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the National Biodiesel Board and at research centers identi-
fied in section 9011 of Public Law 107–171.
‘‘(k) HIGH-PERFORMING STEEL BRIDGE RESEARCH
AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAM.—In accordance
with the objectives described in subsection (c)(1) and the
requirements under sections 503(b)(4) and 504(b), the Sec-
retary shall carry out a program to demonstrate the appli-
cation of high-performing steel in the construction and re-
habilitation of bridges.
‘‘§ 503. Technology application program
‘‘(a) TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION INITIATIVES
AND
PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in con-
sultation with interested stakeholders, shall develop
and administer a national technology and innovation
application initiatives and partnerships program.
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program
shall be to significantly accelerate the adoption of
technology and innovation by the surface transpor-
tation community.
‘‘(3) APPLICATION GOALS.—
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of the Safe, Ac-
countable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation
Equity Act of 2005, the Secretary, in consulta-
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tion with the Surface Transportation Research
Technology Advisory Committee, State transpor-
tation departments, and other interested stake-
holders, shall establish, as part of the surface
transportation research and technology develop-
ment strategic plan under section 508(c), goals
to carry out paragraph (1).
‘‘(B) DESIGN.—Each of the goals and the
program developed to achieve the goals shall be
designed to provide tangible benefits, with respect
to transportation systems, in the areas of effi-
ciency, safety, reliability, service life, environ-
mental protection, and sustainability.
‘‘(C) STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVEMENT.—For
each goal, the Secretary, in cooperation with rep-
resentatives of the transportation community,
such as States, local governments, the private
sector, and academia, shall use domestic and
international technology to develop strategies
and initiatives to achieve the goal, including
technical assistance in deploying technology and
mechanisms for sharing information among pro-
gram participants.
‘‘(4) INTEGRATION
WITH
OTHER
PROGRAMS.—
The Secretary shall integrate activities carried out
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under this subsection with the efforts of the Secretary
to—
‘‘(A) disseminate the results of research
sponsored by the Secretary; and
‘‘(B) facilitate technology transfer.
‘‘(5) LEVERAGING OF FEDERAL RESOURCES.—In
selecting projects to be carried out under this sub-
section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects
that leverage Federal funds with other significant
public or private resources.
‘‘(6) GRANTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, AND
CONTRACTS.—Under the program, the Secretary may
make grants and enter into cooperative agreements
and contracts to foster alliances and support efforts to
stimulate advances in transportation technology.
‘‘(7) REPORTS.—The results and progress of ac-
tivities carried out under this section shall be pub-
lished as part of the annual transportation research
report prepared by the Secretary under section
508(c)(5).
‘‘(8) ALLOCATION.—To the extent appropriate to
achieve the goals established under paragraph (3), the
Secretary may further allocate funds made available
to carry out this section to States for use by those
States.
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‘‘(b) INNOVATIVE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION INFRA-
STRUCTURE RESEARCH AND CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish
and carry out a program for the application of inno-
vative material, design, and construction technologies
in the construction, preservation, and rehabilitation
of elements of surface transportation infrastructure.
‘‘(2) GOALS.—The goals of the program shall
include—
‘‘(A) the development of new, cost-effective,
and innovative materials;
‘‘(B) the reduction of maintenance costs and
life-cycle costs of elements of infrastructure, in-
cluding the costs of new construction, replace-
ment, and rehabilitation;
‘‘(C) the development of construction tech-
niques to increase safety and reduce construction
time and traffic congestion;
‘‘(D) the development of engineering design
criteria for innovative products and materials
for use in surface transportation infrastructure;
‘‘(E) the development of highway bridges
and structures that will withstand natural disas-
ters and disasters caused by human activity; and
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‘‘(F) the development of new, nondestructive
technologies and techniques for the evaluation of
elements of transportation infrastructure.
‘‘(3) GRANTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, AND
CONTRACTS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Under the program, the
Secretary shall make grants to, and enter into
cooperative agreements and contracts with—
‘‘(i) States, other Federal agencies,
universities and colleges, private sector enti-
ties, and nonprofit organizations, to pay the
Federal share of the cost of research, devel-
opment, and technology transfer concerning
innovative materials and methods; and
‘‘(ii) States, to pay the Federal share
of the cost of repair, rehabilitation, replace-
ment, and new construction of elements of
surface transportation infrastructure that
demonstrate the application of innovative
materials and methods.
‘‘(B) APPLICATIONS.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—To receive a grant
under this subsection, an entity described in
subparagraph (A) shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application in such form and
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containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require.
‘‘(ii) APPROVAL.—The Secretary shall
select and approve an application based on
whether the proposed project that is the sub-
ject of the application would meet the goals
described in paragraph (2).
‘‘(4) TECHNOLOGY
AND
INFORMATION
TRANS-
FER.—The Secretary shall take such action as is nec-
essary to—
‘‘(A) ensure that the information and tech-
nology resulting from research conducted under
paragraph (3) is made available to State and
local transportation departments and other in-
terested parties, as specified by the Secretary;
and
‘‘(B) encourage the use of the information
and technology.
‘‘(5) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the
cost of a project under this section shall be determined
by the Secretary.
‘‘§ 504. Training and education
‘‘(a) NATIONAL HIGHWAY INSTITUTE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall—