(2) NOTICE.—Each member of the Committee 
shall be given appropriate notice of the call of such 
meeting not less than 15 days prior to any meeting, 
whenever possible. 
(3) VIRTUAL MEETINGS; TELECONFERENCES.— 
The Committee may conduct meetings using elec-
tronic methods if each member may fully participate 
in the deliberations of the Committee in realtime. 
(e) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 
Committee shall constitute a quorum. 
(f) RATES OF PAY; TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each mem-
ber shall serve without pay, except that each member shall 
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of sub-
sistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under 
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. 
(g) SUBCOMMITTEES.— 
(1) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.—The Committee 
shall have an executive committee and may delegate 
to it or to the Secretary such of the powers and 
functions granted to the Committee by this Act as 
it determines appropriate. 
(2) 
ADDITIONAL
COMMITTEES.—The 
Com-
mittee is authorized to appoint from among its mem-
bers such other committees as it determines nec-
essary and to assign to committees so appointed 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:16 May 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2569.IH
H2569
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
such survey and advisory functions as the Com-
mittee deems appropriate to assist it in exercising its 
powers and functions under this Act. 
(h) CHAIRPERSON.— 
(1) ELECTION.—The election of the Chair-
person and Vice Chairperson of the Committee shall 
take place at each annual meeting occurring in an 
even-numbered year. 
(2) SUBSTITUTION.—The Vice Chairperson 
shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in the 
absence of the Chairperson. 
(3) VACANCY.—In case a vacancy occurs in the 
chairpersonship or vice chairpersonship, the Com-
mittee shall elect a member to fill such vacancy. 
(i) REPORT.— 
(1) ANNUAL.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days 
after the submittal to Congress of the Presi-
dent’s annual budget request in each year, the 
Committee shall transmit an annual report to 
the Secretary for submission to the appropriate 
congressional committees. 
(B) CONTENTS.—Such report shall deal 
essentially, though not necessarily exclusively, 
with policy issues or matters which affect the 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:16 May 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2569.IH
H2569
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
surface transportation research, development, 
and technology transfer activities at the De-
partment. Each such report shall comment on 
the strategic plan developed under section 2. 
Each such report shall also identify future 
areas of priority surface transportation research 
for the Department. 
(2) ADDITIONAL.—The Committee shall trans-
mit to the Secretary and the appropriate congres-
sional committees such additional reports on specific 
policy matters as it determines appropriate. 
SEC. 5. OFFICE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENT. 
Section 102(g) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1) in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Department’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Research and Innovative Technology Ad-
ministration in the Department’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (7); 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing new paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) IMPACT
REDUCTION
RESEARCH
ACTIVI-
TIES.— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:16 May 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2569.IH
H2569
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Office established 
under paragraph (1) shall fund or coordinate 
research, development, and technology transfer 
activities focused on— 
‘‘(i) reducing vehicle miles traveled; 
‘‘(ii) reducing congestion; 
‘‘(iii) reducing construction and main-
tenance-related emissions and energy con-
sumption; and 
‘‘(iv) in coordination with the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency and the De-
partment of Energy, assessing consumer 
acceptance of and infrastructure needs for 
alternative fuels and improved vehicle tech-
nology and other strategies to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions and conserve en-
ergy arising from surface transportation 
infrastructure, operation, and use. 
‘‘(B) 
ACTIVITIES.—Research 
activities 
shall include the following: 
‘‘(i) Assessments of the impact, cost- 
effectiveness, and collateral benefits of 
emissions and energy reduction strategies. 
‘‘(ii) The development of technologies, 
tools, and techniques to reduce emissions 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:16 May 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2569.IH
H2569
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
and energy consumption throughout the 
life-cycle of transportation infrastructure. 
‘‘(iii) Congestion reduction and speed 
management strategies. 
‘‘(iv) Assessments of the impact of 
land use change on surface emissions and 
other factors, such as congestion, mobility, 
and accessibility, and barriers to land use 
change. 
‘‘(v) Infrastructure requirements for 
alternative fuels and vehicles. 
‘‘(vi) Traveler behaviors with respect 
to mode-choice, response to transportation 
pricing scheme, nonmotorized travel, and 
other emissions reducing strategies. 
‘‘(vii) Emissions and energy reduction 
strategies for freight transportation, in-
cluding mode shifts, freight infrastructure 
projects, and the effects of land use on 
freight movement. 
‘‘(3) ADAPTATION.—The Office shall fund or 
coordinate research on the impacts of climate change 
on surface transportation infrastructure to under-
stand and assess how climate change and variability 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:16 May 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2569.IH
H2569
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
may affect transportation operation and infrastruc-
ture. 
‘‘(4) ASSESSMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Office shall as-
sess current and historical surface transpor-
tation infrastructure and fuel demand manage-
ment strategies that have been implemented at 
the local, State, and national levels for their so-
cial, economic, and environmental costs and 
benefits. 
‘‘(B) PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY.—The results 
of such assessments shall be made publicly 
available through the Administration’s Web 
site. 
