[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 242 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 242

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 2005

  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 2005''.
    (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 AND DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 102. Goals, principles, and processes.
Sec. 103. Transportation research and development strategic planning.
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 research.
Sec. 111. Intelligent Transportation Systems.
                        TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 201. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 202. Innovative Practices and Technologies Demonstration and 
                            Deployment Program.
Sec. 203. National Transit Institute.
Sec. 204. Human resource programs.
Sec. 205. Highway safety research and development.
Sec. 206. Motor carrier research and development program.
Sec. 207. Transportation, energy, and environment.
Sec. 208. National cooperative freight transportation research and 
                            development 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 are 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 
        less than one 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 AND DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated for each 
of fiscal years 2005 through 2010, to carry out this title and the 
amendments made by this title (other than sections 108 and 109) and 
other programs described in subsection (b), the greater of--
            (1) 1.08 percent of the amounts made available in each 
        fiscal year from the Highway Trust Fund; or
            (2) $500,000,000.
    (b) Programs.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under 
subsection (a)--
            (1) 50 percent shall be for carrying out sections 502, 503, 
        506, 507, 508, and 510 of title 23, United States Code, section 
        5113(b) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, 
        and section 104(d) of this Act, for each of fiscal years 2005 
        through 2010, of which--
                    (A) not less than $20,000,000 shall be for the 
                Surface Transportation Environment and Planning 
                Cooperative Research Program under section 507 of title 
                23, United States Code, for each of those fiscal years;
                    (B) not less than $10,000,000 shall be for advanced 
                exploratory research under section 502(d) of title 23, 
                United States Code, for each of those fiscal years; and
                    (C) not less than $5,000,000 shall be for the 
                National Multimodal Trends Policy Research Program 
                under section 104(d) of this Act for each of those 
                fiscal years;
            (2) 6.5 percent shall be for carrying out section 504 of 
        title 23, United States Code, for each of fiscal years 2005 
        through 2010;
            (3) 7.5 percent shall be for carrying out section 111 of 
        title 49, United States Code, for each of fiscal years 2005 
        through 2010, of which not less than $5,000,000 shall be for 
        research and development grants under subsection (i)(2) of such 
        section for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2010;
            (4) 11.5 percent shall be for carrying out section 5505 of 
        title 49, United States Code, for each of fiscal years 2005 
        through 2010; and
            (5) 24.5 percent shall be for carrying out the Intelligent 
        Transportation Systems Act of 2005 for each of fiscal years 
        2005 through 2010.

SEC. 102. GOALS, PRINCIPLES, AND PROCESSES.

    (a) Goals.--The Federal Government shall support surface 
transportation research and development to help achieve 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) Coverage.--Surface transportation research and 
        development shall include all activities leading to technology 
        development and transfer, as well as the introduction of new 
        and innovative ideas, practices, and approaches, through such 
        mechanisms as field applications, education and training, and 
        technical support.
            (2) Federal responsibility.--The Federal Government shall 
        fund and conduct surface transportation research and 
        development and technology transfer activities that--
                    (A) are of national significance;
                    (B) support research and development in which there 
                is a clear public benefit, and private sector 
                investment is less than optimal due to market failure;
                    (C) support research and development that the 
                Secretary determines is critical that is not otherwise 
                being conducted by the public or private sector; or
                    (D) support a Federal stewardship role in ensuring 
                that State and local governments use national resources 
                efficiently.
            (3) Role.--Consistent with these Federal responsibilities, 
        the Secretary of Transportation shall--
                    (A) conduct research and development;
                    (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 
                development; and
                    (D) support and facilitate technology and 
                innovation deployment.
            (4) Program content.--The surface transportation research 
        and development program shall include--
                    (A) fundamental, long-term research;
                    (B) research and development aimed at significant 
                research gaps, and emerging issues with national 
                implications; and
                    (C) research related to policy and planning.
    (c) Processes.--
            (1) Stakeholder input.--Federal surface transportation 
        research and development activities shall address the needs of 
        stakeholders. Stakeholders include States, metropolitan 
        planning organizations, local governments, the private sector, 
        researchers, research sponsors, and other affected parties, 
        including public interest groups.
            (2) Competition and peer review.--Except as otherwise 
        provided in this Act, the Secretary shall award all grants, 
        contracts, and cooperative agreements for research and 
        development under this Act based on open competition and peer 
        review of proposals.
            (3) Performance review and evaluation.--To the maximum 
        extent practicable, 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 and 
        development project and shall, to the maximum extent possible, 
        be outcome-based. All evaluations shall be made readily 
        available to the public.

SEC. 103. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 508 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 508. Transportation research and development strategic planning
    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Development.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Surface Transportation Research and 
        Development Act of 2005, the Secretary shall develop a 5-year 
        transportation research and development strategic plan to guide 
        Federal transportation research and development activities. 
        This plan shall be consistent with section 306 of title 5, 
        sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, and any other research and 
        development plan within the Department of Transportation.
            ``(2) Contents.--The strategic plan developed under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    ``(A) describe the primary purposes of the 
                transportation research and development program, which 
                shall include, at a minimum--
                            ``(i) reducing congestion and improving 
                        mobility;
                            ``(ii) promoting safety;
                            ``(iii) promoting security;
                            ``(iv) protecting and enhancing the 
                        environment;
                            ``(v) preserving the existing 
                        transportation system; and
                            ``(vi) improving the durability and 
                        extending the life of transportation 
                        infrastructure;
                    ``(B) for each purpose, list the primary research 
                and development topics that the Department intends to 
                pursue to accomplish that purpose, which may include 
                the fundamental research in the physical and natural 
                sciences, applied research, technology development, and 
                social science research intended for each topic; and
                    ``(C) for each research and development topic, 
                describe--
                            ``(i) the anticipated annual funding levels 
                        for the period covered by the strategic plan; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the additional information the 
                        Department expects to gain at the end of the 
                        period covered by the strategic plan as a 
                        result of the research and development in that 
                        topic area.
            ``(3) Considerations.--In developing the strategic plan, 
        the Secretary shall ensure that the plan--
                    ``(A) reflects input from a wide range of 
                stakeholders;
                    ``(B) includes and integrates the research and 
                development programs of all the Department's operating 
                administrations, including aviation, transit, rail, and 
                maritime; and
                    ``(C) takes into account how research and 
                development by other Federal, State, private sector, 
                and not-for-profit institutions contributes to the 
                achievement of the purposes identified under paragraph 
                (2)(A), and avoids unnecessary duplication with these 
                efforts.
            ``(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 Federal transportation 
                research and development activities for the previous 
                fiscal year in each topic area;
                    ``(B) the amount of funding spent in each topic 
                area;
                    ``(C) a description of the extent to which the 
                research and development is meeting the expectations 
                set forth in paragraph (2)(C)(ii); and
                    ``(D) any amendments to the strategic plan.
    ``(b) Annual Report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress an 
annual report, along with the President's annual budget request, 
describing the amount spent in the last completed fiscal year on 
transportation research and development and the amount proposed in the 
current budget for transportation research and development.
    ``(c) National Research Council Review.--The Secretary shall enter 
into an agreement for the review by the National Research Council of 
the details of each--
            ``(1) strategic plan under section 508;
            ``(2) performance plan required under section 1115 of title 
        31; and
            ``(3) program performance report required under section 
        1116 of title 31,
with respect to transportation research and development.''.
    (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.''.

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) in paragraph (1), by striking ``may'' and 
                inserting ``shall''; and
                    (B) 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).'';
            (2) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
    ``(c) Contents of Research and Development Program.--The Secretary 
shall include in surface transportation research, development, and 
technology transfer programs carried out under this title coordinated 
activities in the following areas:
            ``(1) Research and development on materials and structures 
        to improve the durability of surface transportation 
        infrastructure and extend the life of pavements and bridges, 
        including, as appropriate--
                    ``(A) development of nondestructive evaluation 
                equipment for use with existing infrastructure 
                facilities and with next-generation infrastructure 
                facilities that use advanced materials;
                    ``(B) standardized estimates, developed in 
                conjunction with the National Institute of Standards 
                and Technology and other appropriate organizations, of 
                useful life under various conditions for advanced 
                materials of use in surface transportation;
                    ``(C) research on the effects of climate conditions 
                (such as freezing, thawing, and precipitation) on 
                highway construction materials, and development of 
                materials that can withstand climatic conditions; and
                    ``(D) economic highway geometrics, structures, and 
                desirable weight and size standards for vehicles using 
                the public highways and the feasibility of uniformity 
                in State regulations with respect to such standards.
            ``(2) Research and development on the operation and 
        management of the surface transportation system to improve 
        efficiency, productivity, and safety, including, as 
        appropriate--
                    ``(A) technologies and practices that reduce costs 
                and minimize disruptions associated with the 
                construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of 
                surface transportation systems, including responses to 
                natural disasters;
                    ``(B) research and system analysis to facilitate 
                and integrate bicycle and pedestrian travel in the 
                transportation system, including within National Parks 
                and in areas adjacent to National Park land;
                    ``(C) development of dynamic simulation models of 
                surface transportation systems for--
                            ``(i) predicting capacity, safety, and 
                        infrastructure durability problems;
                            ``(ii) evaluating the extent to which 
                        projects are likely to achieve their stated 
                        objectives; and
                            ``(iii) testing the strengths and 
                        weaknesses of proposed revisions to surface 
                        transportation operations and management 
                        programs;
                    ``(D) improvement of life cycle cost analysis, 
                including--
                            ``(i) establishing the appropriate analysis 
                        period and discount rates;
                            ``(ii) learning how to value and properly 
                        consider use costs;
                            ``(iii) determining tradeoffs between 
                        reconstruction and rehabilitation; and
                            ``(iv) establishing methodologies for 
                        balancing higher initial costs of new 
                        technologies and improved or advanced materials 
                        against lower maintenance costs;
                    ``(E) research on the effects of climatic 
                conditions (such as freezing, thawing, and 
                precipitation) on the costs of highway construction 
                materials and maintenance;
                    ``(F) research, development, and technology 
                transfer related to asset management; and
                    ``(G) evaluation of traffic calming measures that 
                promote community preservation, transportation mode 
                choice, and safety.
            ``(3) Research, development, and technology transfer to 
        improve safety.
            ``(4) Research and development to support the evaluation of 
        how the surface transportation system and individual surface 
        transportation projects meet the goals of the surface 
        transportation system stated in section 102(a) of the Surface 
        Transportation Research and Development Act of 2005, including, 
        as appropriate--
                    ``(A) development, use, and dissemination of 
                indicators, including appropriate computer programs for 
                collecting and analyzing data on the status of 
                infrastructure facilities, to measure the performance 
                of the surface transportation systems of the United 
                States, including productivity, efficiency, energy use, 
                air quality, congestion, safety, maintenance, and other 
                factors that reflect system performance; and
                    ``(B) research on, and dissemination of 
                recommendations and best practices aimed at addressing, 
                nontechnical barriers to technology deployment (such as 
                fragmented local authority, rigid procurement rules, 
                and privacy and liability considerations).
            ``(5) To assess how the surface transportation system 
        affects and is affected by social systems, including, as 
        appropriate--
                    ``(A) research aimed at understanding how emerging 
                trends (including demographic, economic, and social 
                trends) will affect surface transportation usage and 
                needs;
                    ``(B) research on how land use affects and is 
                affected by surface transportation investments; and
                    ``(C) telecommuting and the linkages between 
                transportation, information technology, and community 
                development, and the impact of technological change and 
                economic restructuring on travel demand.
            ``(6) Environmental research and development, including 
        research described in the Transportation Research Board Special 
        Report 268, entitled `Surface Transportation Environmental 
        Research: A Long-Term Strategy' published in 2002.
            ``(7) Exploratory advanced research in any of the preceding 
        areas.
            ``(8) Any other surface transportation research and 
        development 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), by inserting ``exploratory'' 
                after ``shall establish an''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following new paragraphs:
            ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the research program under 
        this subsection shall be to achieve breakthroughs in 
        transportation research. 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) Workshop.--The Secretary shall convene a workshop 
        with appropriate researchers and policymakers from Federal and 
        State agencies, as well as academic researchers. The purpose of 
        the workshop shall be to determine priority areas of 
        exploratory advanced research and to identify the best way to 
        accomplish this research (such as through federally funded 
        research and development centers or academic researchers). The 
        workshop shall include 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 6 
        months after the date of the enactment of this paragraph.
            ``(4) Grant program.--The Secretary may administer a 
        competitive, peer-reviewed grant program to support exploratory 
        advanced research.
            ``(5) Report.--The President's annual budget request to the 
        Congress shall indicate the amount of funding used in the 
        previous fiscal year, and proposed for the next fiscal year, to 
        support exploratory advanced research under this subsection, 
        including the amount used to support extramural research grants 
        in exploratory advanced research under this subsection.'';
            (4) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``(105 Stat.'' and 
        all that follows through ``performance program'' and inserting 
        ``and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century'';
            (5) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections 
        (g) and (h), respectively, and by inserting after subsection 
        (e) the following new subsection:
    ``(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 (h)(2), as so redesignated by paragraph 
        (5) of this subsection, 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:
    ``(i) 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 for the 21st Century (23 U.S.C. 502 note) is 
amended by amending 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 paragraph 
        (1).''.
    (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) In General.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and 
        support a collaborative, public-private, multimodal surface 
        transportation environment and planning cooperative research 
        and development program.
            ``(2) Program.--The program established under paragraph (1) 
        shall solely carry out research and development called for in 
        the Transportation Research Board Special Report 268, entitled 
        `Surface Transportation Environmental Research: A Long-Term 
        Strategy', published in 2002, which included the following 
        research and development areas:
                    ``(A) Human Health.
                    ``(B) Ecology and Natural Systems.
