NEXT in Transportation Act

To amend titles 23 and 49, United States Code, to provide for new and emerging technologies in transportation, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the New, Emerging, and Exciting Technologies in Transportation Act NEXT in Transportation Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Department The term Department (2) Secretary The term Secretary 3. Intelligent transportation systems program advisory committee Section 515(h) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting (referred to in this subsection as the Advisory Committee an Advisory Committee (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 20 members 25 members (B) in subparagraph (L)— (i) by striking utilities, (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (L) as subparagraphs (G), (I), (J), (K), (L), (M), (Q), and (R), respectively; (D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: (E) a representative of a national transit association; (F) a representative of a national, State, or local transportation agency or association; ; (E) by inserting after subparagraph (G) (as so redesignated) the following: (H) a private sector developer of intelligent transportation system technologies, which may include emerging vehicle technologies; ; (F) by inserting after subparagraph (M) (as so redesignated) the following: (N) a representative of a labor organization; (O) a representative of a mobility-providing entity; (P) an expert in traffic management; ; and (G) by adding at the end the following: (S) an expert in cybersecurity; and (T) an automobile manufacturer. ; (3) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking section 508 section 6503 of title 49 (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting programs and research (ii) in clause (iii), by striking research and programs, research, and (4) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as paragraphs (5) through (7); and (5) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Term (A) In general The term of a member of the Advisory Committee shall be 3 years. (B) Renewal On expiration of the term of a member of the Advisory Committee, the member— (i) may be reappointed; or (ii) if the member is not reappointed under clause (i), may serve until a new member is appointed. (4) Meetings The Advisory Committee— (A) shall convene not less frequently than twice each year; and (B) may convene with the use of remote video conference technology. . 4. Smart community resource center (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Resource center The term resource center (2) Smart community The term smart community (b) Establishment The Secretary shall work with the modal administrations of the Department and with such other Federal agencies and departments as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to make available to the public on an Internet website a resource center, to be known as the Smart Community Resource Center (1) intelligent transportation system programs; or (2) smart community transportation programs. (c) Inclusions The resource center shall include links to— (1) existing programs and resources for intelligent transportation system or smart community transportation programs, including technical assistance, education, training, funding, and examples of intelligent transportation systems or smart community transportation programs implemented by States and local communities, available from— (A) the Department; (B) other Federal agencies; and (C) non-Federal sources; (2) existing reports or databases with the results of intelligent transportation system or smart community transportation programs; (3) any best practices developed or lessons learned from intelligent transportation system or smart community transportation programs; and (4) such other resources as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (d) Deadline The Secretary shall establish the resource center by the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. (e) Updates The Secretary shall ensure that the resource center is updated on a regular basis. 5. Strengthening mobility and revolutionizing transportation grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a State; (B) a political subdivision of a State; (C) a Tribal government; (D) a public transit agency or authority; (E) a public toll authority; (F) a metropolitan planning organization; and (G) a group of 2 or more eligible entities described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (F) applying through a single lead applicant. (2) Eligible project The term eligible project (3) Large community The term large community (4) Midsized community The term midsized community (5) Regional partnership The term regional partnership (6) Rural community The term rural community (7) SMART grant The term SMART grant (b) Establishment of program The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation Grant Program (c) Distribution In determining the projects for which to provide a SMART grant, the Secretary shall consider contributions to geographical diversity among grant recipients, including the need for balancing the needs of rural communities, midsized communities, and large communities, consistent with the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (g)(1). (d) Applications (1) In general An eligible entity may submit to the Secretary an application for a SMART grant at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Transparency The Secretary shall include, in any notice of funding availability relating to SMART grants, a full description of the method by which