‘‘(5) MODELING.—The Office, in consultation 
with the Environmental Protection Agency and other 
Federal agencies, shall support the development of 
more accurate tools and models for quantifying mo-
bile emissions and evaluating surface transportation 
emissions reductions strategies. The tools and mod-
els shall incorporate such factors as— 
‘‘(A) vehicle speed; 
‘‘(B) traffic flow; 
‘‘(C) land use; 
‘‘(D) nonmotorized travel; 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:16 May 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2569.IH
H2569
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
‘‘(E) transit use; 
‘‘(F) traveler behavior; and 
‘‘(G) commercial traffic and freight move-
ment. 
‘‘(6) PUBLIC
ACCESSIBILITY.—The results of 
the research and development carried out under this 
subsection shall be made publicly available to na-
tional, State, and local transportation planners and 
decisionmakers.’’. 
SEC. 6. REGIONAL GREEN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH 
CENTERS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subchapter I of chapter 55 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 5505 the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 5505A. REGIONAL GREEN TRANSPORTATION RE-
SEARCH CENTERS. 
‘‘(a) GREEN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE 
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.—The Adminis-
trator shall make grants to institutions of higher edu-
cation or consortia thereof to establish and operate univer-
sity transportation centers to carry out research, develop-
ment, and technology transfer activities in the field of 
green transportation infrastructure. 
‘‘(b) OBJECTIVES.—The purpose of centers estab-
lished pursuant to this section shall be to— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:16 May 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2569.IH
H2569
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
‘‘(1) generate innovative and cost-effective ap-
proaches 
to 
mitigating 
environmental 
impacts 
throughout the lifecycle of transportation infrastruc-
ture; 
‘‘(2) develop holistic approaches to integrating 
green infrastructure into existing wastewater man-
agement systems; 
‘‘(3) promote adoption of innovative green 
transportation infrastructure systems by State and 
local governments and the private sector; and 
‘‘(4) manage technology transfer programs to 
disseminate information on best management prac-
tices in the area of green transportation infrastruc-
ture to State and local governments and the private 
sector. 
‘‘(c) SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS.— 
‘‘(1) APPLICATIONS.—In order to be eligible to 
receive a grant under this section, a nonprofit insti-
tution of higher learning or consortia thereof shall 
submit to the Administrator an application that is in 
such form and contains such information as the Ad-
ministrator may require. 
‘‘(2) REGIONAL CENTERS.—To the greatest ex-
tent practicable, the Administrator shall ensure that 
there is at least one grant recipient from each of the 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:16 May 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2569.IH
H2569
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
10 United States Government regions that comprise 
the Standard Federal Regional Boundary System. 
‘‘(3) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Except as other-
wise provided by this section, the Administrator 
shall select each recipient of a grant under this sec-
tion through a merit-reviewed competitive process on 
the basis of the following: 
‘‘(A) Demonstrated expertise in transpor-
tation research and environmental impacts of 
transportation infrastructure. 
‘‘(B) Demonstrated research capacity and 
technology transfer resources. 
‘‘(C) Existing or proposed partnerships 
with State and local governments and private 
industry involved in transportation-related con-
struction, environmental impact mitigation, or 
other areas related to green transportation in-
frastructure research. 
‘‘(D) Capability to provide leadership in 
developing national best management practices, 
regional best management practices, or both in 
the field of green transportation infrastructure. 
‘‘(E) Expertise in specific regional climate 
characteristics which impact the effectiveness of 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:16 May 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2569.IH
H2569
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
green transportation infrastructure technologies 
and practices. 
‘‘(F) Demonstrated ability to disseminate 
results of research and education programs 
through a statewide or regionwide continuing 
education program. 
‘‘(G) The strategic plan the recipient pro-
poses to carry out under the grant. 
‘‘(d) ACTIVITIES.—The types of activities the Sec-
retary may support under this section include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Research and development of innovative 
technologies, construction techniques, or best man-
agement processes that mitigate the environmental 
impact of transportation infrastructure, including— 
‘‘(A) assessments of the life-cycle environ-
mental impact of local existing or planned 
transportation infrastructure; 
‘‘(B) integration of green transportation 
infrastructure elements into existing transpor-
tation or waste management systems; and 
‘‘(C) research, development, testing, and 
evaluation of new technologies or best manage-
ment practices. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:16 May 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2569.IH
H2569
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
‘‘(2) Establishment and operation of a regional 
technology transfer program to disseminate informa-
tion on new technologies and best management prac-
tices to State and local governments, institutions of 
higher education, and private industry in the region. 
‘‘(3) Study of the impact of State, local, and 
Federal regulations on the implementation of green 
transportation infrastructure technologies and prac-
tices. These studies shall include collaboration with 
appropriate Federal agencies to evaluate the effect 
of and possible changes to Federal and State regula-
tions that impede implementation of green transpor-
tation infrastructure. 
‘‘(4) Public education efforts to raise awareness 
of green transportation infrastructure technologies, 
including activities to raise awareness and foster col-
laboration among regional governments, private in-
dustry, and other public and private stakeholders. 
‘‘(e) ANNUAL MEETING.—The Administrator shall 
convene an annual meeting of the Centers established pur-
suant to this section in order to foster collaboration and 
communication among Center participants and dissemi-
nate best management practices. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:16 May 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2569.IH
H2569
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS