H. R. 3—669
for Improving Road Weather Services’’. Such research and develop-
ment includes—
(1) integrating existing observational networks and data 
management systems for road weather applications; 
(2) improving weather modeling capabilities and forecast 
tools, such as the road surface and atmospheric interface; 
(3) enhancing mechanisms for communicating road weather 
information to users, such as transportation officials and the 
public; and 
(4) integrating road weather technologies into an informa-
tion infrastructure. 
(d) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
shall—
(1) enable efficient technology transfer; 
(2) improve education and training of road weather 
information users, such as State and local transportation offi-
cials and private sector transportation contractors; and 
(3) coordinate with transportation weather research pro-
grams in other modes, such as aviation. 
(e) FUNDING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In awarding funds under this section, 
the Secretary shall give preference to applications with signifi-
cant matching funds from non-Federal sources. 
(2) FUNDS FOR ROAD WEATHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT.—Of the amounts made available by section 5101(a)(5) 
of this Act, $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 
2009 shall be available to carry out this section. 
SEC. 5309. CENTERS FOR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXCELLENCE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 4 centers 
for surface transportation excellence. 
(b) GOALS.—The goals of the centers for surface transportation 
excellence are to promote and support strategic national surface 
transportation programs and activities relating to the work of State 
departments of transportation in the areas of environment, surface 
transportation safety, rural safety, and project finance. 
(c) ROLE OF CENTERS.—To achieve the goals set forth in sub-
section (b), the Secretary shall establish the 4 centers as follows: 
(1) ENVIRONMENTAL
EXCELLENCE.—To provide technical 
assistance, information sharing of best practices, and training 
in the use of tools and decision-making processes that can 
assist States in planning and delivering environmentally sound 
surface transportation projects. 
(2) SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY.—To develop and 
disseminate advanced transportation safety techniques and 
innovations in both rural areas and urban communities. The 
center will use a controlled access highway with state-of-the-
art features, to test safety devices and techniques that enhance 
driver performance, examine advanced pavement and lighting 
systems, and develop techniques to address older driver and 
fatigue driver issues. 
(3) RURAL SAFETY.—To provide research, training, and out-
reach on innovative uses of technology to enhance rural safety 
and economic development, assess local community needs to 
improve access to mobile emergency treatment, and develop 
online and seminar training needs of rural transportation 
practitioners and policy-makers.
H. R. 3—670
(4) PROJECT
FINANCE.—To provide support to State 
transportation departments in the development of finance plans 
and project oversight tools and to develop and offer training 
in state-of-the-art financing methods to advance projects and 
leverage funds. 
(d) FUNDING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts made available by section 
5101(a)(1) of this Act, $3,750,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 
through 2009 shall be available to carry out this section. 
(2) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—Of the funds made available 
under paragraph (1) the Secretary shall use such amounts 
as follows: 
(A) $1,250,000 to establish the Center for Environ-
mental Excellence. 
(B) $750,000 to establish the Center for Excellence 
in Surface Transportation Safety at the Virginia Tech 
Transportation Institute. 
(C) $875,000 to establish the Center for Excellence 
in Rural Safety at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute, 
Minnesota. 
(D) $875,000 to establish the Center for Excellence 
in Project Finance. 
(3) APPLICABILITY OF TITLE 23.—Funds authorized by this 
section shall be available for obligation in the same manner 
as if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 
23, United States Code, except that the Federal share shall 
be 100 percent. 
(e) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.—
(1) COMPETITION.—A party entering into a contract, 
cooperative agreement, or other transaction with the Secretary, 
or receiving a grant to perform research or provide technical 
assistance under subsections (d)(2)(A) and (d)(2)(D) shall be 
selected on a competitive basis, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable. 
(2) STRATEGIC
PLAN.—The Secretary shall require each 
center to develop a multiyear strategic plan that describes—
(A) the activities to be undertaken; and 
(B) how the work of the center is coordinated with 
the activities of the Federal Highway Administration and 
the various other research, development, and technology 
transfer activities authorized by this title. Such plans shall 
be submitted to the Secretary by January 1, 2006, and 
each year thereafter. 
SEC. 5310. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle, the following definitions apply: 
(1) INCIDENT.—The term ‘‘incident’’ means a crash, a nat-
ural disaster, workzone activity, special event, or other emer-
gency road user occurrence that adversely affects or impedes 
the normal flow of traffic. 
(2) INTELLIGENT
TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE.—The 
term ‘‘intelligent transportation infrastructure’’ means fully 
integrated public sector intelligent transportation system 
components, as defined by the Secretary. 
(3) INTELLIGENT
TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘intelligent 
transportation 
system’’ 
means 
electronics, 
photonics, communications, or information processing used
H. R. 3—671
singly or in combination to improve the efficiency or safety 
of a surface transportation system. 
(4) NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE.—The term ‘‘national architec-
ture’’ means the common framework for interoperability that 
defines—
(A) the functions associated with intelligent transpor-
tation 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 associated with 
the information flows. 
(5) PROJECT.—The term ‘‘project’’ means an undertaking 
to research, develop, or operationally test intelligent transpor-
tation systems or any other undertaking eligible for assistance 
under this subtitle. 
(6) STANDARD.—The term ‘‘standard’’ means a document 
that—
(A) contains technical specifications or other precise 
criteria for intelligent transportation systems that are to 
be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions 
of characteristics so as to ensure that materials, products, 
processes, and services are fit for their purposes; and 
(B) may support the national architecture and pro-
mote—
(i) the widespread use and adoption of intelligent 
transportation system technology as a component of 
the surface transportation systems of the United 
States; and 
(ii) interoperability among intelligent transpor-
tation system technologies implemented throughout 
the States. 
(7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the meaning given the 
term under section 101 of title 23, United States Code. 
(8) TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS
MANAGEMENT
AND
OPER-
ATIONS.—The term ‘‘transportation systems management and 
operations’’ has the meaning given the term under section 
101(a) of title 23, United States Code. 
Subtitle D—University Transportation 
Research; Scholarship Opportunities 
SEC. 5401. NATIONAL UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5505 of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 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 significant transportation research on critical
H. R. 3—672
national transportation issues and to expand the workforce 
of transportation professionals. 
‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY
OF REQUIREMENTS.—A grant received 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. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘eligible nonprofit institution 
of higher learning’ means each of the following: 
‘‘(1) University of Alaska. 
‘‘(2) Marshall University, West Virginia, on behalf of a 
consortium of West Virginia colleges and universities. 
‘‘(3) University of Minnesota. 
‘‘(4) University of Missouri, Rolla. 
‘‘(5) Northwestern University. 
‘‘(6) Oklahoma Transportation Center. 
‘‘(7) Portland State University, in partnership with the 
University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and the Oregon 
Institute of Technology. 
‘‘(8) University of Vermont. 
‘‘(9) Western Transportation Institute at Montana State 
University. 
‘‘(10) University of Wisconsin. 
‘‘(d) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make a grant under this 
section to each eligible nonprofit institution of higher learning in 
an amount $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2005 and $3,500,000 in each 
of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 to carry out this section.’’. 
(b) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available by section 
5101(a)(4) of this Act, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 and 
$35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 shall be 
available to carry out section 5505 of such title. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for subchapter I 
of chapter 55 of such title is amended by striking the item relating 
to section 5505 and inserting the following:
‘‘5505. National university transportation centers.’’.
SEC. 5402. UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5506 of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 5506. UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation shall make 
grants under this section to nonprofit institutions 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 signifi-
cantly the state-of-the-art in transportation 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 experts in the field 
of transportation to advance the body of knowledge in transpor-
tation. 
‘‘(2) EDUCATION.—An education program relating to 
transportation that includes multidisciplinary course work and 
participation in research.
H. R. 3—673
‘‘(3) TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.—An ongoing program of tech-
nology transfer that makes transportation research results 
available to potential users in a form that can be implemented, 
utilized, or otherwise applied. 
‘‘(c) REGIONAL, TIER I, AND TIER II CENTERS.—
‘‘(1) REGIONAL
AND
TIER
I
CENTERS.—For each of fiscal 
years 2005 through 2009, the Secretary shall make grants 
under 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.—
‘‘(A) For each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009, the 
Secretary shall make grants under subsection (a) to non-
profit institutions of higher learning to establish and 
operate 22 Tier II university transportation centers. 
‘‘(B) The tier II centers consist of the following: 
‘‘(i) University of Arkansas, Mack-Blackwell Rural 
Transportation Center. 
‘‘(ii) University of California, Davis. 
‘‘(iii) California State University, San Bernardino. 
‘‘(iv) Cleveland State University, Work Zone Safety 
Institute. 
‘‘(v) University of Connecticut. 
‘‘(vi) University of Delaware in Newark. 
‘‘(vii) University of Detroit Mercy (including the 
coalition partners of the university). 
‘‘(viii) George Mason University. 
‘‘(ix) Hampton University, Eastern Seaboard Inter-
modal Transportation Applications Center (ESITAC). 
‘‘(x) Kansas State University. 
‘‘(xi) Louisiana State University, LTRC-TTEC. 
‘‘(xii) University of Massachusetts Amherst. 
‘‘(xiii) Michigan Technological University. 
‘‘(xiv) University of Nevada Las Vegas. 
‘‘(xv) North Carolina State University, Center for 
Transportation and the Environment. 
‘‘(xvi) Northwestern University. 
‘‘(xvii) Ohio Higher Education Transportation 
Consortium University of Akron. 
‘‘(xviii) University of Rhode Island. 
‘‘(xix) University of Toledo. 
‘‘(xx) Utah State University. 
‘‘(xxi) Youngstown State University. 
‘‘(xxii) University of Memphis. 
‘‘(3) LOCATION OF REGIONAL CENTERS.—One regional univer-
sity transportation center shall be located in each of the 10 
United States Government regions 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 subsection (c)(1), a nonprofit institution of higher 
learning shall submit to the Secretary an application that is
H. R. 3—674
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 subsection (c)(1) through a competi-
tive process on the basis of the following: 
‘‘(A) 
The 
demonstrated 
research 
and 
extension 
resources available to the recipient to carry out this section. 
‘‘(B) The capability of the recipient to provide leader-
ship in making national and regional contributions to the 
solution of immediate and long-range transportation prob-
lems. 
‘‘(C) The recipient’s demonstrated commitment of at 
least $400,000 each year in regularly budgeted institutional 
amounts to support ongoing transportation research and 
education programs. 
‘‘(D) The recipient’s demonstrated ability to dissemi-
nate results of transportation research and education pro-
grams through a statewide or regionwide continuing edu-
cation program. 
‘‘(E) The strategic plan the recipient proposes to carry 
out under the grant. 
‘‘(e) REGIONAL UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS.—
‘‘(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 institu-
tions of higher learning for grants to establish and operate 
the 10 regional university 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) dem-
onstrates that it has a well-established, nationally recog-
nized program in transportation research and education, 
as evidenced by—
‘‘(i) not less than $2,000,000 in highway or public 
transportation research expenditures each year for 
each of the preceding 5 years; 
‘‘(ii) not less than 10 graduate degrees awarded 
in professional fields closely related to highways and 
public transportation each year for each of the pre-
ceding 5 years; and 
‘‘(iii) not less than 5 tenured or tenure-track faculty 
members who specialize on a full-time basis in profes-
sional fields closely related to highways and public 
transportation who, as a group, have published a total 
at least 50 refereed journal publications on highway 
or public transportation research during the preceding 
5 years. 
‘‘(3) GRANT RECIPIENTS.—After selecting a nonprofit institu-
tion of higher learning as a grant recipient on the basis of 
a competition conducted under this subsection, the Secretary
H. R. 3—675
shall make a grant to the recipient 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 2005 AND 2006.—For 
fiscal years 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 grants 
by the Secretary under this section in July 1999 to operate 
regional university transportation centers. 
‘‘(5) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make a grant 
to a nonprofit institution of higher learning to establish and 
operate a regional university transportation center of—
‘‘(A) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; 
‘‘(B) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 
2008; and 
‘‘(C) $2,225,000 for fiscal year 2009. 
‘‘(f) TIER I UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS.—
‘‘(1) COMPETITION.—Not later than June 30, 2006, and not 
later than June 30 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 university 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 
‘‘(B) whether or not the institution (or, in the case 
of a consortium of institutions, the lead institution) can 
demonstrate that it has an established, recognized program 
in transportation research and education, as evidenced by—
‘‘(i) not less than $1,000,000 in highway or public 
transportation research expenditures each year for 
each of the preceding 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 related to highways and 
public transportation each year for each of the pre-
ceding 5 years; and 
‘‘(iii) not less than 3 tenured or tenure-track faculty 
members who specialize on a full-time basis in profes-
sional fields closely related to highways and public 
transportation who, as a group, have published a total 
at least 20 refereed journal publications on highway 
or public transportation research during the preceding 
5 years. 
‘‘(3) GRANT RECIPIENTS.—After selecting a nonprofit institu-
tion of higher learning as a grant recipient on the basis of 
a competition conducted under this subsection, the Secretary 
shall make a grant to the recipient 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 2005 AND 2006.—For 
fiscal years 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
H. R. 3—676
awards by the Secretary under this section in May 2002 to 
operate university transportation centers (other than regional 
centers). 
‘‘(5) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make a grant 
of $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009 to 
a nonprofit institution of higher learning to establish and 
operate a Tier I university transportation center. 
‘‘(g) TIER II UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS.—
‘‘(1) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall make grants to the 
nonprofit institutions of higher learning to establish and 
operate the 22 Tier II university transportation centers referred 
to in subsection (c)(2)(B). 
‘‘(2) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make a grant 
of $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 to a 
nonprofit institution of higher learning to establish and operate 
a Tier II university transportation center. 
‘‘(h) SUPPORT OF NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SURFACE TRANSPOR-
TATION RESEARCH.—In order to be eligible to receive a grant under 
this section, a nonprofit institution of higher learning shall provide 
assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that the research and edu-
cation activities of its university transportation center will support 
the national strategy for surface transportation research, as identi-
fied by—
‘‘(1) the report of the National Highway Research and Tech-
nology Partnership entitled ‘Highway Research and Technology: 
The Need for Greater Investment’, dated April 2002; and 
‘‘(2) the programs of the National Research and Technology 
Program of the Federal Transit Administration. 
‘‘(i) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.—In order to be eligible to receive 
a grant under this section, a nonprofit institution 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 research 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 activi-
ties carried out using a grant made under this section 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 coordinate the 
research, education, and technology transfer activities that 
grant recipients carry out under this section, disseminate the 
results of the research, and establish and operate a clearing-
house 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 review and evaluate programs 
of grant recipients. 
‘‘(3) MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT.—The Secretary shall 
expend not more than $400,000 for each of fiscal years 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 and section 5505.
H. R. 3—677
‘‘(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 obliga-
tion by the Secretary for a period of 2 years after the last day 
of the fiscal year for which such funds are authorized.’’. 
(b) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available by section 
5101(a)(4) of this Act, the following amounts shall be available 
to carry out section 5506 of such title. 
(1) $20,400,000 for fiscal year 2005. 
(2) $41,400,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008. 
(3) $43,900,000 for fiscal year 2009. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for subchapter I 
of chapter 55 of such title is amended by striking the item relating 
to section 5506 and inserting the following:
‘‘5506. University transportation research.’’.
