796
‘‘(4) SOURCES OF PAYMENTS.—Payment of any 
award, compromise, or settlement of a civil action or 
proceeding with respect to a claim described in para-
graph (1) shall be paid first out of insurance main-
tained by the National Academy of Sciences, second 
from funds made available to carry out this section, 
and then from sums made available under section 
1304 of title 31. For purposes of such section, such an 
award, compromise, or settlement shall be deemed to 
be a judgment, award, or settlement payable under 
section 2414 or 2672 of title 28. The Secretary may 
establish a reserve of funds made available to carry 
out this section for making payments under this 
paragraph.’’. 
SEC. 5215. CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION ADVANCEMENT 
AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a 
Center for Transportation Advancement and Regional De-
velopment to assist, through training, education and re-
search, in the comprehensive development of small metro-
politan and rural regional transportation systems that are 
responsive to the needs of businesses and local communities. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out this section, the Cen-
ter shall—
797
(1) provide training, information and profes-
sional resources for small metropolitan and rural re-
gions to pursue innovative strategies to expand the 
capabilities, capacity and effectiveness of a region’s 
transportation network, including activities related to 
freight projects, transit system upgrades, roadways 
and bridges, and intermodal transfer facilities and 
operations; 
(2) assist local officials, rural transportation 
and economic development planners, officials from 
State departments of transportation and economic de-
velopment, business leaders and other stakeholders in 
developing public-private partnerships to enhance 
their transportation systems; and 
(3) promote the leveraging of regional transpor-
tation planning with regional economic and business 
development planning to assure that appropriate 
transportation systems are created. 
(c) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.—To carry out this 
section, the Secretary shall make a grant to, or enter into 
a cooperative agreement or contract with, a national asso-
ciation of regional economic development and transpor-
tation professionals with a focus on small metropolitan and 
rural regions.
798
Subtitle 
C—University 
Transpor-
tation 
Research; 
Scholarship 
Opportunities 
SEC. 5301. NATIONAL UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CEN-
TERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5505 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 5505. National university transportation centers 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT
AND
OPERATION.—The 
Secretary of Transportation shall make grants under 
this section to eligible nonprofit institutions of higher 
learning to establish and operate national university 
transportation centers. 
‘‘(2) ROLE OF CENTERS.—The role of each center 
shall be to advance significantly transportation re-
search on critical national transportation issues and 
to expand the workforce of transportation profes-
sionals. 
‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY OF REQUIREMENTS.—A grant re-
ceived by an eligible nonprofit institution of higher learning 
under this section shall be available for the same purposes, 
and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions, as 
a grant made to a nonprofit institution of higher learning 
under section 5506.
799
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER 
LEARNING DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘eligible 
nonprofit institution of higher learning’ means each of the 
lead institutions identified in subsections (j)(4)(A), 
(j)(4)(B), and (j)(4)(F) of section 5505 as in effect on the 
day before the date of enactment of the Transportation Eq-
uity Act: A Legacy for Users, the university referred to in 
section 704 of Public Law 103–206 (107 Stat. 2447), and 
the university that, as of the day before such date of enact-
ment, is the lead institution for the regional university 
transportation center for region 5 of the Standard Federal 
Regional Boundary System. 
‘‘(d) GRANTS.—In each of fiscal years 2004 through 
2009, the Secretary shall make a grant under this section 
to each eligible nonprofit institution of higher learning in 
an amount not to exceed $3,500,000.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter I of chapter 55 of such title is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 5505 and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘5505. National university transportation centers.’’.
SEC. 5302. UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5506 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
800
‘‘§ 5506. University transportation research 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall make grants under this section to nonprofit institu-
tions of higher learning to establish and operate university 
transportation centers. 
‘‘(b) OBJECTIVES.—Grants received under this section 
shall be used by nonprofit institutions of higher learning 
to advance significantly the state-of-the-art in transpor-
tation research and expand the workforce of transportation 
professionals through the following programs and activities: 
‘‘(1) RESEARCH.—Basic and applied research, 
the products of which are judged by peers or other ex-
perts in the field of transportation to advance the 
body of knowledge in transportation. 
‘‘(2) EDUCATION.—An education program relat-
ing to transportation that includes multidisciplinary 
course work and participation in research. 
‘‘(3) TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.—An ongoing pro-
gram of technology transfer that makes transportation 
research results available to potential users in a form 
that can be implemented, utilized, or otherwise ap-
plied. 
‘‘(c) REGIONAL, TIER I, AND TIER II CENTERS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For each of fiscal years 2004 
through 2009, the Secretary shall make grants under
801
subsection (a) to nonprofit institutions of higher 
learning to establish and operate—
‘‘(A) 10 regional university transportation 
centers; and 
‘‘(B) 10 Tier I university transportation 
centers. 
‘‘(2) TIER II CENTERS.—For each of fiscal years 
2005 through 2009, the Secretary shall make grants 
under subsection (a) to nonprofit institutions of high-
er learning to establish and operate 10 Tier II uni-
versity transportation centers. 
‘‘(3) LOCATION OF REGIONAL CENTERS.—One re-
gional university transportation center shall be lo-
cated in each of the 10 United States Government re-
gions that comprise the Standard Federal Regional 
Boundary System. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION.—A nonprofit institution of 
higher learning may not directly receive a grant 
under this section for a fiscal year for more than one 
university transportation center. 
‘‘(d) COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS.—
‘‘(1) APPLICATIONS.—In order to be eligible to 
receive a grant under this section, a nonprofit institu-
tion of higher learning shall submit to the Secretary
802
an application that is in such form and contains such 
information as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(2) GENERAL SELECTION CRITERIA.—Except as 
otherwise provided by this section, the Secretary shall 
select each recipient of a grant under this section 
through a competitive process on the basis of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) The demonstrated research and exten-
sion resources available to the recipient to carry 
out this section. 
‘‘(B) The capability of the recipient to pro-
vide leadership in making national and regional 
contributions to the solution of immediate and 
long-range transportation problems. 
‘‘(C) The recipient’s demonstrated commit-
ment of at least $400,000 each year in regularly 
budgeted institutional amounts to support ongo-
ing transportation research and education pro-
grams. 
‘‘(D) The recipient’s demonstrated ability to 
disseminate results of transportation research 
and education programs through a statewide or 
regionwide continuing education program. 
‘‘(E) The strategic plan the recipient pro-
poses to carry out under the grant.
803
‘‘(e) REGIONAL UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CEN-
TERS.—
‘‘(1) COMPETITION.—Not later than August 31, 
2005, and not later than March 31st of every 4th year 
thereafter, the Secretary shall complete a competition 
among nonprofit institutions of higher learning for 
grants to establish and operate the 10 regional uni-
versity transportation centers referred to in subsection 
(c)(1)(A). 
‘‘(2) SELECTION
CRITERIA.—In conducting a 
competition under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
select a nonprofit institution of higher learning on the 
basis of—
‘‘(A) the criteria described in subsection 
(d)(2); 
‘‘(B) the location of the center within the 
Federal region to be served; and 
‘‘(C) whether or not the institution (or, in 
the case of a consortium of institutions, the lead 
institution) can demonstrate that it has a well-
established, nationally recognized program in 
transportation research and education, as evi-
denced by—
‘‘(i) not less than $2,000,000 in high-
way or public transportation research ex-
804
penditures each year for each of the pre-
ceding 5 years; 
‘‘(ii) not less than 10 graduate degrees 
awarded in professional fields closely re-
lated to highways and public transportation 
for year for each of the preceding 5 years; 
and 
‘‘(iii) not less than 5 tenured or ten-
ure-track faculty members who specialize on 
a full-time basis in professional fields close-
ly related to highways and public transpor-
tation who, as a group, have published a 
total at least 50 refereed journal publica-
tions on highway or public transportation 
research during the preceding 5 years. 
‘‘(3) GRANT RECIPIENTS.—After selecting a non-
profit institution of higher learning as a grant recipi-
ent on the basis of a competition conducted under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall make a grant to the re-
cipient to establish and operate a regional university 
transportation center in each of the first 4 fiscal 
years beginning after the date of the competition. 
‘‘(4) SPECIAL RULE FOR FISCAL YEARS 2004 AND 
2005.—For each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005, the 
Secretary shall make a grant under this section to
805
each of the 10 nonprofit institutions of higher learn-
ing that were competitively selected for grants by the 
Secretary under this section in July 1999 to operate 
regional university transportation centers. 
‘‘(5) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—For each of fiscal 
years 2004 through 2009, a grant made by the Sec-
retary to a nonprofit institution of higher learning 
for a fiscal year to establish and operate a regional 
university transportation center shall not exceed 
$3,500,000. 
‘‘(f) TIER
I UNIVERSITY
TRANSPORTATION
CEN-
TERS.—
‘‘(1) COMPETITION.—Not later than March 31, 
2006, and not later than March 31st of every 4th year 
thereafter, the Secretary shall complete a competition 
among nonprofit institutions of higher learning for 
grants to establish and operate the 10 Tier I univer-
sity transportation centers referred to in subsection 
(c)(1)(B). 
‘‘(2) SELECTION
CRITERIA.—In conducting a 
competition under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
select a nonprofit institution of higher learning on the 
basis of—
‘‘(A) the criteria described in subsection 
(d)(2); and
806
‘‘(B) whether or not the institution (or, in 
the case of a consortium of institutions, the lead 
institution) can demonstrate that it has an es-
tablished, recognized program in transportation 
research and education, as evidenced by—
‘‘(i) not less than $1,000,000 in high-
way or public transportation research ex-
penditures each year for each of the pre-
ceding 5 years or not less than $6,000,000 
in such expenditures during the 5 preceding 
years; 
‘‘(ii) not less than 5 graduate degrees 
awarded in professional fields closely re-
lated to highways and public transportation 
each year for each of the preceding 5 years; 
and 
‘‘(iii) not less than 3 tenured or ten-
ure-track faculty members who specialize on 
a full-time basis in professional fields close-
ly related to highways and public transpor-
tation who, as a group, have published a 
total at least 20 refereed journal publica-
tions on highway or public transportation 
research during the preceding 5 years.
807
‘‘(3) GRANT RECIPIENTS.—After selecting a non-
profit institution of higher learning as a grant recipi-
ent on the basis of a competition conducted under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall make a grant to the re-
cipient to establish and operate a Tier I university 
transportation center in each of the first 4 fiscal 
years beginning after the date of the competition. 
‘‘(4) SPECIAL
RULE
FOR
FISCAL
YEARS
2004, 
2005, AND 2006.—For each of fiscal years 2004, 2005, 
and 2006, the Secretary shall make a grant under 
this section to each of the 10 nonprofit institutions of 
higher learning that were competitively selected for 
grant awards by the Secretary under this section in 
May 2002 to operate university transportation centers 
(other than regional centers). 
‘‘(5) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—A grant made by the 
Secretary to a nonprofit institution of higher learning 
for a fiscal year to establish and operate a Tier I uni-
versity 
transportation 
center 
shall 
not 
exceed 
$1,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 and $1,500,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009. 
‘‘(g) TIER II UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CEN-
TERS.—
‘‘(1) COMPETITION.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of the Transportation Eq-
808
uity Act: A Legacy for Users, not later than March 
31, 2008, and not later than March 31st of every 4th 
year thereafter, the Secretary shall complete a com-
petition among nonprofit institutions of higher learn-
ing for grants to establish and operate the 10 Tier II 
university transportation centers referred to in sub-
section (c)(2). 
‘‘(2) SELECTION
CRITERIA.—In conducting a 
competition under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
select a nonprofit institution of higher learning on the 
basis of the criteria described in subsection (f)(2). 
‘‘(3) GRANT RECIPIENTS.—After selecting a non-
profit institution of higher learning as a grant recipi-
ent on the basis of a competition conducted under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall—
‘‘(A) in the case of the competition to be 
completed not later than 60 days after the date 
of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act: 
A Legacy for Users, make a grant to the recipi-
ent to establish and operate a Tier II university 
transportation center in each of fiscal years 2005 
through 2008; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of each subsequent competi-
tion, make a grant to the recipient to establish 
and operate a Tier II university transportation
809
center in each of the first 4 fiscal years begin-
ning after the date of the competition. 
‘‘(4) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—For each of fiscal 
years 2005 through 2009, a grant made by the Sec-
retary to a nonprofit institution of higher learning 
for a fiscal year to establish and operate a Tier II 
university transportation center shall not exceed 
$1,000,000. 
