)(6) and involving 
privately owned intelligent transportation system components that are 
carried out using funds made available from the Highway Trust Fund 
shall not be subject to any law or regulation of a State or political 
subdivision of a State prohibiting or regulating commercial activities 
in the rights-of-way of a highway for which Federal-aid highway funds 
have been utilized for planning, design, construction, or maintenance, 
if the Secretary of Transportation determines that such use is in the 
public interest. Nothing in this subsection shall affect the authority 
of a State or political subdivision of a State to regulate highway 
safety.

``SEC. 5204. NATIONAL ITS PROGRAM PLAN.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Updates.--The Secretary shall publish an update of 
        the `National Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Plan 
        Five-Year Horizon', published in August, 2000. The Secretary 
        shall consult with the Advisory Committee established under 
        section 5203(h) in carrying out this section.
            ``(2) Scope.--The National ITS Program Plan update shall--
                    ``(A) specify the goals, objectives, and milestones 
                for the research and deployment of intelligent 
                transportation systems in the context of major 
                metropolitan areas, smaller metropolitan and rural 
                areas, and commercial vehicle operations;
                    ``(B) evaluate how the intelligent transportation 
                systems program has progressed in achieving the goals, 
                objectives, and milestones referred to in subparagraph 
                (A);
                    ``(C) compare actual outcomes of the intelligent 
                transportation systems program over the last 5 years to 
                projections from the 2000 Plan referred to in paragraph 
                (1);
                    ``(D) for each goal, objective, milestone, or 
                projection found under subparagraph (B) or (C) not to 
                have been achieved, document the barriers to 
                achievement;
                    ``(E) specify how specific programs and projects 
                will achieve the goals, objectives, and milestones 
                referred to in subparagraph (A), in the next 5 years;
                    ``(F) specify necessary and realistically 
                achievable timeframes and funding levels to conduct the 
                programs and projects referred to in subparagraph (E) 
                in order to achieve the goals, objectives, and 
                milestones referred to in subparagraph (A);
                    ``(G) develop a plan for addressing barriers 
                documented under subparagraph (D);
                    ``(H) identify activities that provide for the 
                dynamic development of standards and protocols to 
                promote and ensure interoperability in the 
                implementation of intelligent transportation system 
                technologies, including actions taken to establish 
                critical standards; and
                    ``(I) establish a cooperative process with State 
                and local governments for determining desired surface 
                transportation system performance levels and developing 
                plans for incorporation of specific intelligent 
                transportation system capabilities into surface 
                transportation systems.
    ``(b) Reporting.--The National ITS Program Plan shall be 
transmitted to the Congress not later than August 31, 2005.
    ``(c) Advisory Committee Review.--The Advisory Committee 
established under section 5203(h) shall review the National ITS Program 
Plan that is transmitted to Congress under this section, and shall 
transmit the Advisory Committee's views on the Plan to Congress.

``SEC. 5205. INFORMATION STRATEGY.

    ``(a) Development and Implementation.--The Secretary shall develop 
and implement a strategy to use information collected from intelligent 
transportation system technologies (including technologies used in 
roadway, transit, and in-vehicle applications) for traffic management 
and for planning, performance monitoring, program assessment, and 
policy applications. The Secretary shall ensure that the Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics plays a significant role in the development 
of the strategy under this section.
    ``(b) Considerations.--The strategy developed under this section 
shall--
            ``(1) consider current data sources and propose future data 
        sources, as well as proposing strategies for both real-time use 
        and archived use of data;
            ``(2) determine what data should be centralized nationally 
        in support of national planning and goals, what information 
        should be aggregated regionally, and what information should be 
        kept locally, and for nationally centralized data, identify how 
        to ensure that data is collected and reported consistently;
            ``(3) assess the need for data standards;
            ``(4) outline how transportation decision processes can 
        make best use of real-time data;
            ``(5) outline a vision for the future linkages between 
        intelligent transportation system technologies and data;
            ``(6) identify public and private data sources other than 
        intelligent transportation system data sources (such as roadway 
        characteristics inventories and incident information) that, 
        combined with intelligent transportation system data, would 
        enhance the utility of intelligent transportation system data 
        to decisionmakers, and how these data sources can be merged;
            ``(7) identify how to make data most accessible and useful 
        to users; and
            ``(8) identify what information would be useful to 
        stakeholders at the local, State, regional, and national 
        levels.
    ``(c) Stakeholder Involvement.--In developing the strategy under 
this section, the Secretary shall involve developers and users of 
intelligent transportation system technologies, including State and 
local highway departments, metropolitan planning organizations, transit 
agencies, travelers, the private sector, not-for-profit organizations, 
and representatives from the planning, safety, operations, and research 
communities.
    ``(d) Incorporation into National Architecture.--The strategy 
developed under this section shall, to the extent practicable, be 
incorporated into the national architecture.
    ``(e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall transmit to the 
Congress a report outlining the strategy developed under this section.