applications under paragraph (1) will be evaluated. (3) Selection criteria (A) In general The Secretary shall evaluate applications for SMART grants based on— (i) the extent to which the eligible entity or applicable beneficiary community— (I) has a public transportation system or other transit options capable of integration with other systems to improve mobility and efficiency; (II) has a population density and transportation needs conducive to demonstrating proposed strategies; (III) has continuity of committed leadership and the functional capacity to carry out the proposed project; (IV) is committed to open data sharing with the public; and (V) is likely to successfully implement the proposed eligible project, including through technical and financial commitments from the public and private sectors; and (ii) the extent to which a proposed eligible project will use advanced data, technology, and applications to provide significant benefits to a local area, a State, a region, or the United States, including the extent to which the proposed eligible project will— (I) reduce congestion and delays for commerce and the traveling public; (II) improve the safety and integration of transportation facilities and systems for pedestrians, bicyclists, and the broader traveling public; (III) improve access to jobs, education, and essential services, including health care; (IV) connect or expand access for underserved or disadvantaged populations and reduce transportation costs; (V) contribute to medium- and long-term economic competitiveness; (VI) improve the reliability of existing transportation facilities and systems; (VII) promote connectivity between and among connected vehicles, roadway infrastructure, pedestrians, bicyclists, the public, and transportation systems; (VIII) incentivize private sector investments or partnerships, including by working with mobile and fixed telecommunication service providers, to the extent practicable; (IX) improve energy efficiency or reduce pollution; (X) increase the resiliency of the transportation system; and (XI) improve emergency response. (B) Priority In providing SMART grants, the Secretary shall give priority to applications for eligible projects that would— (i) demonstrate smart city or community technologies in repeatable ways that can rapidly be scaled; (ii) encourage public and private sharing of data and best practices; (iii) encourage private-sector innovation by promoting industry-driven technology standards, open platforms, technology-neutral requirements, and interoperability; (iv) promote a skilled workforce that is inclusive of minority or disadvantaged groups; (v) allow for the measurement and validation of the cost savings and performance improvements associated with the installation and use of smart city or community technologies and practices; (vi) encourage the adoption of smart city or community technologies by communities; (vii) promote industry practices regarding cybersecurity; and (viii) safeguard individual privacy. (4) Technical assistance On request of an eligible entity that submitted an application under paragraph (1) with respect to a project that is not selected for a SMART grant, the Secretary shall provide to the eligible entity technical assistance and briefings relating to the project. (e) Use of grant funds (1) Eligible projects (A) In general A SMART grant may be used to carry out a project that demonstrates at least 1 of the following: (i) Coordinated automation The use of automated transportation and autonomous vehicles, while working to minimize the impact on the accessibility of any other user group or mode of travel. (ii) Connected vehicles Vehicles that send and receive information regarding vehicle movements in the network and use vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-everything communications to provide advanced and reliable connectivity. (iii) Intelligent, sensor-based infrastructure The deployment and use of a collective intelligent infrastructure that allows sensors to collect and report real-time data to inform everyday transportation-related operations and performance. (iv) Systems integration The integration of intelligent transportation systems with other existing systems and other advanced transportation technologies. (v) Commerce delivery and logistics Innovative data and technological solutions supporting efficient goods movement, such as connected vehicle probe data, road weather data, or global positioning data to improve on-time pickup and delivery, improved travel time reliability, reduced fuel consumption and emissions, and reduced labor and vehicle maintenance costs. (vi) Leveraging use of innovative aviation technology Leveraging the use of innovative aviation technologies, such as unmanned aircraft systems, to support transportation safety and efficiencies, including traffic monitoring and infrastructure inspection. (vii) Smart grid Development of a programmable and efficient energy transmission and distribution system to support the adoption or expansion of energy capture, electric vehicle deployment, or freight or commercial fleet fuel efficiency. (viii) Smart technology traffic signals Improving the active management and functioning of traffic signals, including through— (I) the use of automated traffic signal performance measures; (II) implementing strategies, activities, and projects that support active management of traffic signal operations, including through optimization of corridor timing, improved vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle detection at traffic signals, or the use of connected vehicle