‘‘(h) SUPPORT OF NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SURFACE 
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH.—In order to be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this section, a nonprofit institution of 
higher learning shall provide assurances satisfactory to the 
Secretary that the research and education activities of its 
university transportation center will support the national 
strategy for surface transportation research, as identified 
by—
‘‘(1) the report of the National Highway Re-
search and Technology Partnership entitled ‘Highway 
Research and Technology: The Need for Greater In-
vestment’, dated April 2002; and 
‘‘(2) the programs of the National Research and 
Technology Program of the Federal Transit Adminis-
tration. 
‘‘(i) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.—In order to be eligi-
ble to receive a grant under this section, a nonprofit institu-
810
tion of higher learning shall enter into an agreement with 
the Secretary to ensure that the institution will maintain 
total expenditures from all other sources to establish and 
operate a university transportation center and related re-
search activities at a level at least equal to the average level 
of such expenditures in its 2 fiscal years prior to award 
of a grant under this section. 
‘‘(j) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the costs 
of activities carried out using a grant made under this sec-
tion shall be 50 percent of such costs. The non-Federal share 
may include funds provided to a recipient under section 
503, 504(b), or 505 of title 23. 
‘‘(k) PROGRAM COORDINATION.—
‘‘(1) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall co-
ordinate the research, education, and technology 
transfer activities that grant recipients carry out 
under this section, disseminate the results of the re-
search, and establish and operate a clearinghouse to 
disseminate the results of the research. 
‘‘(2) ANNUAL
REVIEW
AND
EVALUATION.—At 
least annually, and consistent with the plan developed 
under section 508 of title 23, the Secretary shall re-
view and evaluate programs of grant recipients. 
‘‘(3) MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT.—The Sec-
retary shall expend $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years
811
2005 through 2009 from amounts made available to 
carry out this section to carry out management and 
oversight of the centers receiving assistance under this 
section. 
‘‘(l) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall 
carry out this section acting through the Administrator of 
the Research and Innovative Technology Administration. 
‘‘(m) LIMITATION
ON AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDS.—
Funds made available to carry out this section shall remain 
available for obligation by the Secretary for a period of 2 
years after the last day of the fiscal year for which such 
funds are authorized.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter I of chapter 55 of such title is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 5506 and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘5506. University transportation research.’’.
SEC. 5303. TRANSPORTATION SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNI-
TIES PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
PROGRAM.—The Sec-
retary may establish and implement a scholarship 
program for the purpose of attracting qualified stu-
dents for transportation-related critical jobs.
812
(2) PARTNERSHIP.—The Secretary may establish 
the program in partnership with appropriate non-
governmental institutions. 
(b) PARTICIPATION AND FUNDING.—An operating ad-
ministration of the Department of Transportation and the 
Office of Inspector General may participate in the scholar-
ship program. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
the Secretary may use funds available to an operating ad-
ministration or from the Office of Inspector General of the 
Department of Transportation for the purpose of carrying 
out this section. 
Subtitle D—Advanced Technologies 
SEC. 
5401. 
ADVANCED 
HEAVY-DUTY 
VEHICLE 
TECH-
NOLOGIES RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 55 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 5507. Advanced heavy-duty vehicle technologies re-
search program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall conduct research, development, demonstration, and 
testing to integrate emerging advanced heavy-duty vehicle 
technologies in order to provide seamless, safe, secure, and 
efficient transportation and to benefit the environment.
813
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—To ensure the activities per-
formed pursuant to this section achieve the maximum ben-
efit, the Secretary of Transportation shall consult with the 
Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency, and other relevant Federal agen-
cies on research, development, and demonstration activities 
authorized under this section related to advanced heavy-
duty vehicle technologies. 
‘‘(c) GRANTS, COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS, 
AND 
OTHER TRANSACTIONS.—The Secretary may make grants 
to, and enter into cooperative agreements and other trans-
actions with, Federal and other public agencies (including 
State and local governments) and persons to carry out sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(d) COST SHARING.—At least 50 percent of the fund-
ing for projects carried out under this section must be pro-
vided by non-Federal sources. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust 
Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) to carry out 
subsection (a) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 and 
$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009. 
‘‘(f) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The funds authorized to 
be appropriated by subsection (e) shall be available for obli-
gation in the same manner as if such funds were appor-