``SEC. 5206. NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND STANDARDS.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Development, implementation, and maintenance.--
        Consistent with section 12(d) of the National Technology 
        Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note; 110 
        Stat. 783), the Secretary shall develop, implement, and 
        maintain a national architecture and supporting standards and 
        protocols to promote the widespread use and evaluation of 
        intelligent transportation system technology as a component of 
        the surface transportation systems of the United States.
            ``(2) Goal.--The goal of the national architecture and 
        standards shall be to ensure interoperability among, and 
        efficiency of, intelligent transportation system technologies 
        implemented throughout the United States.
            ``(3) Use of standards development organizations.--In 
        carrying out this section, the Secretary may use the services 
        of such standards development organizations as the Secretary 
        determines to be appropriate.
            ``(4) Standard validation.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
        new standards promulgated for intelligent transportation system 
        technologies are tested and validated, and shall ensure that 
        the results of such testing and validation are made publicly 
        available.
    ``(b) Provisional Standards.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the Secretary finds that the 
        development or balloting of an intelligent transportation 
        system standard jeopardizes the timely achievement of the 
        objectives identified in subsection (a)(1) and (2), the 
        Secretary may establish a provisional standard after 
        consultation with affected parties, and using, to the extent 
        practicable, the work product of appropriate standards 
        development organizations.
            ``(2) Period of effectiveness.--A provisional standard 
        established under paragraph (1) shall be published in the 
        Federal Register and remain in effect until the appropriate 
        standards development organization adopts and publishes a 
        standard.
    ``(c) Conformity With National Architecture.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and 
        (3), the Secretary shall ensure that intelligent transportation 
        system projects carried out using funds made available from the 
        Highway Trust Fund, including funds made available to deploy 
        intelligent transportation system technologies, conform to the 
        national architecture, applicable standards or provisional 
        standards, and protocols developed under subsection (a).
            ``(2) Secretary's discretion.--The Secretary may authorize 
        exceptions to paragraph (1) for--
                    ``(A) projects designed to achieve specific 
                research objectives outlined in the National ITS 
                Program Plan under section 5204 or the Surface 
                Transportation Research and Development Strategic Plan 
                developed under section 508 of title 23, United States 
                Code; or
                    ``(B) the upgrade or expansion of an intelligent 
                transportation system in existence on the date of 
                enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
                Century, if the Secretary determines that the upgrade 
                or expansion--
                            ``(i) would not adversely affect the goals 
                        or purposes of this subtitle;
                            ``(ii) is carried out before the end of the 
                        useful life of such system; and
                            ``(iii) is cost-effective as compared to 
                        alternatives that would meet the conformity 
                        requirement of paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to funds 
        used for operation or maintenance of an intelligent 
        transportation system in existence on the date of enactment of 
        the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.

``SEC. 5207. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a comprehensive 
program of research, development, and operational tests of intelligent 
vehicles and intelligent infrastructure systems, as well as research 
into barriers to their deployment, and other similar activities that 
are necessary to carry out this subtitle.
    ``(b) Priority Areas.--Under the program, the Secretary shall give 
higher priority to funding projects that--
            ``(1) reduce congestion in metropolitan regions;
            ``(2) improve mobility and efficiency by addressing traffic 
        management, incident management, transit management, toll 
        collection, traveler information, or highway operations 
        systems;
            ``(3) improve safety by focusing on crash-avoidance and 
        integration of in-vehicle crash protection technologies with 
        other onboard safety systems, including the interaction of air 
        bags and safety belts;
            ``(4) improve security by focusing on responding to 
        security-related emergencies, and preventing such emergencies, 
        through tracking the movement of goods;
            ``(5) incorporate human factors research, including the 
        science of the driving process;
            ``(6) improve deployment of proven technologies by 
        addressing nontechnical barriers to the deployment of 
        intelligent transportation system technologies, including 
        institutional barriers such as fragmented authority at the 
        local level, privacy considerations, and rigid procurement 
        rules, and the best ways to develop partnerships to 
        successfully deploy intelligent transportation system 
        technologies;
            ``(7) facilitate the integration of intelligent 
        infrastructure, vehicle, and control technologies, including 
        magnetic guidance control systems or other materials or 
        magnetics research;
            ``(8) incorporate research on the impact of environmental, 
        weather, and natural conditions on intelligent transportation 
        systems, including the effects of cold climates; or
            ``(9) facilitate high-performance transportation systems, 
        through methods such as congestion pricing, real-time facility 
        management, rapid emergency response, and just-in-time transit.
    ``(c) Operational Tests.--Operational tests shall be used to 
evaluate promising technologies that have not yet been demonstrated. 
Operational tests conducted under this section shall be designed for 
the collection of data to permit objective evaluation of the results of 
the tests, derivation of cost-benefit information that is useful to 
others contemplating deployment of similar systems, and development and 
implementation of standards.
    ``(d) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of operational 
tests and demonstrations under subsection (a) shall not exceed 80 
percent.

``SEC. 5208. USE OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) Congestion Reduction.--At least \1/3\ of funds spent under 
section 5207 for intelligent transportation systems research and 
development shall be used to research, develop, and operationally test 
technologies whose primary purpose is to reduce congestion.
    ``(b) Outreach and Public Relations Limitation.--
            ``(1) In general.--For each fiscal year, not more than 
        $5,000,000 of the funds made available to carry out this 
        subtitle shall be used for intelligent transportation system 
        outreach, public relations, displays, scholarships, tours, and 
        brochures.
            ``(2) Applicability.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to 
        intelligent transportation system training or the publication 
        or distribution of research findings, technical guidance, or 
        similar documents.
    ``(c) Infrastructure Development.--Funds made available to carry 
out this subtitle for operational tests--
            ``(1) shall be used primarily for the development of 
        intelligent transportation system infrastructure; and
            ``(2) to the maximum extent practicable, shall not be used 
        for the construction of physical highway and transit 
        infrastructure unless the construction is incidental and 
        critically necessary to the implementation of an intelligent 
        transportation system project.
    ``(d) Use of Innovative Financing.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may use up to 25 percent 
        of the funds made available to carry out this subtitle to make 
        available loans, lines of credit, and loan guarantees for 
        projects that are eligible for assistance under this subtitle 
        and that have significant intelligent transportation system 
        elements.
            ``(2) Consistency with other law.--Credit assistance 
        described in paragraph (1) shall be made available in a manner 
        consistent with the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and 
        Innovation Act of 1998.