                    ``(C) Environmental and Social Justice.
                    ``(D) Emerging Technologies.
                    ``(E) Land Use.
                    ``(F) Planning and Performance Measures.
    ``(b) Administration.--
            ``(1) Agreement.--The Secretary shall enter into an 
        arrangement with the National Research Council, or another 
        nonprofit research organization, such as the Health Effects 
        Institute, to administer the program established under 
        subsection (a)(1).
            ``(2) Dissemination of research and development findings.--
        The organization described in paragraph (1) and the Department 
        of Transportation shall proactively disseminate research and 
        development findings under this section to researchers, 
        practitioners, and decisionmakers.
    ``(c) Advisory Board.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The organization described in 
        subsection (b)(1) shall establish an advisory board.
            ``(2) Membership.--The advisory board shall be balanced, 
        and shall include--
                    ``(A) representatives from pubic interest groups 
                representing the environment;
                    ``(B) representatives of State, regional, and local 
                transportation agencies, including metropolitan 
                planning organizations and transit agencies;
                    ``(C) representatives of State environmental 
                agencies;
                    ``(D) transportation and environmental scientists 
                and engineers; and
                    ``(E) representatives of Federal agencies, 
                including the Department of Transportation, the 
                Environmental Protection Agency, and the National 
                Science Foundation.
            ``(3) Responsibilities.--The advisory board shall--
                    ``(A) develop an annual research and development 
                agenda to carry out research and development activities 
                described in subsection (a)(2);
                    ``(B) solicit research proposals to carry out the 
                research and development agenda, and oversee peer 
                review of proposals;
                    ``(C) develop project selection criteria through an 
                open and public consultation process with stakeholders; 
                and
                    ``(D) select projects for funding.
            ``(4) Criteria.--In developing criteria, the advisory board 
        shall give priority to proposals that--
                    ``(A) are designed to develop fundamental 
                knowledge;
                    ``(B) are interdisciplinary and involve 
                partnerships; and
                    ``(C) include significant matching funds.
    ``(d) Project Funding.--In addition to using funds authorized for 
this section, the organization described in subsection (b)(1) is 
encouraged to seek and accept additional funding sources from public 
and private entities.
    ``(e) Annual Report.--The organization described in subsection 
(b)(1) shall prepare and transmit to the Secretary and the Congress an 
annual report that includes a project summary for every project funded 
under this section. Each summary shall describe the project, summarize 
its status and funding levels, and identify sources of funding.''.
            (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.''.
    (d) National Multimodal Trends Policy Research and Development 
Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a National 
        Multimodal Trends Policy Research and Development Program that 
        systematically addresses critical short-term, medium-term, and 
        long-term social science issues affecting and affected by the 
        transportation system.
            (2) Contents.--The program to be carried out under this 
        subsection shall include research and development on--
                    (A) how, and the extent to which, the overall 
                transportation system is meeting the goals set forth in 
                the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, and 
                how to improve evaluation methodologies and performance 
                measures;
                    (B) the development of policy analysis tools and 
                methods for use by decisionmakers;
                    (C) 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;
                    (D) economic, demographic, and social trends that 
                are affecting and are affected by the transportation 
                system, including such topics as--
                            (i) economic trends, including 
                        international trade and its effects on the 
                        transportation of people and goods, rapidly 
                        changing information technology, the changing 
                        nature of metropolitan economies, 
                        diversification of employment sites, and 
                        innovations in goods movement;
                            (ii) demographic trends, changing 
                        residential patterns, and the aging of the 
                        population; and
                            (iii) social trends, including income 
                        disparity, access of underserved populations to 
                        jobs, services and health care, including the 
                        needs of low-income, minority, and transit-
                        dependent populations in urban and rural areas, 
                        the needs of rural populations, and the effects 
                        of new technologies on driver behavior;
                    (E) how institutional factors affect the 
                development and successful deployment of new 
                technologies; and
                    (F) other critical issues identified by the 
                Advisory Board established under paragraph (4).
            (3) Establishment.--The Secretary shall enter into an 
        arrangement with the National Research Council to establish the 
        advisory board under paragraph (4) and to administer the 
        program.
            (4) Advisory board.--
                    (A) Membership.--A majority of members of the 
                advisory board shall be experts in a broad array of 
                social science fields. Additional members of the 
                advisory board shall be 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, 
                including representatives of community-based 
                orgainzations.
                    (B) Responsibilities.--The advisory board shall--
                            (i) develop a detailed research and 
                        development agenda, which shall serve as the 
                        basis of the annual project solicitation;
                            (ii) annually solicit project proposals, 
                        through open competition and peer review of 
                        research and development proposals; and
                            (iii) develop project selection criteria, 
                        through an open and public consultation process 
                        with stakeholders.
            (5) Dissemination of research and development findings.--
        The National Research Council and the Department of 
        Transportation shall disseminate research and development 
        findings under this subsection to researchers, practitioners, 
        and decisionmakers.
    (e) Road Weather Research and Development Program.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a road 
        weather research and development program to--
                    (A) maximize use of available road weather 
                information and technologies;
                    (B) expand road weather research and development 
                efforts to enhance roadway safety, capacity, and 
                efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts; and
                    (C) promote technology transfer of effective road 
                weather scientific and technological advances.
            (2) Stakeholder input.--In carrying out this subsection, 
        the Secretary shall consult with the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, 
        the American Association of State Highway and Transportation 
        Officials, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector.
            (3) Contents.--The program established under this 
        subsection shall solely carry out research and development 
        called for in the National Research Council's report entitled 
        ``A Research Agenda for Improving Road Weather Services''. Such 
        research and development includes--
                    (A) integrating existing observational networks and 
                data management systems for road weather applications;
                    (B) improving weather modeling capabilities and 
                forecast tools, such as the road surface and 
                atmospheric interface;
                    (C) enhancing mechanisms for communicating road 
                weather information to users, such as transportation 
                officials and the public; and
                    (D) integrating road weather technologies into an 
                information infrastructure.
            (4) Activities.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    (A) enable efficient technology transfer;
                    (B) improve education and training of road weather 
                information users, such as State and local 
                transportation officials and private sector 
                transportation contractors; and
                    (C) coordinate with transportation weather research 
                programs in other modes, such as aviation.
            (5) Funding.--In awarding funds under this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall give preference to applications with 
        significant matching funds from non-Federal sources. From the 
        amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 101(b)(1), 
        there shall be available $5,000,000 for carrying out this 
        subsection for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2010.

SEC. 105. TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT.

    (a) Technology Deployment Program.--Section 503(a) of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Initiatives 
        and Partnerships'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall develop and 
        administer a national technology deployment program.'';
            (3) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
            ``(7) Grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Under the program, the Secretary 
                shall make grants to, and enter into cooperative 
                agreements and contracts with, States, other Federal 
                agencies, universities and colleges, private sector 
                entities, and nonprofit organizations to pay the 
                Federal share of the cost of research, development, and 
                technology transfer concerning innovative materials.
                    ``(B) Applications.--To receive a grant under this 
                subsection, 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 open 
                competition and peer review, and on whether the project 
                that is the subject of the grant serves the purpose of 
                the program described in paragraph (2).'';
            (4) by striking paragraph (8);
            (5) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and
            (6) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
            ``(8) Technology and information transfer.--The Secretary 
        shall ensure that the information and technology resulting from 
        research and development conducted under paragraph (3) is made 
        available to State and local transportation departments and 
        other interested parties as specified by the Secretary.
            ``(9) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of a 
        project under this section shall be determined by the 
        Secretary.''.
    (b) Innovative Bridge Research and Deployment Program.--
            (1) In general.--Section 503(b) of title 23, United States 
        Code, is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting:
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and carry 
        out a program to promote, demonstrate, evaluate, and document 
        the application of innovative designs, materials and 
        construction methods in the construction, repair, and 
        rehabilitation of bridges and other highway structures.''.
            (2) Goals.--Section 503(b) of such title is amended by 
        striking paragraph (2) and inserting:
            ``(2) Goals.--The goals of the program shall include--
                    ``(A) the development of new, cost-effective, 
                innovative highway bridge applications;
                    ``(B) the development of construction techniques to 
                increase safety and reduce construction time and 
                traffic congestion;
                    ``(C) the development of engineering design 
                criteria for innovative products, materials, and 
                structural systems for use in highway bridges and 
                structures;
                    ``(D) the reduction of maintenance costs and life-
                cycle costs of bridges, including the costs of new 
                construction, replacement, or rehabilitation of 
                deficient bridges;
                    ``(E) the development of highway bridges and 
                structures that will withstand natural disasters and 
                terrorist attacks;
                    ``(F) the documentation and wide dissemination of 
                objective evaluations of the performance and benefits 
                of these innovative designs, materials, and 
                construction methods; and
                    ``(G) the effective transfer of resulting 
                information and technology.''.
    (c) Innovative Pavement Research and Deployment Program.--Section 
503 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding after 
subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Innovative Pavement Research and Deployment Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and 
        implement a program to promote, demonstrate, support, and 
        document the application of innovative pavement technologies, 
        practices, performance, and benefits.
            ``(2) Goals.--The goals of the innovative pavement research 
        and deployment program shall include--
                    ``(A) the deployment of new, cost-effective 
                innovative designs, materials, and practices to extend 
                pavement life and performance and to improve customer 
                satisfaction;
                    ``(B) the reduction of initial costs and life-cycle 
                costs of pavements, including the costs of new 
                construction, replacement, maintenance, and 
                rehabilitation;
                    ``(C) the deployment of accelerated construction 
                techniques, including innovative pavement materials, to 
                increase safety and reduce construction time and 
                traffic disruption and congestion;
                    ``(D) the deployment of engineering design criteria 
                and specifications for innovative practices, products, 
                and materials for use in highway pavements;
                    ``(E) the deployment of new nondestructive and real 
                time pavement evaluation technologies and techniques;
                    ``(F) evaluation, refinement, and documentation of 
                the performance and benefits of innovative technologies 
                deployed to improve life, performance, cost 
                effectiveness, safety, and customer satisfaction;
                    ``(G) effective technology transfer and information 
                dissemination to accelerate implementation of 
                innovative technologies and to improve life, 
                performance, cost effectiveness, safety, and customer 
                satisfaction; and
                    ``(H) the development of designs and materials to 
                reduce storm water runoff.
            ``(3) Grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Under the program, the Secretary 
                shall make grants to, and enter into cooperative 
                agreements and contracts with States, other Federal 
                agencies, universities and colleges, private sector 
                entities, and nonprofit organizations for research, 
                development, and technology transfer for innovative 
                safety technologies.
                    ``(B) Applications.--To receive a grant under this 
                subsection, 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 open 
                competition and peer review, and on whether the project 
                that is the subject of the grant meets the goals of the 
                program described in paragraph (2).
            ``(4) Technology and information transfer.--The Secretary 
        shall take such action as is necessary to ensure that the 
        information and technology resulting from research conducted 
        under paragraph (3) is made available to State and local 
        transportation departments and other interested parties as 
        specified by the Secretary.''.
    (d) Safety Innovation Deployment Program.--Section 503 of title 23, 
United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by 
adding the following:
    ``(d) Safety Innovation Deployment Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and 
        implement a program to demonstrate the application of 
        innovative technologies in highway safety.
            ``(2) Goals.--The goals of the program shall include--
                    ``(A) the deployment and evaluation of safety 
                technologies and innovations at state and local levels; 
                and
                    ``(B) the deployment of best practices in training, 
                management, design, and planning.
            ``(3) Grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Under the program, the Secretary 
                shall make grants to, and enter into cooperative 
                agreements and contracts with States, other Federal 
                agencies, universities and colleges, private sector 
                entities, and nonprofit organizations for research, 
                development, and technology transfer for innovative 
                safety technologies.
                    ``(B) Applications.--To receive a grant under this 
                subsection, 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 open 
                competition and peer review, and on whether the project 
                that is the subject of the grant meets the goals of the 
                program described in paragraph (2).
            ``(4) Technology and information transfer.--The Secretary 
        shall take such action as is necessary to ensure that the 
        information and technology resulting from research conducted 
        under paragraph (3) is made available to State and local 
        transportation departments and other interested parties as 
        specified by the Secretary.''.

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 courses in the subject areas of asset 
                management, application of emerging technologies, 
                including intelligent transportation systems, 
                techniques, methods, regulations, information 
                technology, general management, environmental 
                stewardship, acquisition of rights-of-way, relocation 
                assistance, engineering, safety, transportation system 
                management and operations, construction, maintenance, 
                contract administration, inspection, and finance.
                    ``(B) Additional courses.--In addition to the 
                courses in the subject matter areas described in 
                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) Local Technical Assistance Program.--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) Surface Transportation Workforce Development, Training, and 
Education.--Section 504 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Surface Transportation Workforce Development, Training, and 
Education.--
            ``(1) Funding.--Subject to project approval by the 
        Secretary, a State may obligate funds apportioned to it under 
        sections 104(b)(1), (3), and (4) and 144(e) of this title for 
        surface transportation workforce development, training and 
        education, including--
                    ``(A) tuition and direct educational expenses, 
                excluding salaries, in connection with the education 
                and training of employees of State and local 
                transportation agencies;
                    ``(B) employee professional development;
                    ``(C) student internships; or
                    ``(D) education outreach activities to develop 
                interest and promote participation in surface 
                transportation careers.
            ``(2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
        activities carried out in accordance with this subsection shall 
        be 100 percent.''.
    (d) Definitions and Declaration of Policy.--Section 101(a) of title 
23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by--
                    (A) striking ``and'' after subparagraph (G);
                    (B) striking the period after 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 (34) through (37) as 
        paragraphs (35) through (38) respectively; and
            (3) by adding after paragraph (33), as redesignated by this 
        Act, the following:
            ``(34) 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, including activities for women and 
        minorities.''.
    (e) Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education 
Program.--Section 504 of title 23, United States Code, as amended by 
this section, is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(e) Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education 
Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish the 
        Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education 
        Program to improve the preparation of students, particularly 
        women and minorities, in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics through curriculum development and other activities 
        related to transportation.
            ``(2) Authorized activities.--The Secretary shall award 
        grants under this subsection on the basis of competitive, peer 
        review. Grants awarded under this subsection may be used for 
        enhancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at 
        the elementary and secondary school level through such means 
        as--
                    ``(A) internships that offer students experience in 
                the transportation field;
                    ``(B) programs that allow students to spend time 
                observing scientists and engineers in the 
                transportation field; and
                    ``(C) developing relevant curriculum that uses 
                examples and problems related to transportation.
            ``(3) Application and review procedures.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An entity described in 
                subparagraph (C) seeking funding under this subsection 
                shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
                time, in such manner, and containing such information 
                as the Secretary may require. Such application, at a 
                minimum, shall include a description of how the funds 
                will be used and a description of how the funds will be 
                used to serve the purposes described in paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Priority.--In making awards under this 
                subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to 
                applicants that will encourage the participation of 
                women and minorities.
                    ``(C) Eligibility.--Local education agencies and 
                State education agencies, which may partner with 
                institutions of higher education, businesses, or other 
                entities, shall be eligible to apply for grants under 
                this subsection.
            ``(4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
                    ``(A) the term `institution of higher education' 
                has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001);
                    ``(B) the term `local educational agency' has the 
                meaning given that term in section 9101 of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 7801); and
                    ``(C) the term `State educational agency' has the 
                meaning given that term in section 9101 of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
        Transportation to carry out this subsection $500,000 for fiscal 
        year 2006 and such sums as may be necessary thereafter.''.

