‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish an Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary 
on carrying out this subtitle. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Committee 
shall have no more than 20 members, be balanced 
between metropolitan and rural interests, and in-
clude, at a minimum—
‘‘(A) a representative from a State high-
way department; 
‘‘(B) a representative from a local highway 
department who is not from a metropolitan 
planning organization; 
‘‘(C) a representative from a State, local, 
or regional transit agency; 
‘‘(D) a representative from a metropolitan 
planning organization; 
‘‘(E) a private sector user of intelligent 
transportation system technologies; 
‘‘(F) an academic researcher with expertise 
in computer science or another information 
science field related to intelligent transportation 
systems, and who is not an expert on transpor-
tation issues; 
‘‘(G) an academic researcher who is a civil 
engineer;
‘‘(H) an academic researcher who is a so-
cial scientist with expertise in transportation 
issues; 
‘‘(I) a representative from a not-for-profit 
group representing the intelligent transpor-
tation system industry; 
‘‘(J) a representative from a public interest 
group concerned with safety; 
‘‘(K) a representative from a public inter-
est group concerned with the impact of the 
transportation system on land use and residen-
tial patterns; and 
‘‘(L) members with expertise in planning, 
safety, and operations. 
‘‘(3) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall, 
at a minimum, perform the following duties: 
‘‘(A) Provide input into the development of 
the Intelligent Transportation System aspects 
of the strategic plan under section 508 of title 
23, United States Code. 
‘‘(B) Review, at least annually, areas of in-
telligent transportation systems research being 
considered for funding by the Department, to 
determine—
‘‘(i) whether these activities are likely 
to advance either the state-of-the-practice 
or state-of-the-art in intelligent transpor-
tation systems; 
‘‘(ii) whether the intelligent transpor-
tation system technologies are likely to be 
deployed by users, and, if not, to determine 
the barriers to deployment; and 
‘‘(iii) the appropriate roles for govern-
ment and the private sector in investing in 
the research and technologies being consid-
ered. 
‘‘(4) REPORT.—Not later than February 1 of 
each year after the date of enactment of the Surface 
Transportation Research and Development Act of 
2005, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee 
on Science and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, 
and to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate, a report including—
‘‘(A) all recommendations made by the Ad-
visory Committee during the preceding calendar 
year; 
‘‘(B) an explanation of how the Secretary 
has implemented those recommendations; and
‘‘(C) for recommendations not imple-
mented, the reasons for rejecting the rec-
ommendations. 
‘‘(5) APPLICABILITY
OF
FEDERAL
ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE ACT.—The Advisory Committee shall be 
subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.). 
‘‘(i) EVALUATIONS.—
‘‘(1) GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
issue guidelines and requirements for the eval-
uation of operational tests and model deploy-
ment projects carried out under this subtitle. 
‘‘(B) CONTENT.—Such evaluations shall 
include specific, quantitative measures to deter-
mine whether a technology is meeting its in-
tended goal. To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, these measures shall evaluate the out-
come of the technology (such as accidents 
avoided or decreased travel times or travel time 
variability). 
‘‘(C) OBJECTIVITY AND INDEPENDENCE.—
The guidelines and requirements issued under 
subparagraph (A) shall include provisions to en-
sure the objectivity and independence of the
evaluator so as to avoid any real or apparent 
conflict of interest or potential influence on the 
outcome by parties to any such test or deploy-
ment project or by any other formal evaluation 
carried out under this subtitle. 
‘‘(D) FUNDING.—The guidelines and re-
quirements issued under subparagraph (A) shall 
establish evaluation funding levels, based on the 
size and scope of each test or project, that en-
sure adequate evaluation of the results of the 
test or project. 
‘‘(E) 
DISSEMINATION.—The 
Secretary 
shall make readily available through the Inter-
net all information collected through evalua-
tions carried out under this subsection. 
‘‘(2) SPECIAL
RULE.—Any survey, question-
naire, or interview that the Secretary considers nec-
essary to carry out the evaluation of any test, de-
ployment project, or program assessment activity 
under this subtitle shall not be subject to chapter 35 
of title 44, United States Code. 