technologies; (III) replacing outdated traffic signals; or (IV) for an eligible entity serving a population of less than 500,000, paying the costs of temporary staffing hours dedicated to updating traffic signal technology. (2) Eligible project costs A SMART grant may be used for— (A) development phase activities, including— (i) planning; (ii) feasibility analyses; (iii) revenue forecasting; (iv) environmental review; (v) permitting; (vi) preliminary engineering and design work; (vii) systems development or information technology work; and (viii) acquisition of real property (including land and improvements to land relating to an eligible project); and (B) construction phase activities, including— (i) construction; (ii) reconstruction; (iii) rehabilitation; (iv) replacement; (v) environmental mitigation; (vi) construction contingencies; and (vii) acquisition of equipment, including vehicles. (3) Prohibited uses A SMART grant shall not be used— (A) to reimburse any preaward costs or application preparation costs of the SMART grant application; (B) for any traffic or parking enforcement activity; or (C) to purchase or lease a license plate reader. (f) Reports (1) Eligible entities Not later than 2 years after the date on which an eligible entity receives a SMART grant, and annually thereafter until the date on which the SMART grant is expended, the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an implementation report that describes— (A) the deployment and operational costs of each eligible project carried out by the eligible entity, as compared to the benefits and savings from the eligible project; and (B) the means by which each eligible project carried out by the eligible entity has met the original expectation, as projected in the SMART grant application, including— (i) data describing the means by which the eligible project met the specific goals for the project, such as— (I) reducing traffic-related fatalities and injuries; (II) reducing traffic congestion or improving travel-time reliability; (III) providing the public with access to real-time integrated traffic, transit, and multimodal transportation information to make informed travel decisions; or (IV) reducing barriers or improving access to jobs, education, or various essential services; (ii) the effectiveness of providing to the public real-time integrated traffic, transit, and multimodal transportation information to make informed travel decisions; and (iii) lessons learned and recommendations for future deployment strategies to optimize transportation efficiency and multimodal system performance. (2) GAO Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct, and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of, a review of the SMART grant program under this section. (3) Secretary (A) Report to congress Not later than 2 years after the date on which the initial SMART grants are provided under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that— (i) describes each eligible entity that received a SMART grant; (ii) identifies the amount of each SMART grant provided; (iii) summarizes the intended uses of each SMART grant; (iv) describes the effectiveness of eligible entities in meeting the goals described in the SMART grant application of the eligible entity, including an assessment or measurement of the realized improvements or benefits resulting from each SMART grant; and (v) describes lessons learned and recommendations for future deployment strategies to optimize transportation efficiency and multimodal system performance. (B) Best practices The Secretary shall— (i) develop and regularly update best practices based on, among other information, the data, lessons learned, and feedback from eligible entities that received SMART grants; (ii) publish the best practices under clause (i) on a publicly available website; and (iii) update the best practices published on the website under clause (ii) regularly. (g) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $100,000,000 for each of the first 5 fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, of which— (A) not more than 40 percent shall be used to provide SMART grants for eligible projects that primarily benefit large communities; (B) not more than 30 percent shall be provided for eligible projects that primarily benefit midsized communities; and (C) not more than 30 percent shall be used to provide SMART grants for eligible projects that primarily benefit rural communities or regional partnerships. (2) Administrative costs Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year, not more than 2 percent shall be used for administrative costs of the Secretary in carrying out this section. (3) Limitation An eligible entity may not use more than 3 percent of the amount of a SMART grant for each fiscal year to achieve compliance with applicable planning and reporting requirements. (4) Availability The amounts made available for a fiscal year pursuant to this subsection shall be available for obligation during the 2-fiscal-year period beginning on the first day of the fiscal year for which the amounts were appropriated. 