(1) Transportation infrastructure contributes to 
the pollution of surface and ground water because it 
is comprised of impervious surfaces that concentrate 
contaminants which are introduced into the water 
supply during storms. 
(2) Scientists and engineers have developed nu-
merous technologies that can be incorporated into 
transportation 
infrastructure 
which 
control 
stormwater and mitigate nonpoint source water pol-
lution. 
(3) There has not been widespread implementa-
tion of green transportation infrastructure by gov-
ernments or private industry because of technical, 
regulatory, and social barriers, such as lack of train-
ing and awareness for builders. 
(4) The Federal Highway Administration, in 
partnership with the Environmental Protection 
Agency, has the technical expertise and capacity to 
promote the use of green transportation infrastruc-
ture technologies by State and local governments 
and private industry through education and outreach 
and technical assistance programs. 
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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 following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 5505A. REGIONAL GREEN TRANSPORTATION RE-
SEARCH CENTERS. 
‘‘(a) GREEN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE 
RESEARCH
AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.—The Sec-
retary of Transportation shall make grants to nonprofit 
institutions of higher learning or consortia thereof to es-
tablish and operate university transportation centers to 
carry out research and development and technology trans-
fer activities in the field of green transportation infra-
structure. 
‘‘(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; 
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‘‘(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 Secretary an application that is in 
such form and contains such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(2) MERIT REVIEW; PRIORITY.—Grants shall 
be awarded under this section on a merit-reviewed 
competitive basis. 
‘‘(3) REGIONAL CENTERS.—To the greatest ex-
tent practicable, the Secretary 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. 
‘‘(4) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Except as other-
wise provided by this section, the Secretary shall se-
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lect each recipient of a grant under this section 
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 
green transportation infrastructure technologies 
and practices. 
‘‘(F) Demonstrated ability to disseminate 
results of research and education programs 
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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 lifecycle 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 learning, and private industry in the region. 
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‘‘(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 campaigns to raise 
awareness of the benefits of green transportation in-
frastructure technologies, including activities to raise 
awareness and foster collaboration among regional 
governments, private industry, and other public and 
private stakeholders. 
‘‘(e) ANNUAL MEETING.—The Secretary shall con-
vene an annual meeting of the Centers established pursu-
ant to this section in order to foster collaboration and 
communication among Center participants and dissemi-
nate best management practices. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such 
sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘green 
transportation infrastructure’ includes infrastructure 
that— 
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‘‘(1) preserves and restores natural processes, 
landforms (such as floodplains), natural vegetated 
stream side 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; 
‘‘(4) minimizes lifecycle energy consumption, in-
cluding during construction, maintenance, use by ve-
hicles, and destruction and recycling; and 
‘‘(5) minimizes lifecycle 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. 
GREEN 
TRANSPORTATION 
INFRASTRUCTURE 
AMENDMENTS. 
Section 504 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii)— 
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(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 
subclause (V); 
(ii) by striking the period at the end 
of subclause (VI); and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subclause: 
‘‘(VII) the use of green transpor-
tation infrastructure (as defined in 
section 5505A(g) of title 49) for envi-
ronmental protection and mitigating 
environmental impacts of transpor-
tation construction.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—The 
Institute shall coordinate the development of 
curriculum and courses with other Federal 
agencies with expertise in the course subject 
areas.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A)(i) by striking ‘‘and 
traffic safety countermeasures’’ and inserting ‘‘traf-
fic safety countermeasures, and options with respect 
to green transportation infrastructure (as defined in 
section 5505A(g) of title 49)’’. 
Æ 
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