‘‘SEC. 5204. USING INFORMATION FROM INTELLIGENT 
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. 
‘‘(a) REPORT.—The Secretary shall prepare a report 
assessing the value of current and anticipated data col-
lected from intelligent transportation system technologies 
to determine whether and how that data should be used 
for real-time traffic management, planning, performance 
monitoring, program assessment, and policy applications. 
‘‘(b) ASSESSMENT.—In preparing the report under 
subsection (a), the Secretary should assess—
‘‘(1) the extent to which data should be central-
ized nationally in support of national planning and 
goals, what information should be aggregated re-
gionally, and what information should be kept lo-
cally; 
‘‘(2) the need for data standards; 
‘‘(3) public and private data sources other than 
intelligent transportation system data sources (such 
as roadway characteristics inventories and incident 
information) that, combined with intelligent trans-
portation system data, would enhance the utility of 
intelligent transportation system data to decision-
makers, and how these data sources can be merged; 
and 
‘‘(4) how to make data accessible to users. 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—In developing the strategy 
under this section, the Secretary shall consult with the Bu-
reau of Transportation Statistics and the advisory com-
mittee established under section 5203(h).
‘‘(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Sec-
retary shall transmit to the Committee on Science and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Envi-
ronment and Public Works of the Senate, the report devel-
oped under this section. 
‘‘SEC. 5205. NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND STANDARDS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND 
MAINTENANCE.—Consistent with section 12(d) of 
the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note; 110 Stat. 783), 
the Secretary shall develop, implement, and maintain 
a national architecture and supporting standards 
and protocols to promote the widespread use and 
evaluation of intelligent transportation system tech-
nology as a component of the surface transportation 
systems of the United States. 
‘‘(2) GOAL.—The goal of the national architec-
ture and standards shall be to ensure, whenever it 
is appropriate, interoperability among, and efficiency 
of, intelligent transportation system technologies im-
plemented throughout the United States.
‘‘(3) USE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT ORGA-
NIZATIONS.—In carrying out this section, the Sec-
retary may use the services of such standards devel-
opment organizations as the Secretary determines to 
be appropriate. 
‘‘(4) STANDARD
VALIDATION.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that new standards promulgated for in-
telligent transportation system technologies that are 
funded by the Department are tested and validated, 
whenever it is appropriate, and shall ensure that the 
results of such testing and validation are made pub-
licly available. 
‘‘(b) PROVISIONAL STANDARDS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary finds that 
the development or balloting of an intelligent trans-
portation system standard jeopardizes the timely 
achievement of the objectives identified in subsection 
(a)(1) and (2), the Secretary may establish a provi-
sional standard after consultation with affected par-
ties, and using, to the extent practicable, the work 
product of appropriate standards development orga-
nizations. 
‘‘(2) PERIOD
OF
EFFECTIVENESS.—A provi-
sional standard established under paragraph (1) 
shall be published in the Federal Register and re-
main in effect until the appropriate standards devel-
opment organization adopts and publishes a stand-
ard. 
‘‘(c) CONFORMITY
WITH
NATIONAL
ARCHITEC-
TURE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graphs (2) and (3), the Secretary shall ensure that 
intelligent transportation system projects carried out 
using funds made available from the Highway Trust 
Fund, including funds made available to deploy in-
telligent transportation system technologies, conform 
to the national architecture, applicable standards or 
provisional standards, and protocols developed under 
subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) SECRETARY’S
DISCRETION.—The Sec-
retary may authorize exceptions to paragraph (1) 
for—
‘‘(A) projects designed to achieve specific 
research and development objectives outlined in 
the National ITS Program Plan or the Surface 
Transportation 
Research 
and 
Development 
Strategic Plan developed under section 508 of 
title 23, United States Code; or 
‘‘(B) the upgrade or expansion of an intel-
ligent transportation system in existence on the
date of enactment of the Transportation Equity 
Act for the 21st Century, if the Secretary de-
termines 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 con-
formity requirement of paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) EXCEPTIONS.—Paragraph (1) shall not 
apply to funds used for operation or maintenance of 
an intelligent transportation system in existence on 
the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity 
Act for the 21st Century. 