6. Electric vehicle working group (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Secretaries The term Secretaries (A) the Secretary; and (B) the Secretary of Energy. (2) Working group The term working group (b) Establishment (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly establish an electric vehicle working group to make recommendations regarding the development, adoption, and integration of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty electric vehicles into the transportation and energy systems of the United States. (2) Membership (A) In general The working group shall be composed of— (i) the Secretaries (or designees), who shall be co-chairs of the working group; and (ii) not more than 25 members, to be appointed by the Secretaries, of whom— (I) not more than 6 shall be Federal stakeholders as described in subparagraph (B); and (II) not more than 19 shall be non-Federal stakeholders as described in subparagraph (C). (B) Federal stakeholders The working group— (i) shall include not fewer than 1 representative of each of— (I) the Department; (II) the Department of Energy; (III) the Environmental Protection Agency; (IV) the Council on Environmental Quality; and (V) the General Services Administration; and (ii) may include a representative of any other Federal agency the Secretaries consider to be appropriate. (C) Non-federal stakeholders (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), the working group— (I) shall include not fewer than 1 representative of each of— (aa) a manufacturer of light-duty electric vehicles or the relevant components of light-duty electric vehicles; (bb) a manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles or the relevant components of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles; (cc) a manufacturer of electric vehicle batteries; (dd) an owner, operator, or manufacturer of electric vehicle charging equipment; (ee) the public utility industry; (ff) a public utility regulator or association of public utility regulators; (gg) the transportation fueling distribution industry; (hh) the energy provider industry; (ii) the automotive dealing industry; (jj) the for-hire passenger transportation industry; (kk) an organization representing units of local government; (ll) an organization representing regional transportation or planning agencies; (mm) an organization representing State departments of transportation; (nn) an organization representing State departments of energy or State energy planners; (oo) the intelligent transportation systems and technologies industry; (pp) labor organizations representing workers in transportation manufacturing, construction, or operations; (qq) the trucking industry; (rr) Tribal governments; and (ss) the property development industry; and (II) may include a representative of any other non-Federal stakeholder that the Secretaries consider to be appropriate. (ii) Requirement The stakeholders selected under clause (i) shall, in the aggregate— (I) consist of individuals with a balance of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints; and (II) include individuals that represent geographically diverse regions of the United States, including individuals representing the perspectives of rural, urban, and suburban areas. (D) Compensation A member of the working group shall serve without compensation. (3) Meetings (A) In general The working group shall meet not less frequently than once every 120 days. (B) Remote participation A member of the working group may participate in a meeting of the working group via teleconference or similar means. (4) Coordination In carrying out the duties of the working group, the working group shall coordinate and consult with any existing Federal interagency working groups on fleet conversion or other similar matters relating to electric vehicles. (c) Reports and strategy on electric vehicle adoption (1) Working group reports The working group shall complete by each of the deadlines described in paragraph (2) a report describing the status of electric vehicle adoption including— (A) a description of the barriers and opportunities to scaling up electric vehicle adoption throughout the United States, including recommendations for issues relating to— (i) consumer behavior; (ii) charging infrastructure needs, including standardization and cybersecurity; (iii) manufacturing and battery costs, including the raw material shortages for batteries and electric motor magnets; (iv) the adoption of electric vehicles for low- and moderate-income individuals and underserved communities, including charging infrastructure access and vehicle purchase financing; (v) business models for charging personal electric vehicles outside the home, including wired and wireless charging; (vi) charging infrastructure permitting and regulatory issues; (vii) the connections between housing and transportation costs and emissions; (viii) freight transportation, including local, port and drayage, regional, and long-haul trucking; (ix) intercity passenger travel; (x) the process by which governments collect a user fee for the contribution of electric vehicles to funding roadway improvements; (xi) State- and local-level policies, incentives, and zoning efforts; (xii) the installation of highway corridor signage; (xiii) secondary markets and recycling for batteries; (xiv) grid capacity and integration; (xv) energy storage; and (xvi) specific regional or local issues that may not appear to apply throughout the United States, but may hamper nationwide adoption or coordination of electric vehicles; (B) examples of successful public and private models and demonstration projects that encourage electric vehicle adoption; (C) an analysis of current efforts to overcome the barriers described in subparagraph (A); (D) an analysis of the estimated costs and benefits of any recommendations of the working group; and (E) any other topics, as determined by the working group. (2) Deadlines A report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the Secretaries, the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations of the House of Representatives— (A) in