``SEC. 5209. PROGRAM EVALUATION.

    ``The Secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the National 
Academy of Sciences, or another independent institution, to evaluate 
the Department of Transportation's intelligent transportation system 
program. The evaluation shall assess, at a minimum--
            ``(1) how well the intelligent transportation system 
        program has achieved its goals as set forth in the 2000 5-year 
        plan referred to in section 5204(a)(1), including--
                    ``(A) expediting integrated intelligent 
                transportation system deployment in metropolitan and 
                rural areas for both passenger and freight 
                transportation;
                    ``(B) ensuring that Federal, State, and local 
                transportation officials consider intelligent 
                transportation systems in the transportation planning 
                process and have adequate knowledge to do so;
                    ``(C) improving regional cooperation and operations 
                planning for effective intelligent transportation 
                system deployment;
                    ``(D) promoting the innovative use of private 
                resources; and
                    ``(E) developing a workforce capable of deploying, 
                operating, and maintaining intelligent transportation 
                systems; and
            ``(2) in areas where the intelligent transportation system 
        program has not met its goals, assess the barriers to meeting 
        those goals, and make recommendations for how those barriers 
        may be overcome.

``SEC. 5210. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subtitle, the following definitions apply:
            ``(1) Intelligent transportation infrastructure.--The term 
        `intelligent transportation infrastructure' means fully 
        integrated public sector intelligent transportation system 
        components, as defined by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Intelligent transportation system.--The term 
        `intelligent transportation system' means electronics, 
        communications, or information processing used singly or in 
        combination to improve the efficiency or safety of a surface 
        transportation system.
            ``(3) National architecture.--The term `national 
        architecture' means the common framework for interoperability 
        adopted by the Secretary that defines--
                    ``(A) the functions associated with intelligent 
                transportation system user services;
                    ``(B) the physical entities or subsystems within 
                which the functions reside;
                    ``(C) the data interfaces and information flows 
                between physical subsystems; and
                    ``(D) the communications requirements associated 
                with the information flows.
            ``(4) National its program plan.--The term `National ITS 
        Program Plan' means the plan update required under section 
        5204(a).
            ``(5) Standard.--The term `standard' means a document 
        that--
                    ``(A) contains technical specifications or other 
                precise criteria for intelligent transportation systems 
                that are to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, 
                or definitions of characteristics so as to ensure that 
                materials, products, processes, and services are fit 
                for their purposes; and
                    ``(B) may support the national architecture and 
                promote--
                            ``(i) the widespread use and adoption of 
                        intelligent transportation system technology as 
                        a component of the surface transportation 
                        systems of the United States; and
                            ``(ii) interoperability among intelligent 
                        transportation system technologies implemented 
                        throughout the States.
            ``(6) State.--The term `State' has the meaning given the 
        term under section 101 of title 23, United States Code.''.
    (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The items relating to subtitle C 
of title V in the table of contents of the Transportation Equity Act 
for the 21st Century are amended to read as follows:

            ``Subtitle C--Intelligent Transportation Systems

``Sec. 5201. Short title.
``Sec. 5202. Goals and purposes.
``Sec. 5203. General authorities and requirements.
``Sec. 5204. National ITS Program Plan.
``Sec. 5205. Information strategy.
``Sec. 5206. National architecture and standards.
``Sec. 5207. Research and development.
``Sec. 5208. Use of funds.
``Sec. 5209. Program evaluation.
``Sec. 5210. Definitions.''.
    (c) Repeal.--The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act 
of 1991 is amended by striking part B of title VI (23 U.S.C. 307 note; 
105 Stat. 2189).

SEC. 112. NATIONAL MULTIMODAL TRENDS POLICY RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out a 
National Multimodal Trends Policy Research Program that systematically 
addresses critical short-term, medium-term, and long-term social 
science issues affecting and affected by the transportation system.
    (b) Contents.--The program to be carried out under this section 
shall include--
            (1) research on--
                    (A) the critical factors and major trends affecting 
                the success and performance of the Nation's 
                transportation system, as well as how such information 
                can be incorporated into national, State, and local 
                decisionmaking;
                    (B) the short-term, medium-term, and especially 
                long-term economic, demographic, and social trends that 
                are affecting and are affected by the transportation 
                system, including topics such as--
                            (i) economic trends, including 
                        globalization and it effects on the 
                        transportation of people and goods, rapidly 
                        changing information technology, the growing 
                        importance of metropolitan economies, 
                        diversification of employment sites, 
                        innovations in goods movement, and larger 
                        capacity and faster goods movement;
                            (ii) demographic trends, including 
                        population growth, increasing minority 
                        populations, increasing urbanization, and the 
                        aging of the population; and
                            (iii) social trends and issues, including 
                        increasing income disparity and its implication 
                        for mobility and access to jobs, services and 
                        health care, the unique needs of rural 
                        populations, and the link between human factors 
                        and driver behavior;
                    (C) improvements in evaluation methodologies and 
                performance measures, and the evaluation of project and 
                transportation system performance relative to the goals 
                set forth in section 102;
                    (D) how institutional factors within and among the 
                public and private sectors affect the development and 
                successful deployment of new technologies;
                    (E) links between public health and the 
                transportation system; and
                    (F) other critical issues identified by the 
                Advisory Board established under subsection (e); and
            (2) research on and the development of policy analysis 
        tools and methods.
    (c) Establishment.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into an arrangement 
with the National Academy of Sciences to establish an advisory board 
under subsection (e) and, except as provided in subsection (e), to 
support, administer, and manage the program.
    (d) Strategic Plan.--Not later than 2 years after entering into the 
arrangement under subsection (c) and upon each update thereafter, the 
National Academy of Sciences shall transmit the strategic plan 
developed by the advisory board under subsection (e) to the Secretary, 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee 
on Science of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate.
    (e) Advisory Board.--
            (1) Establishment.--The National Academy of Sciences shall 
        establish an independent advisory board.
            (2) Membership.--
                    (A) In general.--A majority of members of the 
                advisory board shall be experts in--
                            (i) transportation social science research; 
                        or
                            (ii) other social science fields with 
                        important or potentially important 
                        relationships to transportation, selected after 
                        consultation with the Consortium of Social 
                        Science Associations.
                Members selected under this subparagraph shall, to the 
                extent practicable, be evenly divided between experts 
                described in clause (i) and experts described in clause 
                (ii).
                    (B) Additional members.--Additional members of the 
                advisory board shall be evenly balanced among 
                representatives of Federal, State, and local 
                transportation agencies, other agencies with 
                appropriate expertise, metropolitan planning 
                organizations, transit operating agencies, and 
                environmental and other nonprofit organizations.
            (3) Responsibilities.--The advisory board shall be 
        responsible for--
                    (A) the development of a strategic plan which shall 
                specify at a minimum the goals, research priorities, 
                and fiscal needs of the program, and which shall be 
                updated periodically;
                    (B) overseeing the awarding of grants and contracts 
                to carry out the research strategy;
                    (C) the development of the annual request for 
                proposals and the solicitation of proposals through 
                open competition with peer review; and
                    (D) the development of project selection criteria, 
                through an open and public consultation process with 
                stakeholders.
            (4) Evaluation of research.--Research contracts and grants 
        under this section shall require peer review of the research 
        results.
            (5) Eligible research.--At least 75 percent of funds made 
        available for research under this section shall support 
        research directed to the priorities in the strategic plan, and 
        up to 25 percent of such funds may support appropriate sponsor 
directed research.
    (f) Dissemination of Research Findings.--The National Academy of 
Sciences and the Department of Transportation shall disseminate 
research findings under this section to researchers, practitioners, and 
decisionmakers, through conferences and seminars, field demonstrations, 
workshops, training programs, presentations, testimony to government 
officials, the Internet, and publications for the general public.

                        TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Transit Research and Development.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation to carry out sections 
5312, 5313, 5314, 5315, and 5322 of title 49, United States Code, and 
section 202 of this Act, relating to research and development, 
$75,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2009.
    (b) Highway Safety Research and Development.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation to carry out 
section 403 of title 23, United States Code, relating to research and 
development, such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 
2004 through 2009.
    (c) Motor Carrier Research and Development.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation to carry out 
section 31108 of title 49, United States Code, relating to research and 
development, such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 
2004 through 2009.

SEC. 202. TRANSIT RESEARCH.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:
``Sec. 510. Innovative Practices and Technologies Demonstration and 
              Deployment Program
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an Innovative 
Practices and Technologies Demonstration and Deployment Program.
    ``(b) Program Goals.--The goals of the program are to--
            ``(1) demonstrate promising new transit practices and 
        technologies, including new business models for managing and 
        operating transit systems, that may increase ridership, 
        increase accessibility, reduce cost, improve customer 
        satisfaction, and improve safety;
            ``(2) evaluate, refine, and document the performance, 
        benefits, and costs of innovative practices and technologies; 
        and
            ``(3) effectively disseminate information to accelerate 
        deployment of innovative practices and technologies.
    ``(c) Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts.--The Secretary 
may make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts 
with, transit agencies, States, other Federal agencies, universities 
and colleges, private sector entities, and nonprofit organizations to 
pay the Federal share of the cost of demonstration and deployment 
projects concerning innovative practices and technologies.
    ``(d) Applications.--To receive a grant, cooperative agreement, or 
contract under this section, an entity described in subsection (c) 
shall submit an application to the Secretary. The application shall be 
in such form and contain such information as the Secretary may require. 
The Secretary shall select and approve the applications based on the 
following criteria:
            ``(1) Whether the project meets the goals of the program.
            ``(2) Merit review.
            ``(3) The likelihood that the project will result in more 
        widespread deployment of the practice or technology being 
        proposed.
            ``(4) Preference shall be given to an application that 
        represents a public-private partnership.
    ``(e) Technology and Information Transfer.--The Secretary shall 
ensure that information about innovative practices and technologies 
supported under this section is made available to transit agencies, 
State and local transportation departments, and other interested 
parties. Information disseminated under this subsection shall include 
both the costs and benefits of deploying an innovative practice or 
technology, and shall document--
            ``(1) best practices for adopting successful practices or 
        technologies; and
            ``(2) the transferability of these practices and 
        technologies.
    ``(f) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project 
under this section shall be determined by the Secretary.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis of chapter 5 of title 23, 
United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new item:

``510. Innovative Practices and Technologies Demonstration and 
                            Deployment Program.''.

SEC. 203. NATIONAL TRANSIT INSTITUTE.

    Section 5315 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``public mass transportation'' and 
                inserting ``public transportation'' each place it 
                appears;
                    (B) by striking ``mass'' after ``Government-aid'' 
                and inserting ``public''; and
                    (C) in paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (10) by 
                striking ``mass'' each place it appears before 
                ``transportation'' and inserting ``public''; and
            (2) in subsection (d) by striking ``mass'' each place it 
        appears.

SEC. 204. HUMAN RESOURCE PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 5322 is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before the beginning 
        of the first sentence of the section; and
            (2) by adding the following at the end:
    ``(b) Grants to Higher Learning Institutions.--
            ``(1) The Secretary (or the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development when required by section 5334(i) of this title) may 
        make grants to nonprofit institutions of higher learning--
                    ``(A) to conduct competent research and 
                investigations into the theoretical or practical 
                problems of urban transportation; and
                    ``(B) to train individuals to conduct further 
                research or obtain employment in an organization that 
                plans, builds, operates, or manages an urban 
                transportation system.
            ``(2) Research and investigations under this subsection 
        include--
                    ``(A) the design and use of urban public 
                transportation systems and urban roads and highways;
                    ``(B) the interrelationship between various modes 
                of urban and interurban transportation;
                    ``(C) the role of transportation planning in 
                overall urban planning;
                    ``(D) public preferences in transportation;
                    ``(E) the economic allocation of transportation 
                resources; and
                    ``(F) the legal, financial, engineering, and 
                esthetic aspects of urban transportation.
            ``(3) When making a grant under this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall give preference to an institution that brings 
        together knowledge and expertise in the various social science 
        and technical disciplines related to urban transportation 
        problems.
    ``(c) Fellowships.--
            ``(1) The Secretary may make grants to States, local 
        governmental authorities, and operators of public 
        transportation systems to provide fellowships to train 
        personnel employed in managerial, technical, and professional 
        positions in the mass transportation field.
            ``(2) A fellowship under this subsection may be for not 
        more than one year of training in an institution that offers a 
        program applicable to the public transportation industry. The 
        recipient of the grant shall select an individual on the basis 
        of demonstrated ability and for the contribution the individual 
        reasonably can be expected to make to an efficient public 
        transportation operation. A grant for a fellowship may not be 
        more than the lesser of $65,000 or 75 percent of--
                    ``(A) tuition and other charges to the fellowship 
                recipient;
                    ``(B) additional costs incurred by the training 
                institution and billed to the grant recipient; and
                    ``(C) the regular salary of the fellowship 
                recipient for the period of the fellowship to the 
                extent the salary is actually paid or reimbursed by the 
                grant recipient.
    ``(d) Other Grants.--The Secretary may make grants to State and 
local governmental authorities for projects that will use innovative 
techniques and methods in managing and providing public 
transportation.''.

SEC. 205. HIGHWAY SAFETY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    Section 403(a) (Authority of the Secretary) of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended by adding the following paragraphs at the end:
            ``(4) Emergency medical services.--In addition to the 
        authority provided under this subsection, the Secretary is 
        authorized to use funds appropriated to carry out this section 
        to enhance coordination among Federal agencies involved with 
        State, local, tribal, and community-based emergency medical 
        services. In exercising this authority, the Secretary may 
        coordinate with State and local governments, the Bureau of 
        Indian Affairs on behalf of Indian tribes, private industry, 
        and other interested parties; collect and exchange emergency 
        medical services data and information; examine emergency 
        medical services needs, best practices, and related technology; 
        and develop emergency medical services standards and 
        guidelines, and plans for the assessment of emergency medical 
        services systems.
            ``(5) International cooperation.--In addition to the 
        authority provided under this subsection, the Secretary is 
        authorized to use funds appropriated to carry out this section 
        to participate and cooperate in international activities to 
        enhance highway safety by such means as exchanging safety 
        information; conducting safety research; and examining safety 
        needs, best practices, and new technology.
            ``(6) National motor vehicle crash causation survey.--In 
        addition to the authority provided under this subsection, the 
        Secretary is authorized to use funds appropriated to carry out 
        this section to develop and conduct a nationally representative 
        survey to collect on-scene motor vehicle crash causation 
        data.''.

SEC. 206. MOTOR CARRIER RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
repealing section 31108 and inserting the following new section, to 
read as follows:
``Sec. 31108. Motor carrier research and technology program
    ``(a) Research, Technology and Technology Transfer Activities.--
            ``(1) The Secretary of Transportation shall establish and 
        carry out a motor carrier research and technology program. The 
        Secretary may carry out research, development, technology, and 
        technology transfer activities with respect to--
                    ``(A) the causes of accidents, injuries and 
                fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles; and
                    ``(B) means of reducing the number and severity of 
                accidents, injuries and fatalities involving commercial 
                motor vehicles.
            ``(2) The Secretary may test, develop, or assist in testing 
        and developing any material, invention, patented article, or 
        process related to the research and technology program.
            ``(3) The Secretary may use the funds appropriated to carry 
        out this section for training or education of commercial motor 
        vehicle safety personnel, including, but not limited to, 
        training in accident reconstruction and detection of controlled 
        substances or other contraband, and stolen cargo or vehicles.
            ``(4) The Secretary may carry out this section--
                    ``(A) independently;
                    ``(B) in cooperation with other Federal 
                departments, agencies, and instrumentalities and 
                Federal laboratories; or
                    ``(C) by making grants to, or entering into 
                contracts or cooperative agreements with, any Federal 
                laboratory, State agency, authority, association, 
                institution, for-profit or non-profit corporation, 
                organization, foreign country, or person.
            ``(5) The Secretary shall use funds made available to carry 
        out this section to develop, administer, communicate, and 
        promote the use of products of research, technology, and 
        technology transfer programs under this section.
    ``(b) Collaborative Research and Development.--
            ``(1) To advance innovative solutions to problems involving 
        commercial motor vehicle and motor carrier safety, security, 
        and efficiency, and to stimulate the deployment of emerging 
        technology, the Secretary may carry out, on a cost-shared 
        basis, collaborative research and development with--
                    ``(A) non-Federal entities, including State and 
                local governments, foreign governments, colleges and 
                universities, corporations, institutions, partnerships, 
                and sole proprietorships that are incorporated or 
                established under the laws of any State; and
                    ``(B) Federal laboratories.
            ``(2) In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may 
        enter into cooperative research and development agreements (as 
        defined in section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
        Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a)).
            ``(3)(A) The Federal share of the cost of activities 
        carried out under a cooperative research and development 
        agreement entered into under this subsection shall not exceed 
        50 percent, except that if there is substantial public interest 
        or benefit, the Secretary may approve a greater Federal share.
            ``(B) All costs directly incurred by the non-Federal 
        partners, including personnel, travel, and hardware or software 
        development costs, shall be credited toward the non-Federal 
        share of the cost of the activities described in subparagraph 
        (A).
            ``(4) The research, development, or use of a technology 
        under a cooperative research and development agreement entered 
        into under this subsection, including the terms under which the 
        technology may be licensed and the resulting royalties may be 
        distributed, shall be subject to the Stevenson-Wydler 
        Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).
            ``(5) Section 3705 of title 41, United States Code, shall 
        not apply to a contract or agreement entered into under this 
        section.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
of chapter 311 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by revising 
the item relating to section 31108 to read as follows:

