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[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3833 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3833

To reauthorize surface transportation research programs, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 27, 2012

Mr. Hall (for himself and Mr. Smith of Texas) introduced the following 
   bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
  Technology, 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 reauthorize surface transportation research programs, 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 ``Driving Research 
through Innovative Viable Economic Solutions Act of 2012'' or the 
``DRIVES Act of 2012''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 3. Surface transportation research.
Sec. 4. Technology deployment.
Sec. 5. Training and education.
Sec. 6. Repeals.
Sec. 7. Transportation research and development strategic planning.
Sec. 8. Additional repeals.
Sec. 9. Intelligent transportation systems.
Sec. 10. Administrative authority.
Sec. 11. University transportation centers.
Sec. 12. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--The following amounts are authorized to be 
appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund:
            (1) Surface transportation research.--To carry out section 
        502 of title 23, United States Code, $141,750,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2013 through 2016.
            (2) Technology deployment program.--To carry out section 
        503 of title 23, United States Code, $60,750,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2013 through 2016.
            (3) Training and education.--To carry out section 504 of 
        title 23, United States Code, $25,500,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 2013 through 2016.
            (4) Intelligent transportation systems program.--To carry 
        out subtitle C of title V of SAFETEA-LU, $110,000,000 for each 
        of fiscal years 2013 through 2016.
            (5) University transportation centers program.--To carry 
        out sections 5505, 5506, and 5507 of title 49, United States 
        Code, $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016.
            (6) Bureau of transportation statistics.--To carry out 
        section 111 of title 49, United States Code, $27,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016.
    (b) Applicability of Title 23.--Funds authorized to be appropriated 
by subsection (a) shall--
            (1) be available for obligation in the same manner as if 
        those funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, 
        United States Code, except that the Federal share of the cost 
        of a project or activity carried out using those funds shall be 
        80 percent, unless otherwise expressly provided by this Act 
        (including the amendments made by this Act) or otherwise 
        determined by the Secretary;
            (2) remain available until expended; and
            (3) not be transferable.
    (c) Obligation Ceiling.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the total of all obligations from amounts made available from the 
Highway Trust Fund by subsection (a) shall be $440,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2013 through 2016.

SEC. 3. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH.

    Section 502 of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``within the innovation 
                        lifecycle'' after ``activities''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``impact analysis,'' 
                        after ``training,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B) by striking 
                        ``supports research in which there is'' and 
                        insert ``delivers'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``or'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                        subparagraph (F); and
                            (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (C) 
                        the following:
                    ``(D) presents the best means to align resources 
                with multi-year plans and priorities;
                    ``(E) ensures the coordination of highway research 
                and technology transfer activities, including through 
                activities performed by university transportation 
                centers; or'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3) by striking subparagraphs (B) 
                through (D) and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) partner with State highway agencies and other 
                stakeholders as appropriate, including international 
                entities, to facilitate research and technology 
                transfer activities;
                    ``(C) communicate the results of ongoing and 
                completed research;
                    ``(D) lead efforts to coordinate national emphasis 
                areas of highway research, technology, and innovation 
                deployment; and
                    ``(E) leverage partnerships with industry, 
                academia, and international entities.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (4)(C) by striking ``policy and 
                planning'' and inserting ``all highway objectives 
                seeking to improve the performance of the 
                transportation system'';
                    (E) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(7) Performance review and evaluation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To the maximum extent 
                practicable, all surface transportation research and 
                development projects shall include a component of 
                performance measurement and evaluation.
                    ``(B) Performance measures.--Performance measures 
                shall be established during the proposal stage of a 
                research and development project and shall, to the 
                maximum extent practicable, be outcome-based.
                    ``(C) Program plan.--To the maximum extent 
                practicable, each program pursued under this chapter 
                shall be part of a data-driven, outcome-oriented 
                program plan.
                    ``(D) Availability of evaluations.--All evaluations 
                under this paragraph shall be made readily available to 
                the public.''; and
                    (F) in paragraph (8), by striking ``surface'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(4) Technological innovation.--The Secretary shall ensure 
        that the programs and activities carried out under this section 
        are consistent with the transportation research and development 
        strategic plan developed under section 508.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (6) by adding at the end the 
                following:
                    ``(C) Transfer of amounts among states or to 
                federal highway administration.--The Secretary may, at 
                the request of a State, transfer amounts apportioned or 
                allocated to that State under this chapter to another 
                State or the Federal Highway Administration to fund 
                research, development, and technology transfer 
                activities of mutual interest on a pooled funds basis.
                    ``(D) Transfer of obligation authority.--Obligation 
                authority for amounts transferred under this subsection 
                shall be disbursed in the same manner and for the same 
                amount as provided for the project being 
                transferred.'';
            (3) in subsection (c)(3)(A) by striking ``50'' and 
        inserting ``80'';
            (4) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Surface Transportation Research and Development Program.--
            ``(1) Objectives.--In carrying out the surface 
        transportation research and development program, the Secretary, 
        to address current and emerging highway transportation needs, 
        shall--
                    ``(A) identify research topics;
                    ``(B) coordinate research and development 
                activities;
                    ``(C) carry out research, testing, and evaluation 
                activities;
                    ``(D) ensure program activities are coordinated 
                with the transportation research and development 
                strategic plan developed under section 508; and
                    ``(E) provide technology transfer and technical 
                assistance.
            ``(2) Contents.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Research and development 
                activities carried out under this section may include 
                any of the activities in this paragraph.
                    ``(B) Improving highway safety.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary may carry 
                        out research and development activities from an 
                        integrated perspective to establish and 
                        implement systematic measures to improve 
                        highway safety.
                            ``(ii) Objectives.--In carrying out this 
                        subparagraph, the Secretary may carry out 
                        research and development activities--
                                    ``(I) to achieve greater long-term 
                                safety gains;
                                    ``(II) to reduce the number of 
                                fatalities and serious injuries on 
                                public roads;
                                    ``(III) to fill knowledge gaps that 
                                limit the effectiveness of research;
                                    ``(IV) to support the development 
                                and implementation of State strategic 
                                highway safety plans;
                                    ``(V) to advance improvements in, 
                                and use of, performance prediction 
                                analysis for decisionmaking;
                                    ``(VI) to expand technology 
                                transfer to partners and stakeholders; 
                                and
                                    ``(VII) to enhance rural highway 
                                safety.
                    ``(C) Improving infrastructure integrity.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary may carry 
                        out and facilitate highway infrastructure 
                        research and development activities--
                                    ``(I) to maintain infrastructure 
                                integrity;
                                    ``(II) to meet user needs; and
                                    ``(III) to link Federal 
                                transportation investments to 
                                improvements in system performance.
                            ``(ii) Objectives.--In carrying out this 
                        subparagraph, the Secretary may carry out 
                        research and development activities--
                                    ``(I) to reduce the number of 
                                fatalities attributable to 
                                infrastructure design characteristics 
                                and work zones;
                                    ``(II) to improve the safety and 
                                security of highway infrastructure;
                                    ``(III) to increase the reliability 
                                of lifecycle performance predictions 
                                used in infrastructure design, 
                                construction, and management;
                                    ``(IV) to improve the ability of 
                                transportation agencies to deliver 
                                projects that meet expectations for 
                                timeliness, quality, and cost;
                                    ``(V) to reduce user delay 
                                attributable to infrastructure system 
                                performance, maintenance, 
                                rehabilitation, and construction;
                                    ``(VI) to improve highway 
                                infrastructure condition and 
                                performance through increased use of 
                                design, materials, construction, and 
                                maintenance innovations;
                                    ``(VII) to improve the resiliency 
                                of roadways to heavy freight traffic;
                                    ``(VIII) to reduce environmental 
                                impacts of highway infrastructure 
                                through innovations in design, 
                                construction, operation, preservation, 
                                and maintenance; and
                                    ``(IX) to study vulnerabilities of 
                                the transportation system to seismic 
                                activities and extreme events and 
                                methods to reduce those 
                                vulnerabilities.
                    ``(D) Reducing congestion, improving highway 
                operations, and enhancing freight productivity.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary may carry 
                        out research under this subparagraph with the 
                        goals of--
                                    ``(I) addressing congestion 
                                problems;
                                    ``(II) reducing the costs of 
                                congestion;
                                    ``(III) improving freight movement 
                                in both rural corridors and 
                                metropolitan areas;
                                    ``(IV) increasing productivity; and
                                    ``(V) improving the economic 
                                competitiveness of the United States.
                            ``(ii) Objectives.--In carrying out this 
                        subparagraph, the Secretary may carry out 
                        research and development activities to 
                        identify, develop, and assess innovations that 
                        have the potential--
                                    ``(I) to reduce traffic congestion;
                                    ``(II) to improve freight movement 
                                in both rural corridors and 
                                metropolitan areas; and
                                    ``(III) to reduce freight-related 
                                congestion throughout the 
                                transportation network.
                    ``(E) Assessing policy and system financing 
                alternatives.--The Secretary may conduct policy 
                analysis on emerging issues in the transportation 
                community to provide information to policy-makers and 
                decisionmakers.'';
            (5) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
    ``(e) Exploratory Advanced Research.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        exploratory advanced research program, consistent with the 
        transportation research and development strategic plan of the 
        Secretary, that addresses longer-term, higher-risk research 
        with potentially dramatic breakthroughs.
            ``(2) Research areas.--In carrying out the program, the 
        Secretary may make grants and enter into cooperative agreements 
        and contracts in such areas of surface transportation research 
        and technology as the Secretary determines appropriate.
            ``(3) Authorization.--Of the amounts authorized in section 
        2(a)(1) of the Driving Research through Innovative Viable 
        Economic Solutions Act of 2012, $14,000,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 2013 through 2016 shall be available to carry out this 
        subsection.'';
            (6) by striking subsections (f), (g), and (j);
            (7) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as subsections 
        (f) and (g), respectively;
            (8) in subsection (f), as so redesignated--
                    (A) by striking ``2006'' and inserting ``2012'';
                    (B) by inserting ``and the Committee on Commerce, 
                Science, and Transportation'' after ``Public Works''; 
                and
                    (C) by inserting ``and the Committee on Science, 
                Space, and Technology'' after ``Infrastructure''; and
            (9) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Prize Competition.--Consistent with section 24 of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, the Secretary may 
carry out a program to award prizes competitively to stimulate 
innovation in the area of surface transportation that has the potential 
to advance the Federal Highway Administration's research and technology 
objectives and activities under section 502.
    ``(i) Centers for Surface Transportation Excellence.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary may establish not more 
        than 4 centers for surface transportation excellence.
            ``(2) Goals.--The goals of the centers for surface 
        transportation excellence are to promote and support strategic 
        national surface transportation programs and activities 
        relating to the work of State departments of transportation.
            ``(3) Role of the centers.--To achieve the goals set forth 
        in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall establish centers that 
        provide technical assistance, information sharing of best 
        practices, and training in the use of tools and decisionmaking 
        processes that can assist States in effectively implementing 
        surface transportation programs, projects, and policies.
            ``(4) Program administration.--
                    ``(A) Competition.--A party entering into a 
                contract, cooperative agreement, or other transaction 
                with the Secretary under this subsection, or receiving 
                a grant to perform research or provide technical 
                assistance under this subsection, shall be selected on 
                a competitive basis.
                    ``(B) Strategic plan.--The Secretary shall require 
                each center to develop a multiyear strategic plan, and 
                submit the plan to the Secretary at such time as the 
                Secretary requires, that describes--
                            ``(i) the activities to be undertaken by 
                        the center; and
                            ``(ii) how the work of the center will be 
                        coordinated with the activities of the Federal 
                        Highway Administration and the various other 
                        research, development, and technology transfer 
                        activities authorized by this chapter.
            ``(5) Funding.--Of the amounts made available by section 
        2(a)(1) of the Driving Research through Innovative Viable 
        Economic Solutions Act of 2012, not more than $3,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016 shall be available to 
        carry out this subsection.''.