the case of the first report, by not later than 18 months after the date on which the working group is established under subsection (b)(1); (B) in the case of the second report, by not later than 2 years after the date on which the first report is required to be submitted under subparagraph (A); and (C) in the case of the third report, by not later than 2 years after the date on which the second report is required to be submitted under subparagraph (B). (3) Strategy (A) In general Based on the reports submitted by the working group under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall jointly develop, maintain, and update a strategy that describes the means by which the Federal Government, States, units of local government, and industry can— (i) establish quantitative targets for transportation electrification; (ii) overcome the barriers described in paragraph (1)(A); (iii) identify areas of opportunity in research and development to improve battery manufacturing, mineral mining, recycling costs, material recovery, fire risks, and battery performance for electric vehicles; (iv) enhance Federal interagency coordination to promote electric vehicle adoption; (v) prepare the workforce for the adoption of electric vehicles, including through collaboration with labor unions, educational institutions, and relevant manufacturers; (vi) expand electric vehicle and charging infrastructure; (vii) expand knowledge of the benefits of electric vehicles among the general public; (viii) maintain the global competitiveness of the United States in the electric vehicle and charging infrastructure markets; (ix) provide clarity in regulations to improve national uniformity with respect to electric vehicles; and (x) ensure the sustainable integration of electric vehicles into the national electric grid. (B) Notice and comment In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretaries shall provide public notice and opportunity for comment on the strategy described in that subparagraph. (4) Information (A) In general The Secretaries may enter into an agreement with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide, track, or report data, information, or research to assist the working group in carrying out paragraph (1). (B) Use of existing information In developing a report under paragraph (1) or a strategy under paragraph (3), the Secretaries and the working group shall take into consideration existing Federal, State, local, private sector, and academic data and information relating to electric vehicles and, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate with the entities that publish that information— (i) to prevent duplication of efforts by the Federal Government; and (ii) to leverage existing information and complementary efforts. (d) Coordination To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretaries and the working group shall carry out this section using all available existing resources, websites, and databases of Federal agencies, such as— (1) the Alternative Fuels Data Center; (2) the Energy Efficient Mobility Systems program; and (3) the Clean Cities Coalition Network. (e) Termination The working group shall terminate on submission of the third report required under subsection (c)(2)(C). 7. National electric vehicle program In addition to amounts otherwise available, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary in equal amounts for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, to remain available until expended, $5,000,000,000, to remain available until expended for amounts made available for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, to carry out a National Electric Vehicle Formula Program (referred to in this section as the Program Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further chapter 1 Provided further Provided further Joint Office Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further State Federal-aid highway chapter 1 8. Public transportation (a) In general Section 5302(3)(G) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (v) and (vi), respectively; (2) by inserting after clause (iii) the following: (iv) provides that if equipment to fuel privately owned zero-emission passenger vehicles is installed, the recipient of assistance under this chapter shall collect fees from users of the equipment in order to recover the costs of construction, maintenance, and operation of the equipment; ; (3) in clause (vi) (as so redesignated)— (A) in subclause (XIII), by striking and (B) in subclause (XIV), by adding and (C) by adding at the end the following: (XV) technology to fuel a zero-emission vehicle; . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 5336(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking , as defined in section 5302(4) (2) Section 28501(4) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking section 5302(a)(6) section 5302 9. State energy conservation plans Section 362(d) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 6322(d) (3) programs to increase transportation energy efficiency, including programs to help reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector by 2050 and accelerate the use of alternative transportation fuels for, and the electrification of, State government vehicles, fleet vehicles, taxis and ridesharing services, mass transit, school buses, ferries, and privately owned passenger and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles; . 