``31108. Motor carrier research and technology program.''.

SEC. 207. TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENT.

    (a) In General.--As part of the National Climate Change Technology 
Initiative and the Climate Change Research Initiative, the Secretary 
shall establish and carry out a multimodal energy and climate change 
program to study the relationship of transportation, energy, and 
climate change.
    (b) Contents.--The program to be carried out under this section 
shall include, but not be limited to, research designed to--
            (1) identify, develop and evaluate strategies to improve 
        energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 
        transportation sources; and
            (2) identify and evaluate the potential effects of climate 
        changes on the nation's transportation systems, and strategies 
        to address these effects.
    (c) Project Selection.--Activities to be undertaken in this program 
will be determined by an internal steering committee established by the 
Secretary of Transportation. This intermodal committee shall include 
representatives from the Office of the Secretary and operating 
administrations within the Department of Transportation as designated 
by the Secretary.
    (d) Grants, Cooperative Agreements and Contracts.--The Secretary 
may carry out this program independently or by making grants to, or 
entering into contracts and cooperative agreements with, a Federal 
agency, State agency, local agency, authority, association, nonprofit 
or for-profit corporation, or institution of higher education.

SEC. 208. NATIONAL COOPERATIVE FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) Authorization.--To carry out a national cooperative freight 
transportation research program, there is authorized the following 
sums:
            (1) $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005.
            (2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007.
            (3) $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009.
    (b) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 509. National Cooperative Freight Transportation Research 
              Program
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and support a 
national cooperative freight transportation research program.
    ``(b) Agreement.--The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with 
the National Academy of Sciences to support and carry out 
administrative and management activities relating to the governance of 
the national cooperative freight transportation research program.
    ``(c) Advisory Committee.--The National Academy of Sciences shall 
select an advisory committee consisting of a representative cross-
section of freight stakeholders, including the Department of 
Transportation, other Federal agencies, State transportation 
departments, local governments, the American Association of State 
Highway and Transportation Officials and other nonprofit entities 
(including environmental groups), academia, and the private sector.
    ``(d) Governance.--The national cooperative freight transportation 
research program established under this section shall include the 
following administrative and management elements:
            ``(1) National research agenda.--The advisory committee, in 
        consultation with stakeholders, shall recommend a national 
        research agenda for the national cooperative freight 
        transportation research program. The national research agenda 
        shall include a multi-year strategic plan.
            ``(2) Stakeholder involvement.--Stakeholders may--
                    ``(A) submit research proposals to the advisory 
                committee;
                    ``(B) participate in merit reviews of research 
                proposals and peer reviews of research products; and
                    ``(C) receive research results.
            ``(3) Open competition and peer review of research 
        proposals.--The National Academy of Sciences shall award 
        research contracts and grants through open competition and 
merit review conducted on a regular basis.
            ``(4) Evaluation of research.--
                    ``(A) Peer review.--Research contracts and grants 
                shall allow peer review of the research results.
                    ``(B) Programmatic evaluations.--The National 
                Academy of Sciences may conduct periodic programmatic 
                evaluations on a regular basis.
            ``(5) Dissemination of research findings.--The National 
        Academy of Sciences shall disseminate research findings to 
        researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers, through 
        conferences and seminars, field demonstrations, workshops, 
        training programs, presentations, testimony to government 
        officials, world wide web, publications for the general public, 
        and other appropriate means.
    ``(e) Contents.--The national research agenda for the national 
cooperative freight transportation research program required under 
subsection (d)(1) shall include research in the following areas:
            ``(1) Techniques for estimating and quantifying public 
        benefits derived from freight transportation projects.
            ``(2) Alternative approaches to calculating the 
        contribution of truck traffic to congestion on specific highway 
        segments.
            ``(3) The feasibility of freight villages as a means of 
        consolidating origins and destinations for freight movement.
            ``(4) Methods for incorporating estimates of international 
        trade into landside transportation planning.
            ``(5) The use of technology applications to increase 
        capacity of highway lanes dedicated to truck-only traffic.
            ``(6) Development of physical and policy alternatives for 
        separating car and truck traffic.
            ``(7) Ways to synchronize infrastructure improvements with 
        freight transportation demand.
            ``(8) The effect of changing patterns of freight movement 
        on transportation planning decisions relating to rest areas.
            ``(9) Additional priorities to identify and address the 
        emerging and future research needs related to freight 
        transportation.
    ``(f) Funding.--
            ``(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of an 
        activity carried out using such funds shall be up to 100 
        percent, and such funds shall remain available until expended.
            ``(2) Use of non-federal funds.--In addition to using funds 
        authorized for this section, the National Academy of Sciences 
        may seek and accept additional funding sources from public and 
        private entities capable of accepting funding from the United 
        States Department of Transportation (Federal Highway 
        Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal 
        Railroad Administration, Research and Special Programs 
        Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety 
        Administration), states, local governments, nonprofit 
        foundations, and the private sector.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 5 of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended by redesignating section 509 as follows:

``509. National cooperative freight transportation research program.''.