‘‘SEC. 5206. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
comprehensive program of research, development, and 
operational tests of intelligent vehicles and intelligent in-
frastructure systems, as well as research into barriers to 
their deployment, and other similar activities that are nec-
essary to carry out this subtitle. 
‘‘(b) PRIORITY AREAS.—Under the program, the Sec-
retary shall give higher priority to funding projects that—
‘‘(1) are aimed at reducing congestion and im-
proving mobility and efficiency; 
‘‘(2) are aimed at improving safety; 
‘‘(3) are aimed at improving security by focus-
ing on responding to security-related emergencies, 
and preventing such emergencies; 
‘‘(4) incorporate human factors research, in-
cluding the science of the driving process; 
‘‘(5) develop methods to address nontechnical 
barriers to the deployment of intelligent transpor-
tation system technologies, and the best ways to de-
velop partnerships to successfully deploy intelligent 
transportation system technologies; 
‘‘(6) facilitate the integration of intelligent in-
frastructure, vehicle, and control technologies; 
‘‘(7) incorporate research on the impact of envi-
ronmental, weather, and natural conditions on intel-
ligent transportation systems, including the effects 
of cold climates; 
‘‘(8) utilize interdisciplinary approaches to de-
velop traffic management strategies and tools to ad-
dress multiple impacts of congestion concurrently; 
‘‘(9) are aimed at improving the efficiency of 
goods movement, such as through real-time tracking 
and management; or
‘‘(10) facilitate high-performance transportation 
systems, through methods such as congestion pric-
ing, real-time facility management, rapid emergency 
response, and just-in-time transit. 
‘‘(c) OPERATIONAL TESTS.—Operational tests shall 
be used to evaluate promising technologies that have not 
yet been demonstrated. Operational tests conducted under 
this section shall be designed for the collection of data to 
permit objective evaluation of the results of the tests, deri-
vation of cost-benefit information that is useful to others 
contemplating deployment of similar systems, and develop-
ment and implementation of standards. 
‘‘(d) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the 
cost of operational tests and demonstrations under sub-
section (a) shall not exceed 80 percent. 
‘‘SEC. 5207. USE OF FUNDS. 
‘‘(a) CONGESTION REDUCTION.—At least 1⁄3 of funds 
made available under section 5206 for intelligent transpor-
tation systems research and development shall be used to 
research, develop, and operationally test technologies 
whose primary purpose is to reduce congestion. 
‘‘(b) OUTREACH AND PUBLIC RELATIONS LIMITA-
TION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For each fiscal year, not 
more than $5,000,000 of the funds made available
to carry out this subtitle shall be used for intelligent 
transportation system outreach, public relations, dis-
plays, scholarships, tours, and brochures. 
‘‘(2) APPLICABILITY.—Paragraph (1) shall not 
apply to intelligent transportation system training or 
the publication or distribution of research findings, 
technical guidance, or similar documents. 
‘‘(c) 
INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT.—Funds 
made available to carry out this subtitle for operational 
tests—
‘‘(1) shall be used primarily for the development 
of intelligent transportation system infrastructure; 
and 
‘‘(2) to the maximum extent practicable, shall 
not be used for the construction of physical highway 
and transit infrastructure unless the construction is 
incidental and critically necessary to the implemen-
tation of an intelligent transportation system 
project. 
‘‘SEC. 5208. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this subtitle, the following definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) INTELLIGENT
TRANSPORTATION
INFRA-
STRUCTURE.—The term ‘intelligent transportation 
infrastructure’ means fully integrated public sector
intelligent transportation system components, as de-
fined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) 
INTELLIGENT
TRANSPORTATION
SYS-
TEM.—The term ‘intelligent transportation system’ 
means electronics, communications, or information 
processing used singly or in combination to improve 
the efficiency or safety of a surface transportation 
system. 
‘‘(3) NATIONAL
ARCHITECTURE.—The term 
‘national architecture’ means the common frame-
work for interoperability adopted by the Secretary 
that defines—
‘‘(A) the functions associated with intel-
ligent transportation system user services; 
‘‘(B) the physical entities or subsystems 
within which the functions reside; 
‘‘(C) the data interfaces and information 
flows between physical subsystems; and 
‘‘(D) the communications requirements as-
sociated with the information flows. 
‘‘(4) STANDARD.—The term ‘standard’ means a 
document that—
‘‘(A) contains technical specifications or 
other precise criteria for intelligent transpor-
tation systems that are to be used consistently
as rules, guidelines, or definitions of character-
istics so as to ensure that materials, products, 
processes, and services are fit for their pur-
poses; and 
‘‘(B) may support the national architecture 
and promote—
‘‘(i) the widespread use and adoption 
of intelligent transportation system tech-
nology as a component of the surface 
transportation systems of the United 
States; and 
‘‘(ii) interoperability among intelligent 
transportation system technologies imple-
mented throughout the States. 
‘‘(5) STATE.—The term ‘State’ has the mean-
ing given the term under section 101 of title 23, 
United States Code.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The items 
relating to subtitle C of title V in the table of contents 
of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century are 
amended to read as follows:
‘‘Subtitle C—Intelligent Transportation Systems 
‘‘Sec. 5201. Short title. 
‘‘Sec. 5202. Goals and purposes. 
‘‘Sec. 5203. General authorities and requirements. 
‘‘Sec. 5204. Using information from intelligent transportation systems. 
‘‘Sec. 5205. National architecture and standards. 
‘‘Sec. 5206. Research and development. 
‘‘Sec. 5207. Use of funds. 
‘‘Sec. 5208. Definitions.’’.
100
TITLE II—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) TRANSIT
RESEARCH
AND
DEVELOPMENT.—
There are authorized to be appropriated from the High-
way Trust Fund to the Secretary of Transportation to 
carry out sections 5312, 5313, 5314, 5315, and 5322 of 
title 49, United States Code, and section 202 of this Act, 
relating to research and development, such sums as may 
be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 
2010. 
(b) HIGHWAY SAFETY RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT.—There are authorized to be appropriated from the 
Highway Trust Fund to the Secretary of Transportation 
to carry out section 403 of title 23, United States Code, 
relating to research and development, such sums as may 
be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 
2010. 
(c) MOTOR CARRIER RESEARCH
AND DEVELOP-
MENT.—There are authorized to be appropriated from the 
Highway Trust Fund to the Secretary of Transportation 
to carry out section 31108 of title 49, United States Code, 
relating to research and development, such sums as may 
be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 
2010.
101
SEC. 202. INNOVATIVE PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES 
DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish an Innovative Practices and Tech-
nologies Demonstration and Deployment Program. 
(b) PROGRAM GOALS.—The goals of the program are 
to—
(1) demonstrate promising new transit practices 
and technologies, including new business models for 
managing and operating transit systems, that may 
increase ridership, increase accessibility, reduce cost, 
improve customer satisfaction, and improve safety; 
(2) evaluate, refine, and document the perform-
ance, benefits, and costs of innovative transit prac-
tices and technologies; and 
(3) effectively disseminate information to accel-
erate deployment of innovative transit practices and 
technologies. 
(c) GRANTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, AND CON-
TRACTS.—The Secretary may make grants to, or enter 
into cooperative agreements or contracts with, transit 
agencies, States, other Federal agencies, universities and 
colleges, private sector entities, and nonprofit organiza-
tions to pay the Federal share of the cost of demonstration
102
and deployment projects concerning innovative practices 
and technologies. 
(d) APPLICATIONS.—To receive a grant, cooperative 
agreement, or contract under this section, an entity de-
scribed in subsection (c) shall submit an application to the 
Secretary. The application shall be in such form and con-
tain such information as the Secretary may require. The 
Secretary shall select and approve the applications 
through an open competition based on the following cri-
teria: 
(1) Whether the project meets the goals of the 
program. 
(2) Peer review of the proposal. 
(3) The likelihood that the project will result in 
more widespread deployment of the practice or tech-
nology being proposed. 
(4) Preference shall be given to an application 
that represents a public-private partnership. 
(e) TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION TRANSFER.—
The Secretary shall ensure that information about innova-
tive practices and technologies supported under this sec-
tion is made available to transit agencies, State and local 
transportation departments, and other interested parties. 
Information disseminated under this subsection shall in-
103
clude both the costs and benefits of deploying an innova-
tive practice or technology, and shall document—
(1) best practices for adopting successful prac-
tices or technologies; and 
(2) the transferability of these practices and 
technologies. 
(f) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of a project under this section shall be determined by the 
Secretary. 
SEC. 203. NATIONAL TRANSIT INSTITUTE. 
Section 5315 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking ‘‘public mass transpor-
tation’’ and inserting ‘‘public transportation’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘mass’’ after ‘‘Govern-
ment-aid’’ and inserting ‘‘public’’; and 
(C) in paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (10) 
by striking ‘‘mass’’ each place it appears before 
‘‘transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘public’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘mass’’ each 
place it appears. 
SEC. 204. HUMAN RESOURCE PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5322 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended—
104
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) In General.—’’ before the 
beginning of the first sentence of the section; and 
(2) by adding the following at the end: 
‘‘(b) GRANTS
TO
HIGHER
LEARNING
INSTITU-
TIONS.—
‘‘(1) The Secretary (or the Secretary of Hous-
ing and Urban Development when required by sec-
tion 5334(i) of this title) may make grants to non-
profit institutions of higher learning—
‘‘(A) to conduct competent research and 
development and investigations into the theo-
retical or practical problems of urban transpor-
tation; and 
‘‘(B) to train individuals to conduct fur-
ther research and development or obtain em-
ployment in an organization that plans, builds, 
operates, or manages an urban transportation 
system. 
‘‘(2) Research and investigations under this 
subsection include—
‘‘(A) the design and use of urban public 
transportation systems and urban roads and 
highways; 
‘‘(B) the interrelationship between various 
modes of urban and interurban transportation;
105
‘‘(C) the role of transportation planning in 
overall urban planning; 
‘‘(D) public preferences in transportation; 
‘‘(E) the economic allocation of transpor-
tation resources; and 
‘‘(F) the legal, financial, engineering, and 
esthetic aspects of urban transportation. 
‘‘(3) When making a grant under this sub-
section, the Secretary shall give preference to an in-
stitution that brings together knowledge and exper-
tise in the various social science and technical dis-
ciplines related to urban transportation problems. 
‘‘(c) FELLOWSHIPS.—
‘‘(1) The Secretary may make grants to States, 
local governmental authorities, and operators of pub-
lic transportation systems to provide fellowships to 
train personnel employed in managerial, technical, 
and professional positions in the mass transportation 
field. 
‘‘(2) A fellowship under this subsection may be 
for not more than one year of training in an institu-
tion that offers a program applicable to the public 
transportation industry. The recipient of the grant 
shall select an individual on the basis of dem-
onstrated ability and for the contribution the indi-
106
vidual reasonably can be expected to make to an ef-
ficient public transportation operation. A grant for 
a fellowship may not be more than the lesser of 
$65,000 or 75 percent of—
‘‘(A) tuition and other charges to the fel-
lowship recipient; 
‘‘(B) additional costs incurred by the train-
ing institution and billed to the grant recipient; 
and 
‘‘(C) the regular salary of the fellowship 
recipient for the period of the fellowship to the 
extent the salary is actually paid or reimbursed 
by the grant recipient. 
‘‘(d) OTHER GRANTS.—The Secretary may make 
grants to State and local governmental authorities for 
projects that will use innovative techniques and methods 
in managing and providing public transportation.’’. 
SEC. 205. HIGHWAY SAFETY RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT. 
Section 403(a) (Authority of the Secretary) of title 
23, United States Code, is amended by adding the fol-
lowing paragraphs at the end: 
‘‘(4) EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.—In ad-
dition to the authority provided under this sub-
section, the Secretary is authorized to use funds ap-
107
propriated to carry out this section to enhance co-
ordination among Federal agencies involved with 
State, local, tribal, and community-based emergency 
medical services. In exercising this authority, the 
Secretary may coordinate with State and local gov-
ernments, the Bureau of Indian Affairs on behalf of 
Indian tribes, private industry, and other interested 
parties; collect and exchange emergency medical 
services data and information; examine emergency 
medical services needs, best practices, and related 
technology; and develop emergency medical services 
standards and guidelines, and plans for the assess-
ment of emergency medical services systems. 
‘‘(5) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.—In addi-
tion to the authority provided under this subsection, 
the Secretary is authorized to use funds appro-
priated to carry out this section to participate and 
cooperate in international activities to enhance high-
way safety by such means as exchanging safety in-
formation; conducting safety research and develop-
ment; and examining safety needs, best practices, 
and new technology. 
‘‘(6) NATIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH CAUSA-
TION
SURVEY.—In addition to the authority pro-
vided under this subsection, the Secretary is author-
108
ized to use funds appropriated to carry out this sec-
tion to develop and conduct a nationally representa-
tive survey to collect on-scene motor vehicle crash 
causation data.’’. 
SEC. 206. MOTOR CARRIER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by repealing section 31108 and inserting the fol-
lowing new section, to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 31108. Motor carrier research and development 
program 
‘‘(a) RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY 
TRANSFER ACTIVITIES.—
‘‘(1) The Secretary of Transportation shall es-
tablish and carry out a motor carrier research and 
development program. The Secretary may carry out 
research, development, technology, and technology 
transfer activities with respect to—
‘‘(A) the causes of accidents, injuries and 
fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles; 
and 
‘‘(B) means of reducing the number and 
severity of accidents, injuries and fatalities in-
volving commercial motor vehicles.
109
‘‘(2) The Secretary may test, develop, or assist 
in testing and developing any material, invention, 
patented article, or process related to the research 
and development program. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary may use the funds appro-
priated to carry out this section for training or edu-
cation of commercial motor vehicle safety personnel, 
including, but not limited to, training in accident re-
construction and detection of controlled substances 
or other contraband, and stolen cargo or vehicles. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary may carry out this sec-
tion—
‘‘(A) independently; 
‘‘(B) in cooperation with other Federal de-
partments, agencies, and instrumentalities and 
federally funded research and development cen-
ters; or 
‘‘(C) by making grants to, or entering into 
contracts or cooperative agreements with, any 
federally funded research and development cen-
ter, State agency, authority, association, insti-
tution, for-profit or non-profit corporation, or-
ganization, foreign country, or person. 
‘‘(5) The Secretary shall use funds made avail-
able to carry out this section to develop, administer,
110
communicate, and promote the use of products of re-
search, technology, and technology transfer pro-
grams under this section. 
‘‘(b) COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
AND DEVELOP-
MENT.—
‘‘(1) To advance innovative solutions to prob-
lems involving commercial motor vehicle and motor 
carrier safety, security, and efficiency, and to stimu-
late the deployment of emerging technology, the Sec-
retary may carry out, on a cost-shared basis, col-
laborative research and development with—
‘‘(A) non-Federal entities, including State 
and local governments, foreign governments, 
colleges and universities, corporations, institu-
tions, partnerships, and sole proprietorships 
that are incorporated or established under the 
laws of any State; and 
‘‘(B) federally funded research and devel-
opment centers. 
‘‘(2) In carrying out this subsection, the Sec-
retary may enter into cooperative research and de-
velopment agreements (as defined in section 12 of 
the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a)).
111
‘‘(3) (A) The Federal share of the cost of activi-
ties carried out under a cooperative research and de-
velopment agreement entered into under this sub-
section shall not exceed 50 percent, except that if 
there is substantial public interest or benefit, the 
Secretary may approve a greater Federal share. 
‘‘(B) All costs directly incurred by the non-Fed-
eral partners, including personnel, travel, and hard-
ware or software development costs, shall be credited 
toward the non-Federal share of the cost of the ac-
tivities described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(4) The research, development, or use of a 
technology under a cooperative research and develop-
ment agreement entered into under this subsection, 
including the terms under which the technology may 
be licensed and the resulting royalties may be dis-
tributed, shall be subject to the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 
et seq.). 