10. Transportation workforce development (a) Assessment The Secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy shall develop and submit to the Secretary a workforce needs assessment that— (1) addresses— (A) the education and recruitment of technical workers for the intelligent transportation technologies and systems industry; (B) the development of a workforce skilled in various types of intelligent transportation technologies, components, infrastructure, and equipment, including with respect to— (i) installation; (ii) maintenance; (iii) manufacturing; (iv) operations, including data analysis and review; and (v) cybersecurity; and (C) barriers to employment in the intelligent transportation technologies and systems industry for— (i) individuals who are former offenders (as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 (ii) individuals with a disability (as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12102 (iii) individuals that represent populations that are traditionally underrepresented in the workforce; and (2) includes recommendations relating to the issues described in paragraph (1). (b) Working group (1) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a working group, to be composed of— (A) the Secretary of Energy; (B) the Secretary of Labor; and (C) the heads of such other Federal agencies as the Secretary determines to be necessary. (2) Implementation plan (A) In general The working group established under paragraph (1) shall develop an intelligent transportation technologies and systems industry workforce development implantation plan. (B) Requirements The implementation plan under subparagraph (A) shall address any issues and recommendations included in the needs assessment under subsection (a), taking into consideration a whole-of-government approach with respect to— (i) using registered apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs; and (ii) re-skilling workers who may be interested in working within the intelligent transportation technologies and systems industry. (3) Submission to congress Not later than 1 year after the date of receipt of the needs assessment under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress the implementation plan developed under paragraph (2). (4) Termination The working group established under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date on which the implementation plan developed under paragraph (2) is submitted to Congress under paragraph (3). (c) Transportation workforce outreach program (1) In general Subchapter I of chapter 55 5506. Transportation workforce outreach program (a) In general The Secretary of Transportation (referred to in this section as the Secretary (b) Purposes The purpose of the campaigns carried out under the program under this section shall be— (1) to increase awareness of career opportunities in the transportation sector, including aviation pilots, safety inspectors, mechanics and technicians, air traffic controllers, flight attendants, truck and bus drivers, engineers, transit workers, railroad workers, and other transportation professionals; and (2) to target awareness of professional opportunities in the transportation sector to diverse segments of the population, including with respect to race, sex, ethnicity, ability (including physical and mental ability), veteran status, and socioeconomic status. (c) Advertising The Secretary may use, or authorize the use of, amounts made available to carry out the program under this section for the development, production, and use of broadcast, digital, and print media advertising and outreach in carrying out a campaign under this section. (d) Funding The Secretary may use to carry out this section any amounts otherwise made available to the Secretary, not to exceed $5,000,000, for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. . (2) Clerical amendment The analysis for subchapter I of chapter 55 5506. Transportation workforce outreach program. .

Summary: New, Emerging, and Exciting Technologies in Transportation Act or the NEXT in Transportation Act This bill establishes and expands activities concerning electrification of transportation systems and intelligent transportation systems and technology. Regarding transportation electrification, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Energy must (1) establish a temporary working group to make recommendations about incorporating electric vehicles into U.S. transportation and energy systems, and (2) develop a transportation electrification strategy based on those recommendations. The bill also provides funding for states to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure; includes programs to increase transportation energy efficiency and the use of alternative fuels or electric vehicles in state energy conservation plans; and allows the use, subject to limits, of public transportation funds to install charging equipment for privately owned vehicles. Regarding intelligent transportation systems and technology, DOT must establish an internet-based resource for states and localities to use when developing intelligent transportation and related programs. DOT must also award grants to improve transportation efficiency and safety through advanced smart city or community technologies and systems. Eligible recipients include states, Indian tribes, localities, public transit agencies, and groups of such entities. Additionally, DOT must support workforce development in the intelligent transportation technologies and systems industry. This includes (1) contracting with the National Academies of Sciences to assess workforce needs, (2) establishing a working group to implement a workforce development plan, and (3) increasing public awareness of career opportunities in the transportation sector.