SEC. 209. NEXT GENERATION NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION POLICY STUDY 
              COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment of Commission.--(1) The President shall 
established a Commission to be known as the Next Generation National 
Transportation Policy Study Commission, in this section referred to as 
the ``Commission''.
    (2) The Commission shall make a full and complete investigation and 
study of the transportation needs and of the resources, requirements, 
and policies of the United States to meet such expected needs. It shall 
take into consideration all reports on national transportation policy 
which have been submitted to Congress in the last decade, including all 
reports referenced in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
Act of 1991 and the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century. It 
shall also take into consideration the changes in global trade and its 
impact on the Nation's economy. It shall evaluate the relative merits 
of all modes of transportation in meeting our Nation's transportation 
needs. It shall take into account the link between transportation and 
the natural environment. Based on such study, it shall recommend 
changes to existing policies and any new policies that are most likely 
to ensure that adequate multimodal transportation systems are in place 
which will meet the needs for a safe and efficient movement of people 
and goods and also support and grow the national economy.
    (b) Membership.--The Commission shall be comprised of 16 members 
appointed by the President from among individuals who are knowledgeable 
in transportation activities, including individuals representing State 
and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, 
transportation-related industries, academic and technical institutions, 
and public interest organizations involved with scientific, regulatory, 
economic, and environmental transportation activities. The membership 
of the Commission shall be balanced geographically to the extent 
consistent with maintaining the highest level of expertise on the 
Commission. Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission 
as follows:
            (1) 4 shall be appointed from a list of 8 individuals who 
        shall be recommended by the majority leader of the Senate in 
        consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Environment 
        and Public Works, and the Chairman of the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the Chairman of the 
        Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
            (2) 4 shall be appointed from a list of 8 individuals who 
        shall be recommended by the minority leader of the Senate in 
        consultation with the ranking member of the Committee on 
        Environment and Public Works, the ranking member of the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the 
        ranking member of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban 
        Affairs of the Senate.
            (3) 4 shall be appointed from a list of 8 individuals who 
        shall be recommended by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives in consultation with the Chairman of the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Chairman of 
        the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Chairman of the 
        Committee on Science of the House of Representatives.
            (4) 4 shall be appointed from a list of 8 individuals who 
        shall be recommended by the minority leader of the House of 
        Representatives in consultation with the ranking member of the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the ranking 
        member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the ranking 
        member of the Committee on Science of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (5) Any vacancy which may occur on the Commission shall not 
        affect its powers or functions but shall be filled in the same 
        manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (c) Final Report.--The Commission shall not later than December 31, 
2005, submit to the President and Congress its final report including 
its findings and recommendations. The Commission shall cease to exist 
six months after submission of such report. All records and papers of 
the Commission shall thereupon be delivered to the Administrator of 
General Services for deposit in the Archives of the United States.
    (d) Findings and Recommendations.--The final report shall include 
the Commission's findings and recommendations with respect to the 
following:
            (1) The Nation's transportation needs, both national and 
        regional, through the year 2025.
            (2) The ability of our current transportation systems to 
        meet the projected needs.
            (3) The proper mix of transportation modes and necessary 
        linkages between modes to meet anticipated needs.
            (4) Necessary measures and policies to ensure enhancement 
        and protection of the natural environment in transportation 
        decisionmaking.
            (5) Short-term, medium-term, and long-term research, 
        development, and deployment to meet expected needs.
            (6) The roles of the public and private sectors relative to 
        each mode and the balance between public and private 
        investment.
            (7) The existing policies and programs of the Federal 
        Government which affect the development of our national 
        transportation system.
            (8) The new policies required to develop a balanced 
        national transportation system which meets projected needs, 
        accommodates international trade and supports the national 
        economy.
            (9) The adequacy of existing methods to finance 
        transportation and alternative new methods of financing.
    (e) Specific Factors To Consider.--In developing its findings and 
recommendations, the Commission shall address the following specific 
factors:
            (1) The role of transportation as a critical link to the 
        global economy and trade.
            (2) A balance between the transportation of people and 
        goods.
            (3) Improving operations and management of the 
        transportation system to improve efficiency, including asset 
        and information management.
            (4) The need to address aging infrastructure.
            (5) The need to address the enhancement and protection of 
        the natural environment.
            (6) The need to address congestion in all modes.
            (7) The need to improve environmental decisionmaking.
            (8) A balance between the demand for transportation 
        reliability with new threats to security.
            (9) Ways to eliminate barriers to transportation investment 
        created by the current modal structure of transportation 
        funding.
            (10) Existing barriers to private investment in 
        transportation facilities including tax inequities between 
        modes.
            (11) The adequacy of the Federal transportation trust funds 
        to finance future transportation needs.
            (12) Appropriate measures of transportation need.
            (13) The adequacy of integration among Federal programs 
        affecting transportation.
            (14) The relationship between land use and transportation 
        infrastructure investment.
            (15) The role that transportation plays in promoting 
        economic growth, improving the environment and sustaining the 
        quality of life.
    (f) Recommendations on the Roles of Government.--The Commission 
shall also make recommendations on the roles of the Federal and State 
governments in--
            (1) environmental review of transportation projects;
            (2) the provision of intercity passenger rail services;
            (3) financing transportation at international border 
        crossings;
            (4) facilitating international goods movement to, from and 
        within the United States;
            (5) ensuring consistency in data and communications links 
        for and between all modes;
            (6) financing for each mode of transportation; and
            (7) effectively using transportation networks to enhance 
        the quality of life, protect natural resources and promote 
        sustainable economic growth.
    (g) Participation in Commission Activities.--
            (1) Participation of federal agencies..--The Chairman of 
        the Commission shall request the head of each Federal 
        department or agency with an interest in or a responsibility 
        for national transportation policy to appoint a liaison who 
        shall work closely with the Committee and its staff. Such 
        departments and agencies shall include, but not be limited to, 
        the Department of Transportation, and each of its modal 
        administrations, Office of Management and Budget, Department of 
        Energy, Department of Homeland Security, Environmental 
        Protection Agency, Department of Health and Human Services, 
        Department of Commerce, Department of the Treasury, Department 
        of Defense, Department of Agriculture, National Transportation 
        Safety Board, Surface Transportation Board, and Army Corps of 
        Engineers.
            (2) Advice from public and private organizations.--In 
        carrying out its duties, the Commission shall seek the advice 
        of various groups interested in national transportation policy 
        including State and local governments, public and private 
        organizations in the fields of transportation and safety, 
        business, education, environment and labor, and the public.
    (h) Hearings.--The Commission or, on the authorization of the 
Commission, any Committee of two or more members may, for the purpose 
of carrying out the provisions of this section, hold such hearings at 
such times and places as the Commission or such authorized committee 
may deem advisable.
    (i) Compensation.--Members of Congress or other governmental 
employees shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for 
travel, per diem in accordance of the rules of the House of 
Representatives and Senate, accordingly, or subsistence and other 
necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the duties vested in 
the Commission.
    (j) Commission Staff.--The Commission is authorized to appoint and 
fix the compensation of a staff director and such additional personnel 
as may be necessary to enable it to carry out its functions.
    (k) Contracts.--The Commission is authorized to enter into 
contracts or agreements for studies and surveys with public and private 
organizations and, if necessary, to transfer funds to Federal agencies 
from sums appropriated pursuant to this section to carry out such of 
its duties as the Commission determines can best be carried our in the 
that manner.
    (l) Authorization of Appropriations.--(1) There are authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be 
necessary.
    (2) Funds authorized by this subsection shall remain available 
until expended.

SEC. 210. REAL-TIME SYSTEM MANAGEMENT INFORMATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Goals and Purposes.--
            (1) Goals.--The goals of the real-time system management 
        information program are to provide the nationwide capability to 
monitor, in real-time, the traffic and travel conditions of our 
nation's major highways and to widely share that information to improve 
the security of the surface transportation system, address congestion 
problems, support improved response to weather events, and facilitate 
national and regional traveler information.
            (2) Purposes.--The purposes of the real-time system 
        management information program are to--
                    (A) establish a nationwide system of basic real-
                time information for managing and operating our surface 
                transportation system;
                    (B) identify longer range real-time highway and 
                transit monitoring needs and develop plans and 
                strategies for meeting those needs; and
                    (C) provide the capability and means to share that 
                data with state and local governments, and the 
                traveling public.
    (b) Data Exchange Formats.--Within one year of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall establish data exchange formats to ensure that 
the data provided by highway and transit monitoring systems, including 
statewide incident reporting systems can readily be exchanged across 
jurisdictional boundaries, facilitating nationwide availability of 
information.
    (c) Statewide Incident Reporting System.--Within 2 years of 
enactment of this legislation, each State shall establish a statewide 
incident reporting system.
    (d) Regional Intelligent Transportation System Architecture.--
            (1) As State and local governments develop or update their 
        regional ITS architectures, as specified in section 940.9 of 
        title 23, Code of Federal Regulations (Regional ITS 
        Architecture), they shall explicitly address their real-time 
        highway and transit information needs and the systems needed to 
        meet those needs. This specific incorporation of information 
        needs should address coverage, monitoring systems, data fusion 
        and archiving, and methods of exchanging or sharing this 
        information.
            (2) States are encouraged to incorporate the data exchange 
        formats developed by the Secretary to ensure that the data 
        provided by highway and transit monitoring systems can readily 
        be exchanged across state and local governments, and with the 
        traveling public.
    (e) Definition.--In this section, the term ``statewide incident 
reporting system'' means a statewide system for facilitating the real-
time electronic reporting of incidents to a central location for use in 
monitoring the event, providing accurate traveler information, and 
responding to the incident as appropriate.

SEC. 211. PLANNING CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE.

    Section 104 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after subsection (i), as added by this Act, the following:
    ``(j) Planning Capacity Building Initiative.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a planning 
        capacity building initiative to support enhancements in 
        transportation planning, in order to--
                    ``(A) strengthen metropolitan and statewide 
                transportation planning under chapter 52 of title 49;
                    ``(B) enhance tribal capacity to conduct joint 
                transportation planning under Chapter 2 of this title; 
                and
                    ``(C) participate in the metropolitan and statewide 
                transportation planning programs under chapter 52 of 
                title 49.
            ``(2) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to 
        planning practices and processes that support homeland security 
        planning, performance based planning, safety planning, 
        operations planning, freight planning, and integration of 
        environment and planning.
            ``(3) Use of funds.--Funds authorized for this program may 
        be used for research, program development, information 
        collection and dissemination, and technical assistance. The 
        Secretary may use these funds independently or make grants to, 
        or enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, a 
        Federal agency, State agency, local agency, federally 
        recognized Indian tribal government or tribal consortium, 
        authority, association, nonprofit or for-profit corporation, or 
        institution of higher education, to carry out the purposes of 
        this subsection.
            ``(4) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of an 
        activity carried out using such funds shall be up to 100 
        percent, and such funds shall remain available until expended.
            ``(5) Administration.--This initiative shall be 
        administered by the Federal Highway Administration in 
        cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration.''.
                                 <all>