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.
    ``(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 serve as 
the Secretary's senior advisor on data and statistics, and shall be 
responsible for carrying out the following duties:
            ``(1) Providing data, statistics, and analysis to 
        transportation decisionmakers.--Ensuring that the statistics 
        compiled under paragraph (5) are designed to support 
        transportation decisionmaking by the Federal Government, State 
        and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, 
        transportation-related associations, the private sector 
        (including the freight community), and the public.
            ``(2) Coordinating collection of information.--Working with 
        the operating administrations of the Department to establish 
        and implement the Bureau's data programs and to improve the 
        coordination of information collection efforts with other 
        Federal agencies.
            ``(3) Data modernization.--Continually improving surveys 
        and data collection methods to improve the accuracy and utility 
        of transportation statistics.
            ``(4) Encouraging data standardization.--Encouraging the 
        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.
            ``(5) Compiling transportation statistics.--Compiling, 
        analyzing, and publishing a comprehensive set of transportation 
        statistics on the performance and impacts of the national 
        transportation system, including 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 traveling behavior, including choice of 
                transportation mode, and goods movement;
                    ``(G) transportation costs for passenger travel and 
                goods movement;
                    ``(H) 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;
                    ``(I) frequency of vehicle and transportation 
                facility repairs and other interruptions of 
                transportation service;
                    ``(J) safety and security for travelers, vehicles, 
                and transportation systems;
                    ``(K) consequences of transportation for the human 
                and natural environment;
                    ``(L) the extent, connectivity, and condition of 
                the transportation system, building on the National 
                Transportation Atlas Database developed under 
                subsection (g); and
                    ``(M) transportation-related variables that 
                influence the domestic economy and global 
                competitiveness.
            ``(6) 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.
            ``(7) Issuing guidelines.--Issuing guidelines for the 
        collection of information by the Department of Transportation 
        required for statistics to be compiled under paragraph (5) 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.
            ``(8) 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 2005, the Secretary shall enter into an 
        arrangement with the National Research Council to develop and 
        publish a National Transportation Information Needs Assessment. 
        The Assessment shall be transmitted to the Secretary and the 
        Congress not later than 24 months after such arrangement is 
        entered into.
            ``(2) Content.--The Assessment shall--
                    ``(A) identify, in priority order, transportation 
                data that is not being collected by the Bureau, 
                Department of Transportation operating administrations, 
                or other Federal, State, or local entities, but is 
                needed to improve transportation decisionmaking at the 
                Federal, State, and local level and to fulfill the 
                requirements of subsection (c)(5);
                    ``(B) recommend whether the data identified in 
                subparagraph (A) should be collected by the Bureau, 
                other parts of the Department, or by other Federal, 
                State, or local entities, and whether any data is a 
                higher priority than data currently being collected;
                    ``(C) identify any data the Bureau or other 
                Federal, State, and local entities is collecting that 
                is not needed;
                    ``(D) describe new data collection methods 
                (including changes in surveys) and other changes the 
                Bureau or other Federal, State, and local entities 
                should implement to improve the standardization, 
                accuracy, and utility of transportation data and 
                statistics; and
                    ``(E) estimate the cost of implementing any 
                recommendations.
            ``(3) Consultation.--In developing the Assessment, the 
        National Research Council shall consult with the Department's 
        Advisory Council on Transportation Statistics and a 
        representative cross-section of transportation community 
        stakeholders as well as other Federal agencies, including the 
        Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and 
        the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
            ``(4) Report to congress.--Not later than 6 months after 
        the National Research Council transmits the Needs Assessment 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit a report to 
        the Committee on Science and the Committee on Transportation 
        and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and to the 
        Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, that 
        describes--
                    ``(A) how the Department plans to fill the data 
                gaps identified under paragraph (2)(A);
                    ``(B) how the Department plans to stop collecting 
                data identified under paragraph (2)(C);
                    ``(C) how the Department plans to implement 
                improved data collection methods and other changes 
                identified under paragraph (2)(D);
                    ``(D) the expected costs of implementing 
                subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of this paragraph;
                    ``(E) any findings of the Needs Assessment under 
                paragraph (1) with which the Secretary disagrees, and 
                why; and
                    ``(F) any proposed statutory changes needed to 
                implement the findings if the Needs Assessment under 
                paragraph (1).
    ``(e) Intermodal Transportation Data Base.--
            ``(1) In general.--In consultation with the Under Secretary 
        for Policy, 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.
    ``(f) 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)(8).
            ``(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).
    ``(g) 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.
    ``(h) 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 as part of the collection of freight data, 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.
    ``(i) 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)(5) 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 (f); and
            ``(4) development and improvement of methods for sharing 
        geographic data, in support of the national transportation 
        atlas data base under subsection (g) and the National Spatial 
        Data Infrastructure developed under Executive Order No. 12906.
    ``(j) 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.
    ``(k) 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) can be identified;
                    ``(B) use the information provided under subsection 
                (c) 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).
            ``(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) 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.
    ``(l) 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)(5), documentation of methods used to obtain and ensure 
the quality of the statistics presented in the report, and 
recommendations for improving transportation statistical information.
    ``(m) Proceeds of Data Product Sales.--Notwithstanding section 3302 
of title 31, 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.
    ``(n) 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, objectivity, 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 report to 
                Congress under subsection (d)(4); 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 fewer 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, or policy.
        Members shall include representatives of a cross-section of 
        transportation community stakeholders.
            ``(4) Terms of appointment.--(A) Except as provided in 
        subparagraph (B), members shall be appointed to staggered terms 
        not to exceed 3 years. A member may be renominated for one 
        additional 3-year term.
            ``(B) Members serving on the Advisory Council on 
        Transportation Statistics as of the date of enactment of the 
        Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2005 
        shall serve until the end of their appointed terms.
            ``(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.--Two and a half percent of the sums apportioned 
to a State for fiscal year 2005 and each fiscal year thereafter under 
section 104 (other than subsections (f) and (h)) and under sections 105 
and 144 shall be available for expenditure by the State, 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) Development and implementation of infrastructure 
        management and traffic monitoring systems, and for asset 
        management.
            ``(4) 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.
            ``(5) 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, including innovative 
        techniques for ensuring representative public input (e.g. 
        deliberative polling).
            ``(6) 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.
            ``(7) Study, research and development, 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 establish and support a grant program to be known as the Future 
Strategic Highway Research Program.
    ``(b) Program.--The program established under this section shall 
implement the Transportation Research Board Special Report 260, 
entitled `Strategic Highway Research: Saving Lives, Reducing 
Congestion, Improving Quality of Life', which included 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.
    ``(c) Administration.--The Secretary shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council to administer the 
program established under subsection (a).
    ``(d) 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.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation from the Highway Trust 
Fund, for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2010, $75,000,000 to carry 
out this section.
    ``(f) Program Administration.--In carrying out the program under 
this section, the Secretary, through the agreement with the National 
Research Council, shall ensure that the selection of awards shall be 
based on open competition and peer review, and that a balanced group of 
stakeholders is represented on all committees and panels established to 
implement the program. Proposals that involve partnerships and include 
significant matching funds shall be encouraged, although no matching 
funds are required.
    ``(g) Programmatic Evaluations.--Within 3 years after the first 
research and development project grants, cooperative agreements, or 
contracts are awarded under this section, the Comptroller General shall 
review the program under this section, and recommend improvements. The 
review shall assess the degree to which projects funded under this 
section have addressed the research and development topics identified 
in the Transportation Research Board Special Report 260, including 
identifying those topics which have not yet been addressed.
    ``(h) Annual Progress and Performance Report.--The National 
Research Council 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 and development areas specified in subsection (b). 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 RESEARCH.