Subtitle E—Other Programs 
SEC. 5501. TRANSPORTATION SAFETY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 
SYSTEM PROJECT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall fund and carry out a 
project to further the development of a comprehensive transpor-
tation safety information management system (in this section 
referred to as ‘‘TSIMS’’). 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purpose of the TSIMS project is to further 
the development of a software application to provide for the collec-
tion, integration, management, and dissemination of safety data 
from and for use among State and local safety and transportation 
agencies, including driver licensing, vehicle registration, emergency 
management system, injury surveillance, roadway inventory, and 
motor carrier databases. 
(c) FUNDING.—
(1) FEDERAL FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available 
by section 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $1,000,000 for fiscal years 
2006 and 2007 shall be available to carry out the TSIMS 
project under this section. 
(2) STATE CONTRIBUTION.—The sums authorized in para-
graph (1) are intended to supplement voluntary contributions 
to be made by State departments of transportation and other 
State safety and transportation agencies. 
SEC. 5502. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION CONGESTION RELIEF SOLU-
TIONS RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a surface 
transportation congestion solutions research initiative consisting 
of 2 independent research programs described in subsections (b)(1) 
and (b)(2) and designed to develop information to assist State 
transportation departments and metropolitan planning organiza-
tions measure and address surface transportation congestion prob-
lems. 
(b) 
SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION
CONGESTION
SOLUTIONS 
RESEARCH PROGRAM.—
H. R. 3—678
(1) 
IMPROVED
SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION
CONGESTION 
MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
MEASURES.—The purposes of the first 
research program established under this section shall be—
(A) to examine the effectiveness of surface transpor-
tation congestion management systems since enactment 
of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act 
of 1991 (Public Law 102–240); 
(B) to identify best case examples of locally designed 
reporting methods and incorporate such methods in 
research on national models for developing and recom-
mending 
improved 
surface 
transportation 
congestion 
measurement and reporting; and 
(C) to incorporate such methods in the development 
of national models and methods to monitor, measure, and 
report surface transportation congestion information. 
(2) ANALYTICAL
TECHNIQUES
FOR
ACTION
ON
SURFACE 
TRANSPORTATION
CONGESTION.—The purposes of the second 
research program established under this section shall be—
(A) to analyze the effectiveness of procedures used 
by State transportation departments and metropolitan 
planning organizations to assess surface transportation 
congestion problems and communicate those problems to 
decisionmakers; and 
(B) to identify methods to ensure that the results of 
surface transportation congestion analyses lead to the tar-
geting of funding for programs, projects, or services with 
demonstrated effectiveness in reducing travel delay, conges-
tion, and system unreliability. 
(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.—In fiscal year 2006, 
the Secretary shall develop a technical assistance and training 
program to disseminate the results of the surface transportation 
congestion solutions research initiative for the purpose of assisting 
State transportation departments and local transportation agencies 
with improving their approaches to surface transportation conges-
tion measurement, analysis, and project programming. 
(d) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available by section 
5101(a)(1) of this Act, $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 
through 2009 shall be available to carry out subsections (a) and 
(b) of this section. Of the amounts made available by section 
5101(a)(2), $750,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 
shall be available to carry out subsection (c) of this subsection. 
SEC. 5503. MOTOR CARRIER EFFICIENCY STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordination with the motor 
carrier and wireless technology industry, shall conduct a study 
to—
(1) identify inefficiencies in the transportation of freight; 
(2) evaluate the safety, productivity, and reduced cost 
improvements that may be achieved through the use of wireless 
technologies to address the inefficiencies identified in paragraph 
(1); and 
(3) conduct, as appropriate, field tests demonstrating the 
technologies identified in paragraph (2). 
(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The program shall include, at a min-
imum, the following: 
(1) Fuel monitoring and management systems. 
(2) Radio frequency identification technology.
H. R. 3—679
(3) Electronic manifest systems. 
(4) Cargo theft prevention. 
(c) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost of the 
study under this section shall be 100 percent. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall prepare and submit 
to Congress an annual report on the programs and activities carried 
out under this section. 
(e) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available under section 
5101(a)(1) of this Act, the Secretary shall make available $1,250,000 
to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for each of 
fiscal years 2006 through 2009 to carry out this section. 
SEC. 5504. CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION ADVANCEMENT AND 
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a Center 
for Transportation Advancement and Regional Development 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Center’’) to assist, through 
training, education, and research, in the comprehensive develop-
ment of small metropolitan and rural regional transportation sys-
tems that are responsive to the needs of businesses and local 
communities. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out this section, the Center shall—
(1) provide training, information, and professional resources 
for small metropolitan and rural regions 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 development, business leaders, 
and other stakeholders in developing public-private partner-
ships to enhance their transportation systems; and 
(3) promote the leveraging of regional transportation plan-
ning with regional economic and business development plan-
ning 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 agree-
ment or contract with the National Association of Development 
Organizations. 
(d) FUNDING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts made available by section 
5101(a)(1) of this Act, $625,000 shall be available for each 
of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 to carry out this section. 
(2) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost of activi-
ties carried out in accordance with this subsection shall be 
100 percent. 
SEC. 5505. TRANSPORTATION SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
PROGRAM.—The Secretary may 
establish and implement a scholarship program for the purpose 
of attracting qualified students for transportation-related crit-
ical jobs.
H. R. 3—680
(2) PARTNERSHIP.—The Secretary may establish the pro-
gram in partnership with appropriate nongovernmental institu-
tions. 
(b) PARTICIPATION.—An operating administration of the Depart-
ment and the Office of Inspector General may participate in the 
scholarship program. 
(c) FUNDING.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary may use funds available to an operating administration 
or from the Office of Inspector General of the Department for 
the purpose of carrying out this section. 
SEC. 5506. COMMERCIAL REMOTE SENSING PRODUCTS AND SPATIAL 
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish and carry out 
a program to validate commercial remote sensing products and 
spatial information technologies for application to national transpor-
tation infrastructure development and construction. 
(b) PROGRAM.—
(1) NATIONAL POLICY.—The Secretary shall establish and 
maintain a national policy for the use of commercial remote 
sensing products and spatial information technologies in 
national 
transportation 
infrastructure 
development 
and 
construction. 
(2) POLICY IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall develop 
new applications of commercial remote sensing products and 
spatial information technologies for the implementation of the 
national policy established and maintained under paragraph 
(1). 
(c) COOPERATION.—The Secretary shall carry out this section 
in cooperation with a consortium of university research centers. 
(d) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available by section 
5101(a)(1) of this Act, $7,750,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 
through 2009 shall be available to carry out this section. 
SEC. 5507. RURAL INTERSTATE CORRIDOR COMMUNICATIONS STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary 
of Commerce, State departments of transportation, and other appro-
priate State, regional, and local officials, shall conduct a study 
on the feasibility of installing fiber optic cabling and wireless 
communication infrastructure along multistate Interstate System 
route corridors for improved communications services to rural 
communities along such corridors. 
(b) CONTENTS OF STUDY.—In conducting the study, the Sec-
retary shall identify—
(1) impediments to installation of the infrastructure 
described in subsection (a) along multistate Interstate System 
route corridors and to connecting such infrastructure to the 
rural communities along such corridors; 
(2) the effective geographic range of such infrastructure; 
(3) potential opportunities for the private sector to fund, 
wholly or partially, the installation of such infrastructure; 
(4) potential benefits fiber optic cabling and wireless 
communication infrastructure may provide to rural commu-
nities along such corridors, including the effects of the installa-
tion of such infrastructure on economic development, deploy-
ment of intelligent transportation systems technologies and 
applications, homeland security precaution and response, and 
education and health systems in those communities;
H. R. 3—681
(5) rural broadband access points for such infrastructure; 
(6) areas of environmental conflict with such installation; 
(7) real estate ownership issues relating to such installa-
tion; 
(8) preliminary design for placement of fiber optic cable 
and wireless towers; 
(9) monetary value of the rights-of-way necessary for such 
installation; 
(10) applicability and transferability of the benefits of such 
installation to other rural corridors; and 
(11) safety and other operational issues associated with 
the installation and maintenance of fiber optic cabling and 
wire infrastructure within Interstate System rights-of-way and 
other publicly owned rights-of-way. 