‘‘(5) Section 3705 of title 41, United States 
Code, shall not apply to a contract or agreement en-
tered into under this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 311 of title 49, United
112
States Code, is amended by revising the item relating to 
section 31108 to read as follows:
‘‘31108. Motor carrier research and development program.’’.
SEC. 207. TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—As part of the National Climate 
Change Technology Initiative and the Climate Change Re-
search Initiative, the Secretary shall establish and carry 
out a multimodal energy and climate change program to 
study the relationship of transportation, energy, and cli-
mate change. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The program to be carried out 
under this section shall include, but not be limited to, re-
search and development designed to—
(1) identify, develop and evaluate strategies to 
improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions from transportation sources; and 
(2) identify and evaluate the potential effects of 
climate changes on the Nation’s transportation sys-
tems, and strategies to address these effects. 
(c) PROJECT SELECTION.—Activities to be under-
taken in this program will be determined by an internal 
steering committee established by the Secretary of Trans-
portation. This intermodal committee shall include rep-
resentatives from the Office of the Secretary and oper-
ating administrations within the Department of Transpor-
tation as designated by the Secretary.
113
(d) GRANTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND CON-
TRACTS.—The Secretary may carry out this program inde-
pendently or by making grants to, or entering into con-
tracts and cooperative agreements with, a Federal agency, 
State agency, local agency, authority, association, non-
profit or for-profit corporation, or institution of higher 
education. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, 
from the Highway Trust Fund and the Airport and Air-
way Trust Fund, such sums as may be necessary for each 
of fiscal years 2005 through 2010. 
SEC. 208. NATIONAL COOPERATIVE FREIGHT TRANSPOR-
TATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 5 of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 510. National cooperative freight transportation 
research and development program 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish and support a national cooperative freight transpor-
tation research and development program. The program 
shall focus on all forms of freight transportation, including 
trucking and rail.
114
‘‘(b) AGREEMENT.—The Secretary shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council to sup-
port and carry out administrative and management activi-
ties relating to the governance of the national cooperative 
freight transportation research and development program. 
‘‘(c) ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.—The National Re-
search Council shall select an advisory committee con-
sisting of a representative cross-section of freight stake-
holders, including the Department of Transportation, 
other Federal agencies, State transportation departments, 
local governments, the American Association of State 
Highway and Transportation Officials and other nonprofit 
entities (including environmental groups), academia, and 
the private sector. 
‘‘(d) 
GOVERNANCE.—The 
national 
cooperative 
freight transportation research and development program 
established under this section shall include the following 
administrative and management elements: 
‘‘(1) NATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
AGENDA.—The advisory committee, in consultation 
with stakeholders, shall recommend a national re-
search and development agenda for the national co-
operative freight transportation research and devel-
opment program. The national research and develop-
115
ment agenda shall include a multi-year strategic 
plan. 
‘‘(2) 
STAKEHOLDER
INVOLVEMENT.—Stake-
holders may—
‘‘(A) submit research and development pro-
posals to the advisory committee; 
‘‘(B) participate in merit reviews of re-
search and development proposals and peer re-
views of research and development products; 
and 
‘‘(C) receive research and development re-
sults. 
‘‘(3) OPEN COMPETITION AND PEER REVIEW OF 
RESEARCH
AND
DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSALS.—The 
National Research Council shall award research and 
development contracts and grants through open 
competition and peer review conducted on a regular 
basis. 
‘‘(4) EVALUATION OF RESEARCH.—
‘‘(A) PEER REVIEW.—Research and devel-
opment contracts and grants shall allow peer 
review of the research and development results. 
‘‘(B) PROGRAMMATIC EVALUATIONS.—The 
National Research Council may conduct peri-
116
odic programmatic evaluations on a regular 
basis. 
‘‘(5) DISSEMINATION
OF
RESEARCH
FIND-
INGS.—The National Research Council shall dissemi-
nate research and development findings to research-
ers, practitioners, and decisionmakers. 
‘‘(e) CONTENTS.—The national research and develop-
ment agenda for the national cooperative freight transpor-
tation research and development program required under 
subsection (d)(1) may include research and development 
in the following areas: 
‘‘(1) Techniques for estimating and quantifying 
public benefits derived from freight transportation 
projects. 