    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 16 grants to 
nonprofit institutions of higher learning, in addition to grants made 
under subsection (a), to establish and operate university 
transportation centers.
    ``(c) Role of Centers.--The role of each center shall be 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.
    ``(d) 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 an open competition, peer-
        reviewed process on the basis of the following:
                    ``(A) The capability of the recipient to provide 
                leadership in making national and regional 
                contributions to the solution of immediate and long-
                range transportation problems.
                    ``(B) The recipient's establishment of a surface 
                transportation program by the date of the award, which 
                encompasses several modes of transportation.
                    ``(C) The recipient's demonstrated ability to 
                disseminate results of transportation research and 
                education programs through a statewide or regionwide 
                continuing education program.
                    ``(D) The strategic plan the recipient proposes to 
                carry out under the grant.
    ``(e) Objectives.--The Secretary shall ensure that each university 
transportation center receiving a grant under this section shall 
conduct the following programs and activities:
            ``(1) Basic and applied research and development that 
        supports the Department's research and development agenda 
        consistent with section 508 of title 23.
            ``(2) An education program that includes multidisciplinary 
        course work, faculty and student participation in research and 
        development, and an opportunity for practical experience.
            ``(3) An ongoing program of technology transfer that makes 
        research and development results available to potential users 
        in a form that can be implemented, utilized, or otherwise 
        applied.
    ``(f) 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 and 
        development 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) submit to the Secretary 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 educational activities carried out by the 
                center (including a detailed summary of the budget for 
                those educational activities);
                    ``(B) each research and development project carried 
                out by the center, including--
                            ``(i) the identity of the principal 
                        investigator working on a research and 
                        development project; and
                            ``(ii) the overall funding amount for each 
                        research and development project (including the 
                        amounts expended for the project as of the date 
                        of the report); and
                    ``(C) overall technology transfer and 
                implementation efforts of the center; and
            ``(3) 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 development.
    ``(g) 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.
    ``(h) Program Coordination.--
            ``(1) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the 
        research and development, education, training, and technology 
        transfer activities that grant recipients carry out under this 
        section.
            ``(2) Annual review and evaluation.--At least annually and 
        consistent with the plan developed by the recipient under 
        subsection (f)(2), 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.
    ``(i) 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.
    ``(j) Transportation Education Development Pilot Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        program to make grants to institutions of higher education that 
        in partnership with industry or State Departments of 
        Transportation will develop, test, and revise new curricula and 
        education programs to train individuals at all levels of 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 or 
                education program meets the specific needs of a segment 
                of the transportation industry, States, or regions;
                    ``(B) providing for practical experience and on-
                the-job training;
                    ``(C) proposals oriented toward practitioners in 
                the field rather than the support and growth of the 
                research community;
                    ``(D) the degree to which the new curricula or 
                program will provide training in areas other than 
                engineering, such as business administration, 
                economics, information technology, environmental 
                science, and law;
                    ``(E) programs or curricula in nontraditional 
                departments which train professionals for work in the 
                transportation field, such as materials, information 
                technology, environmental science, urban planning, and 
                industrial technology; and
                    ``(F) industry or a State's Department of 
                Transportation commitment to the program.
            ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--From amounts 
        authorized under section 101(b)(4) of the Surface 
        Transportation Research and Development Act of 2005 for 
        carrying out this section, for each of fiscal years 2005, 2006, 
        2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, there shall be available for 
        carrying out this subsection $4,500,000.
            ``(4) Limitations.--No individual grant under this 
        subsection shall exceed $750,000 per year. After a recipient 
        has received 3 years of Federal funding under this subsection, 
        Federal funding may equal no more than 75 percent of a 
        grantee's program costs.
    ``(k) National Transportation Security Centers.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish not 
        more than 4 National Transportation Security Centers at 
        institutions of higher education to conduct research, 
        education, and professional training on all aspects of surface 
        transportation security, with emphasis on utilization of 
        intelligent transportation systems, technologies, and 
        architectures.
            ``(2) Selection criteria.--The Secretary shall make grants 
        using a competitive peer-reviewed procedure that gives priority 
        to--
                    ``(A) institutions with a commitment to 
                transportation security issues;
                    ``(B) proposals that include partnerships with 
                other institutions of higher education, federally 
                funded research and development centers, or other 
                nonprofit laboratories;
                    ``(C) proposals to conduct both practical and 
                theoretical research and technical systems analysis; 
                and
                    ``(D) proposals to develop professional training 
                programs.''.

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 2005'.

``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 emerging technologies to meet the 
        goals described in subsection (a);
            ``(2) expedite deployment and ensure integration and 
        interoperability of proven intelligent transportation systems;
            ``(3) analyze the likelihood of utilization of intelligent 
        transportation system technologies by the intended user 
        community;
            ``(4) ensure that Federal, State, and local transportation 
        officials have adequate knowledge of intelligent transportation 
        systems for full consideration in the transportation planning 
        process;
            ``(5) improve regional cooperation and operations planning 
        for effective intelligent transportation system deployment;
            ``(6) promote the innovative use of private resources;
            ``(7) develop a workforce capable of developing, operating, 
        and maintaining intelligent transportation systems; and
            ``(8) 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, federally 
funded research and development centers, 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, may 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 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.
            ``(2) Agreement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into an 
                agreement with a third party for the maintenance of the 
                repository for technical and safety data under 
                paragraph (1)(A).
                    ``(B) Federal financial assistance.--If the 
                Secretary delegates responsibility under subparagraph 
                (A), the entity to which the responsibility is 
                delegated shall be eligible for Federal financial 
                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, be balanced between metropolitan and 
        rural interests, and include, at a minimum--
                    ``(A) a representative from a State highway 
                department;
                    ``(B) a representative from a local highway 
                department who is not from a metropolitan planning 
                organization;
                    ``(C) a representative from a State, local, or 
                regional transit agency;
                    ``(D) a representative from a metropolitan planning 
                organization;
                    ``(E) a private sector user of intelligent 
                transportation system technologies;
                    ``(F) an academic researcher with expertise in 
                computer science or another information science field 
                related to intelligent transportation systems, and who 
                is not an expert on transportation issues;
                    ``(G) an academic researcher who is a civil 
                engineer;
                    ``(H) an academic researcher who is a social 
                scientist with expertise in transportation issues;
                    ``(I) a representative from a not-for-profit group 
                representing the intelligent transportation system 
                industry;
                    ``(J) a representative from a public interest group 
                concerned with safety;
                    ``(K) a representative from a public interest group 
                concerned with the impact of the transportation system 
                on land use and residential patterns; 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 
                Intelligent Transportation System aspects of the 
                strategic plan under section 508 of title 23, United 
                States Code.
                    ``(B) Review, at least annually, areas of 
                intelligent transportation systems research being 
                considered for funding by the Department, to 
                determine--
                            ``(i) whether these activities are likely 
                        to advance either the state-of-the-practice or 
                        state-of-the-art in intelligent transportation 
                        systems;
                            ``(ii) whether the intelligent 
                        transportation system technologies are likely 
                        to be deployed by users, and, if not, to 
                        determine the barriers to deployment; and
                            ``(iii) the appropriate roles for 
                        government and the private sector in investing 
                        in the research and technologies being 
                        considered.
            ``(4) Report.--Not later than February 1 of each year after 
        the date of enactment of the Surface Transportation Research 
        and Development Act of 2005, the Secretary shall transmit to 
        the Committee on Science and the Committee on Transportation 
        and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and to the 
        Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, a 
        report including--
                    ``(A) all recommendations made by the Advisory 
                Committee during the preceding calendar year;
                    ``(B) an explanation of how the Secretary has 
                implemented those recommendations; and
                    ``(C) for recommendations not implemented, the 
                reasons for rejecting the recommendations.
            ``(5) Applicability of federal advisory committee act.--The 
        Advisory Committee shall be subject to the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(i) 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 
                subsection.
            ``(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.

``SEC. 5204. USING INFORMATION FROM INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.

    ``(a) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare a report assessing the 
value of current and anticipated data collected from intelligent 
transportation system technologies to determine whether and how that 
data should be used for real-time traffic management, planning, 
performance monitoring, program assessment, and policy applications.
    ``(b) Assessment.--In preparing the report under subsection (a), 
the Secretary should assess--
            ``(1) the extent to which 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;
            ``(2) the need for data standards;
            ``(3) 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; 
        and
            ``(4) how to make data accessible to users.
    ``(c) Consultation.--In developing the strategy under this section, 
the Secretary shall consult with the Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics and the advisory committee established under section 
5203(h).
    ``(d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the report developed under 
this section.

``SEC. 5205. 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, whenever it is appropriate, 
        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 that are funded by the Department are tested and 
        validated, whenever it is appropriate, 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 and development objectives outlined in the 
                National ITS Program Plan 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. 5206. 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) are aimed at reducing congestion and improving 
        mobility and efficiency;
            ``(2) are aimed at improving safety;
            ``(3) are aimed at improving security by focusing on 
        responding to security-related emergencies, and preventing such 
        emergencies;
            ``(4) incorporate human factors research, including the 
        science of the driving process;
            ``(5) develop methods to address nontechnical barriers to 
        the deployment of intelligent transportation system 
        technologies, and the best ways to develop partnerships to 
        successfully deploy intelligent transportation system 
        technologies;
            ``(6) facilitate the integration of intelligent 
        infrastructure, vehicle, and control technologies;
            ``(7) incorporate research on the impact of environmental, 
        weather, and natural conditions on intelligent transportation 
        systems, including the effects of cold climates;
            ``(8) utilize interdisciplinary approaches to develop 
        traffic management strategies and tools to address multiple 
        impacts of congestion concurrently;
            ``(9) are aimed at improving the efficiency of goods 
        movement, such as through real-time tracking and management; or
            ``(10) 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. 5207. USE OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) Congestion Reduction.--At least \1/3\ of funds made available 
under section 5206 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.

``SEC. 5208. 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) 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.
            ``(5) 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. Using information from intelligent transportation systems.
``Sec. 5205. National architecture and standards.
``Sec. 5206. Research and development.
``Sec. 5207. Use of funds.
``Sec. 5208. Definitions.''.

                        TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Transit Research and Development.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund 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, such sums as may be necessary for each of 
the fiscal years 2005 through 2010.
    (b) Highway Safety Research and Development.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund 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 2005 through 2010.
    (c) Motor Carrier Research and Development.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund 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 2005 through 2010.

SEC. 202. INNOVATIVE PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES DEMONSTRATION AND 
              DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation 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 transit practices and 
        technologies; and
            (3) effectively disseminate information to accelerate 
        deployment of innovative transit 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 through an open 
competition based on the following criteria:
            (1) Whether the project meets the goals of the program.
            (2) Peer review of the proposal.
            (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.

SEC. 203. NATIONAL TRANSIT INSTITUTE.

    Section 5315 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``public mass transportation'' and 
                inserting ``public transportation'';
                    (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 of title 49, United States Code, 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 development 
                and investigations into the theoretical or practical 
                problems of urban transportation; and
                    ``(B) to train individuals to conduct further 
                research and development 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 development; 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 DEVELOPMENT 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 development program
    ``(a) Research, Development, and Technology Transfer Activities.--
            ``(1) The Secretary of Transportation shall establish and 
        carry out a motor carrier research and development 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 development 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 
                federally funded research and development centers; or
                    ``(C) by making grants to, or entering into 
                contracts or cooperative agreements with, any federally 
                funded research and development center, 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) federally funded research and development 
                centers.
            ``(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 development 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 and development 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.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, from the Highway Trust Fund and 
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2005 through 2010.

SEC. 208. NATIONAL COOPERATIVE FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 510. National cooperative freight transportation research and 
              development program
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and support a 
national cooperative freight transportation research and development 
program. The program shall focus on all forms of freight 
transportation, including trucking and rail.
    ``(b) Agreement.--The Secretary shall enter into an arrangement 
with the National Research Council to support and carry out 
administrative and management activities relating to the governance of 
the national cooperative freight transportation research and 
development program.
    ``(c) Advisory Committee.--The National Research Council 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 and development program established under this section shall 
include the following administrative and management elements:
            ``(1) National research and development agenda.--The 
        advisory committee, in consultation with stakeholders, shall 
        recommend a national research and development agenda for the 
        national cooperative freight transportation research and 
        development program. The national research and development 
        agenda shall include a multi-year strategic plan.
            ``(2) Stakeholder involvement.--Stakeholders may--
                    ``(A) submit research and development proposals to 
                the advisory committee;
                    ``(B) participate in merit reviews of research and 
                development proposals and peer reviews of research and 
                development products; and
                    ``(C) receive research and development results.
            ``(3) Open competition and peer review of research and 
        development proposals.--The National Research Council shall 
        award research and development contracts and grants through 
        open competition and peer review conducted on a regular basis.
            ``(4) Evaluation of research.--
                    ``(A) Peer review.--Research and development 
                contracts and grants shall allow peer review of the 
                research and development results.
                    ``(B) Programmatic evaluations.--The National 
                Research Council may conduct periodic programmatic 
                evaluations on a regular basis.
            ``(5) Dissemination of research findings.--The National 
        Research Council shall disseminate research and development 
        findings to researchers, practitioners, and decisionmakers.
    ``(e) Contents.--The national research and development agenda for 
the national cooperative freight transportation research and 
development program required under subsection (d)(1) may include 
research and development 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) Additional priorities to identify and address the 
        emerging and future research and development 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 Research Council 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.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 5 of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
item:

``510. National cooperative freight transportation research and 
                            development 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 for 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, 
2007, 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 Archivist of the 
United States 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 from the Highway Trust Fund to carry out this section 
such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2005 and 2006.
    (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.
    (f) Eligibility.--Subject to approval by the Secretary, a State may 
obligate funds apportioned to it under sections 104(b)(1) and (3) and 
505 of title 23, United States Code, for activities relating to the 
planning of real-time monitoring elements.

SEC. 211. PLANNING CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE.

    Section 104 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after subsection (l) the following:
    ``(m) 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 sections 134 and 135, and 
                under sections 5303 through 5305 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.
            ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund such 
        sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for each of 
        fiscal years 2005 through 2010.''.
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