(c) CORRIDOR LOCATIONS.—The study required under subsection 
(a) shall be conducted for corridors along—
(1) Interstate Route 90 through rural Wisconsin, southern 
Minnesota, northern Iowa, and South Dakota; 
(2) Interstate Route 20 through Alabama, Mississippi, and 
northern Louisiana; 
(3) Interstate Route 91 through Vermont, New Hampshire, 
and Massachusetts; and 
(4) any other rural corridor the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than September 30, 2007, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results 
of the study, including any recommendations of the Secretary. 
(e) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost of the 
study shall be 100 percent. 
(f) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available under section 
5101(a)(5) of this Act, $1,000,000 shall be available for fiscal year 
2006, and $2,000,000 shall be available for fiscal year 2007 to 
carry out this section. 
SEC. 5508. TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND DEM-
ONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
Section 5117(b) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
Century (112 Stat 449; 112 Stat. 864; 115 Stat. 2330) is amended 
by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.—
‘‘(A) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: 
‘‘(i) CONGESTED AREA.—The term ‘congested area’ 
means a metropolitan area that experiences significant 
traffic congestion, as determined by the Secretary on 
an annual basis, including the metropolitan areas of 
Albany, Atlanta, Austin, Burlington, Charlotte, Colum-
bus, Greensboro, Hartford, Jacksonville, Kansas City, 
Louisville, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Nashville, 
New Orleans, Norfolk, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, 
San Jose, Tuscson, and Tulsa. 
‘‘(ii) DEPLOYMENT
AREA.—The term ‘deployment 
area’ means any of the metropolitan areas of Baltimore, 
Birmingham, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort 
Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Las 
Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/Northern New 
Jersey, Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati, Oklahoma City, 
Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland,
H. R. 3—682
Providence, Salt Lake, San Diego, San Francisco, St. 
Louis, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, District of 
Columbia. 
‘‘(iii) METROPOLITAN AREA.—The term ‘metropoli-
tan area’, including a major transportation corridor 
serving a metropolitan area, means any area that—
‘‘(I) has a population exceeding 300,000; and 
‘‘(II) meets criteria established by the Sec-
retary in conjunction with the intelligent vehicle 
highway systems corridors program. 
‘‘(iv) ORIGINAL CONTRACT.—The term ‘original con-
tract’ means the Department of Transportation con-
tract numbered DTTS 59–99–D–00445 T020013. 
‘‘(v) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means the 2-
part intelligent transportation infrastructure program 
carried out under this paragraph. 
‘‘(vi) STATE
TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT.—The 
term ‘State transportation department’ means—
‘‘(I) a State transportation department (as 
defined in section 101 of title 23, United States 
Code); and 
‘‘(II) a designee of a State transportation 
department (as so defined) for the purpose of 
entering into contracts. 
‘‘(vii) 
UNCOMMITTED
FUNDS.—The 
term 
‘uncommitted funds’ means the total amount of funds 
that, as of the date that is 180 days after the date 
of 
enactment 
of 
the 
SAFETEA–LU, 
remain 
uncommitted under the original contract. 
‘‘(B) INTELLIGENT
TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROGRAM.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out 
a 2-part intelligent transportation infrastructure pro-
gram in accordance with this paragraph to advance 
the deployment of an operational intelligent transpor-
tation infrastructure system, through measurement of 
various transportation system activities, to simulta-
neously—
‘‘(I) aid in transportation planning and anal-
ysis; and 
‘‘(II) make a significant contribution to the 
ITS program under this title. 
‘‘(ii) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of the program 
are—
‘‘(I) to build or integrate an infrastructure of 
the measurement of various transportation system 
metrics to aid in planning, analysis, and mainte-
nance of the Department of Transportation, 
including the buildout, maintenance, and operation 
of greater than 40 metropolitan area systems with 
a total cost not to exceed $2,000,000 for each 
metropolitan area; 
‘‘(II) to provide private technology commer-
cialization initiatives to generate revenues that 
will be reinvested in the intelligent transportation 
infrastructure system;
H. R. 3—683
‘‘(III) to aggregate data into reports for 
multipoint data distribution techniques; and 
‘‘(IV) with respect to part I of the program 
under subparagraph (C), to use an advanced 
information system designed and monitored by an 
entity with experience with the Department of 
Transportation in the design and monitoring of 
high-reliability, mission-critical voice and data sys-
tems. 
‘‘(C) PART I.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out part I of the 
program, the Secretary shall permit the entity to which 
the original contract was awarded to use uncommitted 
funds to deploy intelligent transportation infrastruc-
ture systems that have been accepted by the Sec-
retary—
‘‘(I) in accordance with the terms of the 
original contract; and 
‘‘(II) in any deployment area, with the consent 
of the State transportation department for the 
deployment area. 
‘‘(ii) APPLICABLE
CONDITIONS.—The same asset 
ownership, maintenance, fixed price contract, and rev-
enue sharing model, and the same competitively 
selected consortium leader, as were used for the deploy-
ment of intelligent transportation infrastructure sys-
tems under the original contract before the date of 
enactment of the SAFETEA–LU shall apply to each 
deployment carried out under clause (i). 
‘‘(iii) DEPLOYMENT IN CONGESTED AREAS.—If the 
entity referred to in clause (i) is unable to use the 
uncommitted funds by deploying intelligent transpor-
tation infrastructure systems in deployment areas, as 
determined by the Secretary, the entity may deploy 
the systems in accordance with this paragraph in one 
or more congested areas, with the consent of the State 
transportation departments for the congested areas. 
‘‘(D) PART II.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out part II of the 
program, the Secretary shall award, on a competitive 
basis, contracts for the deployment of intelligent 
transportation infrastructure systems that have been 
accepted by the Secretary in congested areas, with 
the consent of the State transportation departments 
for the congested areas. 
‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall award 
contracts under clause (i)—
‘‘(I) for individual congested areas among enti-
ties that seek to deploy intelligent transportation 
infrastructure systems in the congested areas; and 
‘‘(II) on the condition that the terms of each 
contract awarded requires the entity deploying 
such system to ensure that the deployed system 
is compatible (as determined by the Secretary) 
with systems deployed in other congested areas 
under this paragraph.
H. R. 3—684
‘‘(iii) PROVISIONS
IN
CONTRACTS.—The Secretary 
shall require that each contract for the deployment 
of an intelligent transportation infrastructure system 
under this subparagraph contain such provisions 
relating to asset ownership, maintenance, fixed price, 
and revenue sharing as the Secretary considers to be 
appropriate. 
‘‘(E) USE OF FUNDS FOR UNDEPLOYED SYSTEMS.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—If, under part I or part II of 
the program, a State transportation department for 
a deployment area or congested area does not consent 
by the later of the date that is 180 days after the 
date of enactment of the SAFETEA–LU, or another 
date determined jointly by the State transportation 
department and the deployment area or congested 
area, to participate in the deployment of an intelligent 
transportation infrastructure system in the deployment 
area or congested area, upon application by any other 
deployment area or congested area that has consented 
by that date to participate in the deployment of such 
a system, the Secretary shall distribute any such 
unused funds to any other deployment or congested 
area that has consented by that date to participate 
in the deployment of such a system. 
‘‘(ii) NO
INCLUSION
IN
COST
LIMITATION.—Costs 
paid using funds provided through a distribution under 
clause (i) shall not be considered in determining the 
limitation on maximum cost described in subparagraph 
(F)(ii). 
‘‘(F) FEDERAL SHARE; LIMITS ON COSTS OF SYSTEMS FOR 
METROPOLITAN AREAS.—
‘‘(i) FEDERAL
SHARE.—Subject to clause (ii), the 
Federal share of the cost of any project or activity 
carried out under the program shall be 80 percent. 
‘‘(ii) LIMIT ON COSTS OF SYSTEM FOR EACH METRO-
POLITAN AREA.—
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—Not more than $2,000,000 
may be provided under this paragraph for deploy-
ment of an intelligent transportation infrastruc-
ture system for a metropolitan area. 
‘‘(II) FUNDING UNDER EACH PART.—A metro-
politan area in which an intelligent transportation 
infrastructure system is deployed under part I or 
part II under subparagraphs (C) and (D), respec-
tively, including through a distribution of funds 
under subparagraph (E), may not receive any addi-
tional deployment under the other part of the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(G) USE OF RIGHTS-OF-WAY.—
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—An intelligent transportation 
system project described in this paragraph or para-
graph (6) that involves privately owned intelligent 
transportation system components and is carried out 
using funds made available from the Highway Trust 
Fund shall not be subject to any law (including a 
regulation) of a State or political subdivision of a State 
prohibiting or regulating commercial activities in the
H. R. 3—685
rights-of-way of a highway for which Federal-aid high-
way funds have been used for planning, design, 
construction, or maintenance for the project, if the 
Secretary determines that such use is in the public 
interest. 
‘‘(ii) EFFECT OF SUBPARAGRAPH.—Nothing in this 
subparagraph affects the authority of a State or polit-
ical subdivision of a State—
‘‘(I) to regulate highway safety; or 
‘‘(II) under sections 253 and 332(c)(7) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 253, 
332(c)(7)). 
‘‘(H) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009 to carry 
out this paragraph.’’. 
SEC. 5509. REPEAL. 
Effective October 1 of 2005, sections 5208 and 5209 of subtitle 
C of title V of The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
(23 U.S.C. 502 note; 112 Stat. 452–463) is repealed. 
SEC. 5510. NOTICE. 
(a) NOTICE OF REPROGRAMMING.—If any funds authorized for 
carrying out this title or the amendments made by this title are 
subject to a reprogramming action that requires notice to be pro-
vided to the Committees on Appropriations, Transportation and 
Infrastructure, and Science of the House of Representatives and 
the Committees on Appropriations and Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate, notice of that action shall be concurrently 
provided to the Committee of Transportation and Infrastructure 
and the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate. 
(b) NOTICE OF REORGANIZATION.—On or before the 15th day 
preceding the date of any major reorganization of a program, project, 
or activity of the Department for which funds are authorized by 
this title or the amendments made by this title, the Secretary 
shall provide notice of the reorganization to the Committees on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate. 
SEC. 5511. MOTORCYCLE CRASH CAUSATION STUDY GRANTS. 
(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall provide grants to the Okla-
homa Transportation Center for the purpose of conducting a com-
prehensive, in-depth motorcycle crash causation study that employs 
the common international methodology for in-depth motorcycle 
accident investigation of the Organization for Economic Cooperation 
and Development. 
(b) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available under section 
5101(a)(1) of this Act, $1,408,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 
and 2007 shall be available to carry out this section. 
SEC. 5512. ADVANCED TRAVEL FORECASTING PROCEDURES PROGRAM. 
(a) CONTINUATION AND ACCELERATION OF TRANSIMS DEPLOY-
MENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall accelerate the deploy-
ment of the advanced transportation model known as the
H. R. 3—686
‘‘Transportation Analysis Simulation System’’ (in this section 
referred to as ‘‘TRANSIMS’’), developed by the Los Alamos 
National Laboratory. 
(2) PROGRAM APPRECIATION.—The purpose of the program 
is to assist State departments of transportation and metropoli-
tan planning organizations—
(A) to implement TRANSIMS; 
(B) to develop methods for TRANSIMS applications 
to transportation planning, air quality analysis, regulatory 
compliance, and response to natural disasters and other 
transportation disruptions; and 
(C) to provide training and technical assistance for 
the implementation of TRANSIMS. 
(b) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary shall use funds made 
available to carry out this section to—
(1) provide funding to State departments of transportation 
and metropolitan planning organizations serving transportation 
management areas designated under chapter 52 of title 49, 
United States Code, representing a diversity of populations, 
geographic 
regions, 
and 
analytic 
needs 
to 
implement 
TRANSIMS; 
(2) develop methods to demonstrate a wide spectrum of 
TRANSIMS applications to support local, metropolitan, state-
wide transportation planning, including integrating highway 
and transit operational considerations into the transportation 
Planning process, and estimating the effects of induced travel 
demand and transit ridership in making transportation con-
formity determinations where applicable; 
(3) provide training and technical assistance with respect 
to the implementation and application of TRANSIMS to States, 
local governments, and metropolitan planning organizations 
with responsibility for travel modeling; 
(4) to further develop TRANSIMS for additional applica-
tions, including—
(A) congestion analyses; 
(B) major investment studies; 
(C) economic impact analyses; 
(D) alternative analyses; 
(E) freight movement studies; 
(F) emergency evacuation studies; 
(G) port studies; 
(H) airport access studies; 
(I) induced demand studies; and 
(J) transit ridership analysis. 
(c) ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES.—The program may support the 
development of methods to plan for the transportation response 
to chemical and biological terrorism and other security concerns. 
(d) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—Not more than 75 percent of the 
funds made available to carry out this section may be allocated 
to activities described in subsection (b)(1). 
(e) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available by section 
5101(a)(1) of this Act, $2,625,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 
through 2009 shall be available to carry out this section. 
SEC. 5513. RESEARCH GRANTS. 
(a) THERMAL IMAGING.—
H. R. 3—687
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make a grant to 
carry out a demonstration project that uses a thermal imaging 
inspection system (TIIS) that leverages state-of-the-art thermal 
imagery technology, integrated with signature recognition soft-
ware, providing the capability to identify, in real time, faults 
and failures in tires, brakes and bearings mounted on commer-
cial motor vehicles. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds shall be used—
(A) to employ a TIIS in a field environment, along 
the Interstate, to further assess the system’s ability to 
identify faults in tires, brakes, and bearings mounted on 
commercial motor vehicles; 
(B) to establish, through statistical analysis, the prob-
ability of failure for each component; and 
(C) to develop and integrate a predictive tool into the 
TIIS, which identifies an impending tire, brake, or bearing 
failure and provides the use of a time frame in which 
this failure may occur. 
(3) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available under sec-
tion 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2006 shall 
be available to carry out this subsection. 
(b) TRANSPORTATION INJURY RESEARCH.—
(1) GRANT.—The Secretary shall make a grant to maintain 
a center for transportation injury research at the Calspan 
University of Buffalo Research Center, through the North Cam-
pus facility located in Amherst, New York, and affiliated with 
the State University of New York at Buffalo. 
(2) RECOUP COSTS.—Notwithstanding current law, Federal 
regulations, or Office of Management and Budget circulars 
or guidance, the Center shall be permitted to recoup direct 
and indirect costs and apply a 7 percent fee to the grant 
made under this subsection. 
(3) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available under sec-
tion 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $1,250,000 in each of fiscal years 
2006 through 2009 shall be available to carry out this sub-
section. 
(c) TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GRANT.—
(1) GRANT.—The Secretary shall make grants to the 
Argonne National Laboratory-Advanced Transportation Tech-
nology Center for the purpose of conducting transportation 
research and demonstration projects that would lead to the 
exchange of research results with the private sector and 
collaboration with universities at a centralized location condu-
cive for technology transfer. 
(2) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available under sec-
tion 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $4,000,000 in each of fiscal years 
2006 through 2009 shall be available to carry out this sub-
section. 
(d) APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION.—
(1) GRANT.—The Secretary shall make a grant to the Appa-
lachian Regional Commission to conduct a feasibility study 
for the creation of a system of inland ports and distribution 
centers in Appalachia. 
(2) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available under sec-
tion 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $500,000 in fiscal year 2006 shall 
be available to carry out this subsection. 
(e) AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT INJURY RESEARCH.—
H. R. 3—688
(1) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make a grant to the 
Forsyth Institute for research and technology development for 
preventing and minimizing head, craniofacial, and spinal cord 
injuries resulting from automobile accidents. 
(2) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available under sec-
tion 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $500,000 in each of fiscal years 
2006 through 2009 shall be available to carry out this sub-
section. 
(f) RURAL TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH.—
(1) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make grants to the New 
England Transportation Institute in White River Junction, 
Vermont for rural transportation research. 
(2) FUNDING.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts made available by 
section 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $1,000,000 for fiscal year 
2006 shall be available to carry out this subsection and 
shall remain available until expended. 
(B) COST-SHARING.—
(i) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of activities carried out under this subsection shall 
be 80 percent. 
(ii) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The fair market value 
of any materials or services provided by the non-Fed-
eral sponsor for activities under this subsection shall 
be credited to the non-Federal share. 
(g) RURAL TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INITIATIVE.—
(1) GRANTS.—For each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009, 
the Secretary shall provide a grant to the Upper Great Plains 
Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University for 
use in carrying out the Rural Transportation Research Initia-
tive. 
(2) FUNDING.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts made available by 
section 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $500,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2006 through 2009 shall be available to carry out 
this subsection, and shall remain available until expended. 
(B) COST-SHARING.—
(i) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of the activities carried out under this subsection shall 
be 80 percent. 
(ii) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The fair market value 
of any materials or services provided by the non-Fed-
eral project sponsor for any activity under this sub-
section shall be credited to the non-Federal share. 
(h) HYDROGEN-POWERED TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INITIA-
TIVE.—
(1) GRANTS.—For each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009, 
the Secretary shall provide a grant to the University of Montana 
for use in carrying out the Hydrogen-Powered Transportation 
Research Initiative. 
(2) FUNDING.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts made available by 
section 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $750,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2006 through 2009 shall be available to carry out 
this subsection, and shall remain available until expended. 
(B) COST-SHARING.—
H. R. 3—689
(i) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of the activities carried out under this subsection shall 
be 80 percent. 
(ii) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The fair market value 
of any materials or services provided by the non-Fed-
eral project sponsor for an activity under this sub-
section shall be credited to the non-Federal share. 
(i) COLD
REGION
AND
RURAL
TRANSPORTATION
RESEARCH, 
MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATIONS.—
(1) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall provide grants to the 
Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University, 
for use in developing a research facility in Lewistown, Montana, 
for basic and applied research and testing on surface transpor-
tation issues facing rural and cold regions. 
(2) FUNDING.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts made available by 
section 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $1,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2006 through 2009 shall be available to carry out 
this subsection, to remain available until expended. 
(B) COST-SHARING.—
(i) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of the activities carried out under this subsection shall 
be 80 percent. 
(ii) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The fair market value 
of any materials or services provided by the non-Fed-
eral project sponsor for an activity under this section 
shall be credited to the non-Federal share. 
(j) ADVANCED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY.—
(1) GRANT.—The Secretary shall make a grant to the 
University of Kansas Transportation Research Institute for 
research and development of advanced vehicle technology con-
cepts, focused on vehicle emissions, fuel cells and catalytic 
processes, and intelligent transportation systems. 
(2) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available under sec-
tion 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $2,500,000 in each of fiscal years 
2006 through 2009 shall be available to carry out this sub-
section. 
(k) ASPHALT RESEARCH CONSORTIUM.—
(1) GRANT.—The Secretary shall make a grant to the 
asphalt research consortium lead by the Western Research 
Institute to research flexible pavement and extending the life-
cycle of asphalts. 
(2) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available under sec-
tion 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $7,500,000 in each of fiscal years 
2006 through 2009 shall be available to carry out this sub-
section. 
(l) RENEWABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH.—
(1) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make grants to the 
University of Vermont for research, development and field 
testing of hydrogen fuel cell and biofuel transportation tech-
nology. 
(2) FUNDING.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts made available for 
section 5101(a)(1) of this Act, $1,000,000 for fiscal year 
2006 to remain available until expended. 
(B) COST-SHARING.—
H. R. 3—690
(i) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal Share of the cost 
of activities carried out under this section shall be 
80 percent. 
(ii) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The fair market value 
of any materials or services provided by the non-Fed-
eral sponsor for activities under this section shall be 
credited to the non-Federal share. 
(m) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost of activities 
carried out in accordance with this section shall be 80 percent 
unless otherwise expressly provided by this section or otherwise 
determined by the Secretary. 
SEC. 5514. COMPETITION FOR SPECIFICATION OF ALTERNATIVE TYPES 
OF CULVERT PIPES. 
Notwithstanding any contrary interpretation of appendix A of 
subpart D of section 635.411 of volume 23, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act), not 
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall ensure that States provide for competition with 
respect to the specification of alternative types of culvert pipes 
through requirements that are commensurate with competition 
requirements for other construction materials, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
Subtitle F—Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics 
SEC. 5601. BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 111 of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 111. Bureau of Transportation Statistics 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the Research and 
Innovative Technology Administration a Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics. 
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR.—
‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Bureau shall be headed by a 
Director who shall be appointed in the competitive service 
by the Secretary of Transportation. 
‘‘(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Director shall be appointed from 
among individuals who are qualified to serve as the Director 
by virtue of their training and experience in the collection, 
analysis, and use of transportation statistics. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director of the Bureau shall serve 
as the Secretary’s senior advisor on data and statistics and shall 
be responsible for carrying out the following duties: 
‘‘(1) PROVIDING
DATA, 
STATISTICS, 
AND
ANALYSIS
TO 
TRANSPORTATION DECISIONMAKERS.—Ensuring that the statis-
tics compiled under paragraph (5) are designed to support 
transportation decisionmaking by the Federal Government, 
State and local governments, metropolitan planning organiza-
tions, transportation-related associations, the private sector 
(including the freight community), and the public. 
‘‘(2) COORDINATING COLLECTION OF INFORMATION.—Working 
with the operating administrations of the Department to estab-
lish and implement the Bureau’s data programs and to improve
H. R. 3—691
the coordination of information collection efforts with other 
Federal agencies. 
‘‘(3) DATA MODERNIZATION.—Continually improving surveys 
and data collection methods to improve the accuracy and utility 
of transportation statistics. 
‘‘(4) ENCOURAGING
DATA
STANDARDIZATION.—Encouraging 
the standardization of data, data collection methods, and data 
management and storage technologies for data collected by 
the Bureau, the operating administrations of the Department 
of Transportation, States, local governments, metropolitan plan-
ning organizations, and private sector entities. 
‘‘(5) TRANSPORTATION
STATISTICS.—Collecting, compiling, 
analyzing, and publishing a comprehensive set of transportation 
statistics on the performance and impacts of the national 
transportation system, including statistics on—
‘‘(A) productivity in various parts of the transportation 
sector; 
‘‘(B) traffic flows for all modes of transportation; 
‘‘(C) other elements of the intermodal transportation 
database established under subsection (e); 
‘‘(D) travel times and measures of congestion; 
‘‘(E) vehicle weights and other vehicle characteristics; 
‘‘(F) demographic, economic, and other variables influ-
encing traveling behavior, including choice of transpor-
tation mode and goods movement; 
‘‘(G) transportation costs for passenger travel and goods 
movement; 
‘‘(H) availability and use of mass transit (including 
the number of passengers served by each mass transit 
authority) and other forms of for-hire passenger travel; 
‘‘(I) frequency of vehicle and transportation facility 
repairs and other interruptions of transportation service; 
‘‘(J) safety and security for travelers, vehicles, and 
transportation systems; 
‘‘(K) consequences of transportation for the human and 
natural environment; 
‘‘(L) the extent, connectivity, and condition of the 
transportation system, building on the national transpor-
tation atlas database developed under subsection (g); and 
‘‘(M) transportation-related variables that influence the 
domestic economy and global competitiveness. 
‘‘(6) NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE.—Building 
and disseminating the transportation layer of the National 
Spatial Data Infrastructure developed under Executive Order 
No. 12906, including coordinating the development of transpor-
tation 
geospatial 
data 
standards, 
compiling 
intermodal 
geospatial data, and collecting geospatial data that is not being 
collected by others. 
‘‘(7) ISSUING GUIDELINES.—Issuing guidelines for the collec-
tion of information by the Department required for statistics 
to be compiled under paragraph (5) in order to ensure that 
such information is accurate, reliable, relevant, and in a form 
that permits systematic analysis. 
‘‘(8) REVIEW
SOURCES
AND
RELIABILITY
OF
STATISTICS.—
Reviewing and reporting to the Secretary on the sources and 
reliability of the statistics proposed by the heads of the oper-
ating administrations of the Department to measure outputs
H. R. 3—692
and outcomes as required by the Government Performance 
and Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–62; 107 Stat. 285), 
and the amendments made by such Act, and carrying out 
such other reviews of the sources and reliability of other data 
collected or statistical information published by the heads of 
the operating administrations of the Department as shall be 
requested by the Secretary. 
‘‘(9) MAKING STATISTICS ACCESSIBLE.—Making the statistics 
published under this subsection readily accessible to the public. 
‘‘(d) INFORMATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of enactment of the SAFETEA–LU, the Secretary shall enter 
into an agreement with the National Research Council to 
develop and publish a National transportation information 
needs assessment (referred to in this subsection as the ‘assess-
ment’). The assessment shall be submitted to the Secretary 
and the appropriate committees of Congress not later than 
24 months after such agreement is entered into. 
‘‘(2) CONTENT.—The assessment shall—
‘‘(A) identify, in order of priority, the transportation 
data that is not being collected by the Bureau, operating 
administrations of the Department, or other Federal, State, 
or local entities, but is needed to improve transportation 
decisionmaking at the Federal, State, and local levels and 
to fulfill the requirements of subsection (c)(5); 
‘‘(B) recommend whether the data identified in 
subparagraph (A) should be collected by the Bureau, other 
parts of the Department, or by other Federal, State, or 
local entities, and whether any data is of a higher priority 
than data currently being collected; 
‘‘(C) identify any data the Bureau or other Federal, 
State, or local entity is collecting that is not needed; 
‘‘(D) describe new data collection methods (including 
changes in surveys) and other changes the Bureau or other 
Federal, State, or local entity should implement to improve 
the standardization, accuracy, and utility of transportation 
data and statistics; and 
‘‘(E) estimate the cost of implementing any rec-
ommendations. 
‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—In developing the assessment, the 
National Research Council shall consult with the Department’s 
Advisory Council on Transportation Statistics and a representa-
tive cross-section of transportation community stakeholders as 
well as other Federal agencies, including the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development. 
‘‘(4) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date on which the National Research Council submits the 
assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit 
a report to Congress that describes—
‘‘(A) how the Department plans to fill the data gaps 
identified under paragraph (2)(A); 
‘‘(B) how the Department plans to stop collecting data 
identified under paragraph (2)(C); 
‘‘(C) how the Department plans to implement improved 
data collection methods and other changes identified under 
paragraph (2)(D);
H. R. 3—693
‘‘(D) the expected costs of implementing subparagraphs 
(A), (B), and (C) of this paragraph; 
‘‘(E) any findings of the assessment under paragraph 
(1) with which the Secretary disagrees, and why; and 
‘‘(F) any proposed statutory changes needed to imple-
ment the findings of the assessment under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(e) INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION DATABASE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In consultation with the Under Secretary 
for Policy, the Assistant Secretaries, and the heads of the 
operating administrations of the Department, the Director shall 
establish and maintain a transportation database for all modes 
of transportation. 
‘‘(2) USE.—The database shall be suitable for analyses car-
ried out by the Federal Government, the States, and metropoli-
tan planning organizations. 
‘‘(3) CONTENTS.—The database shall include—
‘‘(A) information on the volumes and patterns of move-
ment of goods, including local, interregional, and inter-
national movement, by all modes of transportation and 
intermodal combinations and by relevant classification; 
‘‘(B) information on the volumes and patterns of move-
ment of people, including local, interregional, and inter-
national movements, by all modes of transportation 
(including bicycle and pedestrian modes) and intermodal 
combinations and by relevant classification; 
‘‘(C) information on the location and connectivity of 
transportation facilities and services; and 
‘‘(D) a national accounting of expenditures and capital 
stocks on each mode of transportation and intermodal com-
bination. 
‘‘(f) NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION LIBRARY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish and main-
tain a National Transportation Library, which shall contain 
a collection of statistical and other information needed for 
transportation decisionmaking at the Federal, State, and local 
levels. 
‘‘(2) ACCESS.—The Director shall facilitate and promote 
access to the Library, with the goal of improving the ability 
of the transportation community to share information and the 
ability of the Director to make statistics readily accessible 
under subsection (c)(9). 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION.—The Director shall work with other 
transportation libraries and transportation information pro-
viders, both public and private, to achieve the goal specified 
in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(g) NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION ATLAS DATABASE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall develop and maintain 
a national transportation atlas database that is comprised of 
geospatial databases that depict—
‘‘(A) transportation networks; 
‘‘(B) flows of people, goods, vehicles, and craft over 
the networks; and 
‘‘(C) social, economic, and environmental conditions 
that affect or are affected by the networks. 
‘‘(2) INTERMODAL NETWORK ANALYSIS.—The databases shall 
be able to support intermodal network analysis.
H. R. 3—694
‘‘(h) MANDATORY RESPONSE AUTHORITY
FOR FREIGHT DATA 
COLLECTION.—Whoever, being the owner, official, agent, person in 
charge, or assistant to the person in charge of any freight corpora-
tion, company, business, institution, establishment, or organization 
of any nature whatsoever, neglects or refuses, when requested 
by the Director or other authorized officer, employee, or contractor 
of the Bureau, to answer completely and correctly to the best 
of the individual’s knowledge all questions relating to the corpora-
tion, company, business, institution, establishment, or other 
organization, or to make available records or statistics in the 
individual’s official custody, contained in a data collection request 
prepared and submitted under the authority of subsection (c)(1), 
shall be fined not more than $500; but if the individual willfully 
gives a false answer to such a question, the individual shall be 
fined not more than $10,000. 
‘‘(i) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.—The Secretary may 
make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts 
with, public and nonprofit private entities (including State transpor-
tation departments, metropolitan planning organizations, and 
institutions of higher education) for—
‘‘(1) investigation of the subjects specified in subsection 
(c)(5) and research and development of new methods of data 
collection, standardization, management, integration, dissemi-
nation, interpretation, and analysis; 
‘‘(2) demonstration programs by States, local governments, 
and metropolitan planning organizations to coordinate data 
collection, reporting, management, storage, and archiving to 
simplify data comparisons across jurisdictions; 
‘‘(3) development of electronic clearinghouses of transpor-
tation data and related information, as part of the National 
Transportation Library under subsection (f); and 
‘‘(4) development and improvement of methods for sharing 
geographic data, in support of the database under subsection 
(g) and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. 
‘‘(j) LIMITATIONS
ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this section shall be construed—
‘‘(1) to authorize the Bureau to require any other depart-
ment or agency to collect data; or 
‘‘(2) to reduce the authority of any other officer of the 
Department to collect and disseminate data independently. 
‘‘(k) PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN DISCLOSURES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An officer, employee, or contractor of 
the Bureau may not—
‘‘(A) make any disclosure in which the data provided 
by an individual or organization under subsection (c) can 
be identified; 
‘‘(B) use the information provided under subsection 
(c) for a nonstatistical purpose; or 
‘‘(C) permit anyone other than an individual authorized 
by the Director to examine any individual report provided 
under subsection (c). 
‘‘(2) COPIES OF REPORTS.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—No department, bureau, agency, 
officer, or employee of the United States (except the 
Director in carrying out this section) may require, for any 
reason, a copy of any report that has been filed under
H. R. 3—695
subsection (c) with the Bureau or retained by an individual 
respondent. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION ON JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS.—A copy 
of a report described in subparagraph (A) that has been 
retained by an individual respondent or filed with the 
Bureau or any of its employees, contractors, or agents—
‘‘(i) shall be immune from legal process; and 
‘‘(ii) shall not, without the consent of the individual 
concerned, be admitted as evidence or used for any 
purpose in any action, suit, or other judicial or adminis-
trative proceedings. 
‘‘(C) APPLICABILITY.—This paragraph shall apply only 
to reports that permit information concerning an individual 
or organization to be reasonably determined by direct or 
indirect means. 
‘‘(3) INFORMING RESPONDENT OF USE OF DATA.—In a case 
in which the Bureau is authorized by statute to collect data 
or information for a nonstatistical purpose, the Director shall 
clearly distinguish the collection of the data or information, 
by rule and on the collection instrument, so as to inform a 
respondent who is requested or required to supply the data 
or information of the nonstatistical purpose. 
‘‘(l) 
TRANSPORTATION
STATISTICS
ANNUAL
REPORT.—The 
Director shall submit to the President and Congress a transpor-
tation statistics annual report which shall include information on 
items referred to in subsection (c)(5), documentation of methods 
used to obtain and ensure the quality of the statistics presented 
in the report, and recommendations for improving transportation 
statistical information. 
‘‘(m) DATA ACCESS.—The Director shall have access to transpor-
tation and transportation-related information in the possession of 
any Federal agency, except information—
‘‘(1) the disclosure of which to another Federal agency 
is expressly prohibited by law; or 
‘‘(2) the disclosure of which the agency possessing the 
information determines would significantly impair the dis-
charge of authorities and responsibilities which have been dele-
gated to, or vested by law, in such agency. 
‘‘(n) PROCEEDS OF DATA PRODUCT SALES.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 3302 of title 31, funds received by the Bureau from the sale 
of data products, for necessary expenses incurred, may be credited 
to the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) 
for the purpose of reimbursing the Bureau for the expenses. 
‘‘(o) ADVISORY COUNCIL ON TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall establish an 
advisory council on transportation statistics. 
‘‘(2) FUNCTION.—The function of the advisory council estab-
lished under this subsection is to—
‘‘(A) advise the Director on the quality, reliability, 
consistency, objectivity, and relevance of transportation 
statistics and analyses collected, supported, or dissemi-
nated by the Bureau and the Department; 
‘‘(B) provide input to and review the report to Congress 
under subsection (d)(4); and 
‘‘(C) advise the Director on methods to encourage 
cooperation and interoperability of transportation data col-
lected by the Bureau, the operating administrations of
H. R. 3—696
the Department, States, local governments, metropolitan 
planning organizations, and private sector entities. 
‘‘(3) MEMBERSHIP.—The advisory council established under 
this subsection shall be composed of not fewer than 9 and 
not more than 11 members appointed by the Director, who 
are not officers or employees of the United States. Each member 
shall have expertise in transportation data collection or analysis 
or application; except that 1 member shall have expertise in 
economics, 1 member shall have expertise in statistics, and 
1 member shall have experience in transportation safety. At 
least 1 member shall be a senior official of a State department 
of transportation. Members shall include representation of a 
cross-section of transportation community stakeholders. 
‘‘(4) TERMS OF APPOINTMENT.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), members of the advisory council shall be appointed 
to staggered terms not to exceed 3 years. A member may 
be renominated for 1 additional 3-year term. 
‘‘(B) CURRENT
MEMBERS.—Members serving on the 
Advisory Council on Transportation Statistics as of the 
date of enactment of the SAFETEA–LU shall serve until 
the end of their appointed terms. 
‘‘(5) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—
The Federal Advisory Committee Act shall apply to the advisory 
council established under this subsection, except that section 
14 of such Act shall not apply.’’.
TITLE VI—TRANSPORTATION 
PLANNING AND PROJECT DELIVERY 
SEC. 6001. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Sections 134 and 135 of title 23, United 
States Code, are amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 134. Metropolitan transportation planning 
‘‘(a) POLICY.—It is in the national interest to—
‘‘(1) encourage and promote the safe and efficient manage-
ment, operation, and development of surface transportation 
systems that will serve the mobility needs of people and freight 
and foster economic growth and development within and 
between States and urbanized areas, while minimizing 
transportation-related fuel consumption and air pollution 
through metropolitan and statewide transportation planning 
processes identified in this chapter; and 
‘‘(2) encourage the continued improvement and evolution 
of the metropolitan and statewide transportation planning proc-
esses by metropolitan planning organizations, State depart-
ments of transportation, and public transit operators as guided 
by the planning factors identified in subsection (h) and section 
135(d). 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section and section 135, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA.—The term ‘metropoli-
tan planning area’ means the geographic area determined by 
agreement between the metropolitan planning organization for 
the area and the Governor under subsection (e).
H. R. 3—697
‘‘(2) METROPOLITAN
PLANNING
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘metropolitan planning organization’ means the policy board 
of an organization created as a result of the designation process 
in subsection (d). 
‘‘(3) NONMETROPOLITAN AREA.—The term ‘nonmetropolitan 
area’ means a geographic area outside designated metropolitan 
planning areas. 
‘‘(4) NONMETROPOLITAN LOCAL OFFICIAL.—The term ‘non-
metropolitan local official’ means elected and appointed officials 
of general purpose local government in a nonmetropolitan area 
with responsibility for transportation. 
‘‘(5) TIP.—The term ‘TIP’ means a transportation improve-
ment program developed by a metropolitan planning organiza-
tion under subsection (j). 
‘‘(6) URBANIZED AREA.—The term ‘urbanized area’ means 
a geographic area with a population of 50,000 or more, as 
designated by the Bureau of the Census. 
‘‘(c) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.—
‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT OF LONG-RANGE PLANS AND TIPS.—To 
accomplish the objectives in subsection (a), metropolitan plan-
ning organizations designated under subsection (d), in coopera-
tion with the State and public transportation operators, shall 
develop long-range transportation plans and transportation 
improvement programs for metropolitan planning areas of the 
State. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The plans and TIPs for each metropolitan 
area shall provide for the development and integrated manage-
ment and operation of transportation systems and facilities 
(including accessible pedestrian walkways and bicycle transpor-
tation facilities) that will function as an intermodal transpor-
tation system for the metropolitan planning area and as an 
integral part of an intermodal transportation system for the 
State and the United States. 
‘‘(3) PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT.—The process for developing 
the plans and TIPs shall provide for consideration of all modes 
of transportation and shall be continuing, cooperative, and com-
prehensive to the degree appropriate, based on the complexity 
of the transportation problems to be addressed. 
‘‘(d) DESIGNATION
OF
METROPOLITAN
PLANNING
ORGANIZA-
TIONS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To carry out the transportation planning 
process required by this section, a metropolitan planning 
organization shall be designated for each urbanized area with 
a population of more than 50,000 individuals—
‘‘(A) by agreement between the Governor and units 
of general purpose local government that together represent 
at least 75 percent of the affected population (including 
the largest incorporated city (based on population) as 
named by the Bureau of the Census); or 
‘‘(B) in accordance with procedures established by 
applicable State or local law. 
‘‘(2) STRUCTURE.—Each metropolitan planning organization 
that serves an area designated as a transportation management 
area, when designated or redesignated under this subsection, 
shall consist of—
‘‘(A) local elected officials;