SEC. 4. TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT.

    Section 503 of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
            (2) by striking subsections (a) through (d) and inserting 
        the following:
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a technology 
deployment program relating to all aspects of highway transportation 
with the goals of--
            ``(1) significantly accelerating the adoption of innovative 
        technologies by the surface transportation community;
            ``(2) providing leadership and incentives to demonstrate 
        and promote state-of-the-art technologies, elevated performance 
        standards, and new business practices in highway construction 
        processes that result in improved safety, faster construction, 
        reduced congestion from construction, and improved quality and 
        user satisfaction;
            ``(3) constructing longer-lasting highways through the use 
        of innovative technologies and practices that lead to faster 
        construction of efficient and safe highways and bridges;
            ``(4) improving highway efficiency, safety, mobility, 
        reliability, service life, and environmental protection; and
            ``(5) developing and deploying new tools, techniques, and 
        practices to accelerate the adoption of innovation in all 
        aspects of highway transportation.
    ``(b) Implementation.--The Secretary shall promote, facilitate, and 
carry out the program established under subsection (a) to distribute 
the products, technologies, tools, methods, or other findings that 
result from highway research and development activities, including 
research and development activities carried out under this chapter and 
subtitle C of title V of SAFETEA-LU.
    ``(c) Accelerated Innovation Deployment.--In carrying out the 
program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) establish and carry out demonstration programs;
            ``(2) provide incentives, technical assistance, and 
        training to researchers and developers; and
            ``(3) develop improved tools and methods to accelerate the 
        adoption of proven innovative practices and technologies as 
        standard practices.
    ``(d) Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts.--
            ``(1) In general.--Under the program, the Secretary may 
        make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements and 
        contracts with, States, other Federal agencies, institutions of 
        higher education, private sector entities, and nonprofit 
        organizations to pay the Federal share of the cost of research, 
        development, and deployment activities.
            ``(2) Applications.--To receive a grant under this 
        subsection, an entity described in paragraph (1) shall submit 
        an application to the Secretary. The application shall be in 
        such form and contain such information and assurances as the 
        Secretary may require.
            ``(3) Technology and information transfer.--The Secretary 
        shall ensure that the information and technology resulting from 
        research conducted under this subsection is made available to 
        State and local transportation departments and other interested 
        parties as specified by the Secretary.
    ``(e) Implementation of Future Strategic Highway Research Program 
Findings and Results.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
        American Association of State Highway and Transportation 
        Officials and the Transportation Research Board of the National 
        Academy of Sciences, shall, as appropriate, implement the 
        findings and recommendations developed under the Strategic 
        Highway Research Program 2 administered by the Transportation 
        Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences.
            ``(2) Basis for findings.--The activities carried out under 
        this subsection shall be based on the Transportation Research 
        Board Special Report 296 entitled `Implementing the Results of 
        the Second Strategic Highway Research Program: Saving Lives, 
        Reducing Congestion, Improving Quality of Life'.
            ``(3) Administrative costs.--The Secretary may use 1 
        percent of the funds made available to carry out this 
        subsection for the administrative costs under this subsection.
            ``(4) Fees.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may impose and 
                collect fees to recover costs associated with special 
                data or analysis requests relating to safety 
                naturalistic driving databases developed under the 
                future strategic highway research program.
                    ``(B) Use of fee amounts.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Any fees collected under 
                        this paragraph shall be made available to the 
                        Secretary to carry out this subsection and 
                        shall remain available until expended.
                            ``(ii) Supplement, not supplant.--Any fee 
                        amounts collected under this paragraph shall 
                        supplement, but not supplant, amounts made 
                        available to the Secretary to carry out this 
                        section.''.

SEC. 5. TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

    Section 504 of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(A) by inserting ``and the 
                employees of any other applicable Federal agency'' 
                after ``employees''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3)(A)(ii)(V) by striking 
                ``expediting'' and inserting ``reducing the amount of 
                time required for'';
            (2) in subsection (b) by striking paragraph (3) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(3) Federal share.--
                    ``(A) Local technical assistance centers.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        the Federal share of the cost of any activity 
                        carried out by a local technical assistance 
                        center under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be 50 
                        percent.
                            ``(ii) Non-federal share.--Up to 100 
                        percent of the non-Federal share of the cost of 
                        an activity described in clause (i) may consist 
                        of amounts provided to a recipient under 
                        subsection (e) or section 505.
                    ``(B) Tribal technical assistance centers.--The 
                Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out by 
                a tribal technical assistance center under paragraph 
                (2)(D)(ii) shall be 100 percent.'';
            (3) in subsection (c) by striking paragraph (2) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(2) Dwight david eisenhower transportation fellowship 
        program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish 
                and implement a transportation research fellowship 
                program, to be known as the `Dwight David Eisenhower 
                Transportation Fellowship Program', for the purpose of 
                attracting qualified students to the field of 
                transportation.
                    ``(B) Use of amounts.--Amounts provided to an 
                institution of higher education to carry out this 
                paragraph shall be used to provide direct support of 
                student expenses.'';
            (4) in subsection (d) by striking paragraph (4);
            (5) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in the text before subparagraph (A) by 
                        striking ``sections 104(b)(1), 104(b)(2), 
                        104(b)(3), 104(b)(4), and 144(e)'' and 
                        inserting ``paragraphs (1) through (3) of 
                        section 104(b)'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D) by striking 
                        ``and'' after the semicolon;
                            (iii) in subparagraph (E) by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
                        and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) activities carried out by the National 
                Highway Institute under subsection (a); and
                    ``(G) local technical assistance programs under 
                subsection (b).''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2) by inserting before the period 
                at the end the following: ``; except for activities 
                carried out under paragraph (1)(G) for which the 
                Federal share shall be 50 percent as described in 
                subsection (b)(3)(A)'';
            (6) in the heading of subsection (f) by striking ``Pilot''; 
        and
            (7) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Definition.--In this section, 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).''.

