I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2317 
To promote green transportation infrastructure through research and 
development, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 23, 2011 
Mr. WU (for himself and Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology 
A BILL 
To promote green transportation infrastructure through 
research and development, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Promoting Green 
Transportation Infrastructure through Research and De-
velopment Act’’. 
SEC. 2. OFFICE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENT. 
Section 102(g) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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(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.— 
‘‘(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 
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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 
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. 
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‘‘(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 
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 Web site of the Research 
and Innovative Technology Administration in 
the Department. 
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‘‘(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; 
‘‘(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. 3. 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: 
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‘‘SEC. 5505A. REGIONAL GREEN TRANSPORTATION RE-
SEARCH CENTERS. 
‘‘(a) GREEN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE 
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.—The Adminis-
trator of the Research and Innovative Technology Admin-
istration of the Department of Transportation shall make 
grants to institutions of higher education or consortia 
thereof to establish and operate university transportation 
centers to carry out research, development, and technology 
transfer activities in the field of green transportation in-
frastructure. 
‘‘(b) OBJECTIVES.—The purpose of centers estab-
lished pursuant to this section shall be to— 
‘‘(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-
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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 
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. 
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‘‘(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 
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 Admin-
istrator may support under this section include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Research and development of innovative 
technologies, construction techniques, or best man-
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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. 
‘‘(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. 
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‘‘(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. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘green 
transportation infrastructure’ includes infrastructure 
that— 
‘‘(1) preserves and restores natural processes, 
landforms (such as flood plains), natural vegetated 
streamside buffers, wetlands, or other topographical 
features that can slow, filter, and naturally store 
stormwater runoff and floodwaters for future water 
supply and recharge of natural aquifers; 
‘‘(2) utilizes natural design techniques that in-
filtrate, filter, store, evaporate, and detain water 
close to its source; 
‘‘(3) minimizes the use of impervious surfaces 
in order to slow or infiltrate precipitation; 
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‘‘(4) minimizes life-cycle energy consumption, 
including during construction, maintenance, use by 
vehicles, and destruction and recycling; and 
‘‘(5) minimizes life-cycle air pollution.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for such subchapter is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 5505 the following new item: 
‘‘5505A. Regional Green Transportation Research Centers.’’. 
SEC. 4. PAVEMENT RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, 
AND EDUCATION PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator of the Re-
search and Innovative Technology Administration of the 
Department of Transportation shall, in consultation with 
appropriate Department modal agencies, establish a pave-
ment research, deployment, and education program (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘Program’’). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Program shall be 
to— 
(1) address the need to advance pavement re-
search; and 
(2) coordinate technology transfer efforts re-
lated to paving materials. 
(c) FUNCTION.—The Program, in coordination with 
Department modal agencies, shall provide funding to uni-
versity transportation centers established under section 
5506 of title 49, United States Code, and other institu-
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tions of higher education to conduct research, develop-
ment, and technology transfer activities about paving ma-
terials and practices. 
(d) ACTIVITIES.—Activities carried out by the Pro-
gram shall include— 
(1) research and development of innovative 
technologies and techniques to reduce the cost and 
environmental impact of paving materials and prac-
tices, including research on— 
(A) paving materials with improved dura-
bility; 
(B) methods that decrease the energy use 
in, and emissions resulting from, paving prac-
tices; 
(C) paving materials that decrease environ-
mental impact; 
(D) methods to decrease the overall life- 
cycle cost of paving materials and practices; 
(E) construction techniques to increase 
safety and reduce construction time and traffic 
disruption and congestion; 
(F) pavement evaluation technologies and 
techniques; and 
(G) paving materials utilizing more recy-
cled and locally available natural material; 
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(2) effective technology transfer, including ef-
forts on— 
(A) identifying and addressing barriers to 
implementation for developed paving materials 
and practices; and 
(B) addressing the data needs of stake-
holders by developing independent studies and 
assessments on topics, including— 
(i) durability of paving technologies; 
(ii) emissions from construction prac-
tices; 
(iii) life-cycle cost-effectiveness of pav-
ing materials and strategies; and 
(iv) environmental impact of paving 
technologies; and 
(3) establishing grants to institutions of higher 
education to develop training and education pro-
grams for workforce professionals in the areas of 
paving materials and practices. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
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Senate on the results of the long-term pavement perform-
ance program and how the Department intends to orga-
nize, maintain, and utilize the database. 
Æ 
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