‘‘(2) Alternative approaches to calculating the 
contribution of truck traffic to congestion on specific 
highway segments. 
‘‘(3) The feasibility of freight villages as a 
means of consolidating origins and destinations for 
freight movement. 
‘‘(4) Methods for incorporating estimates of 
international trade into landside transportation plan-
ning.
117
‘‘(5) The use of technology applications to in-
crease capacity of highway lanes dedicated to truck-
only traffic. 
‘‘(6) Development of physical and policy alter-
natives for separating car and truck traffic. 
‘‘(7) Ways to synchronize infrastructure im-
provements with freight transportation demand. 
‘‘(8) Additional priorities to identify and ad-
dress the emerging and future research and develop-
ment needs related to freight transportation. 
‘‘(f) FUNDING.—
‘‘(1) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of 
the cost of an activity carried out using such funds 
shall be up to 100 percent, and such funds shall re-
main available until expended. 
‘‘(2) USE OF NON-FEDERAL FUNDS.—In addi-
tion to using funds authorized for this section, the 
National Research Council may seek and accept ad-
ditional funding sources from public and private en-
tities capable of accepting funding from the United 
States Department of Transportation (Federal 
Highway Administration, Federal Transit Adminis-
tration, Federal Railroad Administration, Research 
and Special Programs Administration, and the Na-
tional Highway Traffic Safety Administration),
118
states, local governments, nonprofit foundations, and 
the private sector.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new item:
‘‘510. National cooperative freight transportation research and development pro-
gram.’’.
SEC. 209. NEXT GENERATION NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION 
POLICY STUDY COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
COMMISSION.—(1) The 
President shall established a Commission to be known as 
the Next Generation National Transportation Policy 
Study Commission, in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Commission’’. 
(2) The Commission shall make a full and complete 
investigation and study of the transportation needs and 
of the resources, requirements, and policies of the United 
States to meet such expected needs. It shall take into con-
sideration all reports on national transportation policy 
which have been submitted to Congress in the last decade, 
including all reports referenced in the Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and the Transpor-
tation Equity Act for the 21st Century. It shall also take 
into consideration the changes in global trade and its im-
pact on the Nation’s economy. It shall evaluate the relative 
merits of all modes of transportation in meeting our Na-
119
tion’s transportation needs. It shall take into account the 
link between transportation and the natural environment. 
Based on such study, it shall recommend changes to exist-
ing policies and any new policies that are most likely to 
ensure that adequate multimodal transportation systems 
are in place which will meet the needs for a safe and effi-
cient movement of people and goods and also support and 
grow the national economy. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com-
prised of 16 members appointed by the President from 
among individuals who are knowledgeable in transpor-
tation activities, including individuals representing State 
and local governments, metropolitan planning organiza-
tions, transportation-related industries, academic and 
technical institutions, and public interest organizations in-
volved with scientific, regulatory, economic, and environ-
mental transportation activities. The membership of the 
Commission shall be balanced geographically to the extent 
consistent with maintaining the highest level of expertise 
on the Commission. Members shall be appointed for the 
life of the Commission as follows: 
(1) 4 shall be appointed from a list of 8 individ-
uals who shall be recommended by the majority lead-
er of the Senate in consultation with the Chairman 
of the Committee on Environment and Public
120
Works, and the Chairman of the Committee on 
Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the 
Chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing 
and Urban Affairs of the Senate. 
(2) 4 shall be appointed from a list of 8 individ-
uals who shall be recommended by the minority lead-
er of the Senate in consultation with the ranking 
member of the Committee on Environment and Pub-
lic Works, the ranking member of the Committee on 
Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the 
ranking member of the Committee on Banking, 
Housing and Urban Affairs of the Senate. 
(3) 4 shall be appointed from a list of 8 individ-
uals who shall be recommended by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives in consultation with 
the Chairman of the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure, the Chairman of the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce, and the Chairman of the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(4) 4 shall be appointed from a list of 8 individ-
uals who shall be recommended by the minority lead-
er of the House of Representatives in consultation 
with the ranking member of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, the ranking