SEC. 6. REPEALS.

    Sections 506 and 507 of title 23, United States Code, and the items 
relating to such sections in the analysis of chapter 55 of such title, 
are repealed.

SEC. 7. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING.

    Section 508(a) of title 23, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Development.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Driving Research through Innovative Viable 
        Economic Solutions Act of 2012, the Secretary, acting through 
        the Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology 
        Administration, 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 describe the primary purposes of the 
        transportation research and development program, which shall 
        include, at a minimum--
                    ``(A) reducing congestion and improving mobility;
                    ``(B) promoting safety in both rural corridors and 
                metropolitan areas;
                    ``(C) improving goods movement in both rural 
                corridors and metropolitan areas;
                    ``(D) protecting and enhancing the environment;
                    ``(E) preserving the existing transportation 
                system;
                    ``(F) improving the durability and extending the 
                life of transportation infrastructure; and
                    ``(G) improving rural connectivity and mobility.''.

SEC. 8. ADDITIONAL REPEALS.

    Sections 509 and 510 of title 23, United States Code, and the items 
relating to such sections in the analysis of chapter 55 of such title, 
are repealed.

SEC. 9. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.

    (a) Program Plan Update.--Section 512(a)(1) of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``SAFETEA-LU'' and inserting 
``Driving Research through Innovative Viable Economic Solutions Act of 
2012''.
    (b) Purposes.--Section 5303(b) of the SAFETEA-LU is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (7) by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (8) by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) ensure a systems approach that includes cooperation 
        among vehicles, the infrastructure, and users.''.
    (c) Membership.--Section 5305(h)(2) of the SAFETEA-LU is amended to 
read as follows:
            ``(2) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall have not 
        more than 20 members, be balanced between metropolitan and 
        rural interests, and include representatives from state and 
        local highway departments, academia, industry, and other 
        relevant organizations.''.
    (d) Research and Development.--Section 5306 of the SAFETEA-LU is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(3) by striking ``systems with goals 
        of'' and all that follows through ``emergency care providers 
        and trauma centers;'' and inserting ``systems;''; and
            (2) in subsection (c) by inserting ``percent'' after 
        ``80''.
    (e) National Architecture and Standards.--Section 5307 of the 
SAFETEA-LU is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking paragraph (4); and
            (2) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
    ``(c) Conformity With Regional Architecture.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        Secretary shall ensure that intelligent transportation system 
        projects carried out using amounts made available from the 
        Highway Trust Fund, including amounts made available to deploy 
        intelligent transportation systems, conform to the appropriate 
        regional intelligent transportation system architecture, 
        applicable standards or provisional standards, and protocols 
        developed under subsection (a) or this subsection.
            ``(2) Secretary's discretion.--The Secretary may authorize 
        exceptions to paragraph (1) for--
                    ``(A) projects designed to achieve specific 
                research objectives outlined in the national 
                intelligent transportation system 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 this Act 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).''.
    (f) Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Communications 
Systems Deployment.--
            (1) In general.--Section 5309 of the SAFETEA-LU is amended 
        to read as follows:

``SEC. 5309. VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE AND VEHICLE-TO-INFRASTRUCTURE 
              COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS DEPLOYMENT.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of the Driving Research through Innovative Viable Economic 
Solutions Act of 2012, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report that--
            ``(1) describes a recommended implementation path for 
        dedicated short-range communications technology and 
        applications; and
            ``(2) includes guidance on the relationship of the proposed 
        deployment of dedicated short-range communications to the 
        national architecture and standards.
    ``(b) National Research Council Review.--The Secretary shall enter 
into an agreement with the National Research Council for the review by 
the National Research Council of the report described in subsection 
(a).''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--The table of contents of the 
        SAFETEA-LU is amended by striking the item relating to section 
        5309 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 5309. Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure 
                            communications systems deployment.''.
    (g) Technical Correction.--Section 513(a) of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``this''.

SEC. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY.

    Section 112 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(f) Program Evaluation and Oversight.--For each of fiscal years 
2013 through 2016, the Administrator may expend not more than 1\1/2\ 
percent of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the 
administration and operation of the Research and Innovative Technology 
Administration to carry out the coordination, evaluation, and oversight 
of the programs administered by the Administration.
    ``(g) Collaborative Research and Development.--
            ``(1) In general.--To encourage innovative solutions to 
        multimodal transportation problems and stimulate the deployment 
        of new technology, the Administrator may carry out, on a cost-
        shared basis, collaborative research and development with--
                    ``(A) non-Federal entities, including State and 
                local governments, foreign governments, institutions of 
                higher education, corporations, institutions, 
                partnerships, sole proprietorships, and trade 
                associations that are incorporated or established under 
                the laws of any State;
                    ``(B) Federal laboratories; and
                    ``(C) other Federal agencies.
            ``(2) Cooperation, grants, contracts, and agreements.--
        Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator 
        may directly initiate contracts, grants, cooperative research 
        and development agreements (as defined in section 12 of the 
        Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
        3710a)), and other agreements to fund, and accept funds from, 
        the Transportation Research Board of the National Research 
        Council of the National Academy of Sciences, State departments 
        of transportation, cities, counties, institutions of higher 
        education, associations, and the agents of those entities to 
        carry out joint transportation research and technology efforts.
            ``(3) Federal share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out 
                under paragraph (2) shall not exceed 50 percent.
                    ``(B) Exception.--If the Secretary determines that 
                the activity is of substantial public interest or 
                benefit, the Secretary may approve a greater Federal 
                share.
                    ``(C) Non-federal share.--All costs directly 
                incurred by the non-Federal partners, including 
                personnel, travel, facility, and hardware development 
                costs, shall be credited toward the non-Federal share 
                of the cost of an activity described in subparagraph 
                (A).
            ``(4) Use of technology.--The research, development, or use 
        of a technology under a contract, grant, cooperative research 
        and development agreement, or other 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.).''.

SEC. 11. UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS.

    (a) Program.--Section 5505 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 5505. University transportation centers program
    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Establishment and operation.--The Secretary, acting 
        through the Administrator of the Research and Innovative 
        Technology Administration, shall make grants under sections 
        5506 and 5507 to institutions of higher education, including 
        multiple institutions of higher education acting in consortia, 
        to establish and operate university transportation centers to 
        address the research topics identified under section 502(d) of 
        title 23.
            ``(2) Role of centers.--The role of each university 
        transportation center referred to in paragraph (1) shall be--
                    ``(A) to advance significant transportation 
                research on critical national transportation issues in 
                the varied disciplines that comprise the field of 
                transportation through research, education, and 
                technology transfer activities;
                    ``(B) to provide for a critical transportation 
                knowledge base outside of the Department of 
                Transportation; and
                    ``(C) to address critical workforce needs and 
                educate the next generation of transportation leaders.
    ``(b) Competitive Selection Process.--
            ``(1) Applications.--To receive a grant under either 
        section 5506 or 5507, an institution of higher education, or a 
        consortia thereof, shall submit to the Secretary an application 
        that is in such form and contains such information and 
        assurances as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Selection criteria.--The Secretary shall select each 
        recipient of a grant under section 5506 or 5507 through a 
        competitive process based on the assessment of the Secretary 
        relating to--
                    ``(A) the demonstrated ability of the recipient to 
                address each specific topic area described in the 
                research and strategic plans of the recipient;
                    ``(B) the demonstrated research, education, and 
                technology transfer resources available to the 
                recipient to carry out this section;
                    ``(C) the ability of the recipient to provide 
                leadership in solving long-range national and regional 
                transportation problems;
                    ``(D) the ability of the recipient to carry out 
                research, education, and technology transfer activities 
                that are multimodal and multidisciplinary in scope;
                    ``(E) the demonstrated ability of the recipient to 
                disseminate results and spur the implementation of 
                transportation research and education programs through 
                national or statewide continuing education programs;
                    ``(F) the demonstrated commitment of the recipient 
                to the use of peer review principles and other research 
                best practices in the selection, management, and 
                dissemination of research projects;
                    ``(G) the strategic plan submitted by the recipient 
                describing the proposed research to be carried out by 
                the recipient and the performance metrics to be used in 
                assessing the performance of the recipient in meeting 
                the stated research and technology transfer goals; and
                    ``(H) the ability of the recipient to implement the 
                proposed program in a cost-efficient manner, such as 
                through consortia-based approaches with cost sharing 
                aimed at reducing overhead, facilities, and 
                administrative costs.
            ``(3) Additional eligibility requirement.--An institution 
        of higher education that receives a grant for a fiscal year 
        under either section 5506 or section 5507 or the lead 
        institution of a consortia of institutions that receives a 
        grant for a fiscal year under section 5506 or section 5507 is 
        ineligible to receive an additional grant under either section 
        in such fiscal year.
    ``(c) Non-Federal Share.--
            ``(1) In general.--The non-Federal share of the costs of 
        activities carried out using a grant made under this section 
        shall be 35 percent of such costs.
            ``(2) Source.--The non-Federal share may include amounts 
        made available to a recipient under section 504(b) or 505 of 
        title 23.
    ``(d) Program Coordination.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) coordinate the research, education, and 
                technology transfer activities carried out by grant 
                recipients under this section; and
                    ``(B) disseminate the results of that research 
                through the establishment and operation of an 
                information clearinghouse.
            ``(2) Annual review and evaluation.--Not less frequently 
        than annually, and consistent with the transportation research 
        and development strategic plan developed under section 508, the 
        Secretary shall review and evaluate the programs carried out 
        under this section and sections 5506 and 5507 by grant 
        recipients.
            ``(3) Program evaluation and oversight.--For each of fiscal 
        years 2013 through 2016, the Secretary shall expend not more 
        than 1\1/2\ percent of the amounts made available to the 
        Secretary under section 2(a)(4) of the Driving Research through 
        Innovative Viable Economic Solutions Act of 2012 for any 
        coordination, evaluation, and oversight activities of the 
        Secretary, including efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse, 
        under this section, section 5506, and section 5507.
    ``(e) Limitation on Availability of Amounts.--Amounts made 
available to the Secretary to carry out this section and sections 5506 
and 5507 shall remain available for obligation by the Secretary for a 
period of 2 years after the last day of the fiscal year for which the 
amounts are appropriated.
    ``(f) Institution of Higher Education Defined.--For purposes of 
this section and sections 5506 and 5507, the term `institution of 
higher education' has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).''.
    (b) Regional University Transportation Centers.--Section 5506 of 
such title is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 5506. Regional university transportation centers
    ``(a) In General.--For each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016, the 
Secretary shall make grants to institutions of higher education, or a 
consortia thereof, to establish and operate 10 regional university 
transportation centers.
    ``(b) Location.--The Secretary shall make a grant under subsection 
(a) to the institution, or the lead institution of a consortia, located 
in each of the 10 United States Government regions that comprise the 
Standard Federal Regional Boundary System that the Secretary determines 
best meets the criteria described in section 5505(b).
    ``(c) Funding.--For each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016, the 
Secretary may not award a grant under this section that exceeds 
$3,500,000.''.
    (c) University Transportation Research Centers.--Subchapter I of 
chapter 55 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 5507. University transportation research centers
    ``(a) In General.--For each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016, the 
Secretary shall make grants to 20 institutions of higher education or 
consortia thereof that the Secretary determines best meet the criteria 
described in section 5505(b).
    ``(b) Funding.--For each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016, the 
Secretary may not award a grant under this section that exceeds 
$2,000,000.''.
    (d) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 55 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking the items relating to 
sections 5505 and 5506 and inserting the following:

``5505. University transportation centers program.
``5506. Regional university transportation centers.
``5507. University transportation research centers.''.

SEC. 12. BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS.

    Section 111 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c) by striking paragraph (5) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(5) Transportation statistics.--Collecting, compiling, 
        analyzing, and publishing a comprehensive set of transportation 
        statistics on the performance and impacts of the national 
        transportation system, including statistics on--
                    ``(A) transportation safety across all modes and 
                intermodally;
                    ``(B) the state of good repair of United States 
                transportation infrastructure;
                    ``(C) the extent, connectivity, and condition of 
                the transportation system, building on the national 
                transportation atlas database developed under 
                subsection (g);
                    ``(D) economic efficiency across the entire 
                transportation sector;
                    ``(E) the effects of the transportation system on 
                global and domestic economic competitiveness;
                    ``(F) demographic, economic, and other variables 
                influencing travel behavior, including choice of 
                transportation mode and goods movement;
                    ``(G) transportation-related variables that 
                influence the domestic economy and global 
                competitiveness;
                    ``(H) economic costs and impacts for passenger 
                travel and freight movement;
                    ``(I) intermodal and multimodal passenger movement; 
                and
                    ``(J) consequences of transportation for the 
                environment.'';
            (2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Access to Federal Data.--In carrying out subsection (c), the 
Director shall be provided access to all transportation and 
transportation-related information and data, including that related to 
safety, held by any agency of the Department of Transportation and, 
upon written request and subject to any statutory or regulatory 
restrictions, to all such data held by any other Federal Government 
agency, that is germane to carrying out subsection (c).'';
            (3) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:
    ``(f) National Transportation Library.--
            ``(1) In general.--To support the information management 
        and decisionmaking needs of transportation officials at the 
        Federal, State, and local levels, the Bureau of Transportation 
        Statistics shall maintain a National Transportation Library 
        that shall--
                    ``(A) be headed by an individual who is highly 
                qualified in library and information science;
                    ``(B) acquire, preserve, and manage transportation 
                information and information products and services for 
                use by the Department, other Federal agencies, and the 
                general public;
                    ``(C) provide reference and research assistance;
                    ``(D) serve as a central depository for research 
                results and technical publications of the Department;
                    ``(E) provide a central clearinghouse for 
                transportation data and information of the Federal 
                Government;
                    ``(F) serve as coordinator and policy lead for 
                transportation data and information of the Federal 
                Government;
                    ``(G) provide transportation information and 
                information products and services to--
                            ``(i) the Department;
                            ``(ii) other Federal agencies;
                            ``(iii) public and private organizations; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) individuals, within the United 
                        States as well as internationally;
                    ``(H) coordinate efforts among, and cooperate with, 
                transportation libraries, information providers, and 
                technical assistance centers, with the goal of 
                developing a comprehensive transportation information 
                and knowledge network that supports the activities 
                described in subsection (c)(5); and
                    ``(I) engage in such other activities as the 
                Director determines to be necessary and as the 
                resources of the Library permit.
            ``(2) Access.--The Director shall publicize, facilitate, 
        and promote access to the products and services described in 
        subsection (a), 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)(9).
            ``(3) Agreements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To carry out this subsection, 
                the Director may enter into agreements with, provide 
                grants to, and receive amounts from, any--
                            ``(i) State or local government;
                            ``(ii) organization;
                            ``(iii) business; or
                            ``(iv) individual.
                    ``(B) Contracts, grants, and agreements.--The 
                Library may initiate and support specific information 
                and data management, access, and exchange activities 
                relating to the strategic goals of the Department, 
                knowledge networking, and national and international 
                cooperation, by entering into contracts or other 
                agreements or providing grants.
                    ``(C) Amounts.--Any amounts received by the Library 
                as payment for library products and services or other 
                activities shall be made available to the Director to 
                carry out this subsection and remain available until 
                expended.'';
            (4) by striking subsection (m);
            (5) by redesignating subsections (n) and (o) as subsections 
        (m) and (n), respectively;
            (6) in subsection (m) (as so redesignated) by striking 
        ``(other than the Mass Transit account)'';
            (7) in subsection (n) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by adding ``and'' after the semicolon 
                        in subparagraph (A);
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (B); and
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
                        subparagraph (B); and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(3) Membership.--The advisory council established under 
        this subsection shall be composed of not fewer than 9 and not 
        more than 11 members appointed by the Director, who are not 
        officers or employees of the United States. Members shall 
        include representation of a cross-section of transportation 
        community stakeholders and shall include individuals with 
        expertise or knowledge of statistics, economics, transportation 
        safety, or transportation data analysis, collection, or 
        application.''; and
            (8) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(o) Transportation Statistical Collection, Analysis, and 
Dissemination.--To ensure that all transportation statistical 
collection, analysis, and dissemination is carried out in a coordinated 
manner, the Director may--
            ``(1) use the services, equipment, records, personnel, 
        information, and facilities of other Federal agencies, or 
        State, local, and private agencies and instrumentalities, 
        subject to the conditions that the applicable agency or 
        instrumentality consents to that use;
            ``(2) enter into agreements with the agencies and 
        instrumentalities described in paragraph (1) for purposes of 
        data collection and analysis;
            ``(3) confer and cooperate with foreign governments, 
        international organizations, and State, municipal, and other 
        local agencies;
            ``(4) request such information, data, and reports from any 
        Federal agency as the Director determines necessary to carry 
        out this section, including by entering into cooperative data 
        sharing agreements in conformity with all laws and regulations 
        applicable to the disclosure and use of data; and
            ``(5) encourage replication, coordination, and sharing 
        among transportation agencies regarding information systems, 
        information policy, and data.
    ``(p) Furnishing of Information, Data, or Reports by Federal 
Agencies.--Except in a case in which the disclosure of information, 
data, or reports by a Federal agency is expressly prohibited by law, a 
Federal agency requested to furnish information, data, or reports under 
subsection (d) shall provide such information to the Bureau.''.
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