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(D) consult with representatives of State de-
partments of transportation and metropolitan
planning organizations and other key interested
stakeholders in conducting the study to ensure
that—
(i) the views of the stakeholders on al-
ternative revenue sources to support State
transportation improvement programs are
considered; and
(ii) any recommended Federal financ-
ing strategy takes into account State finan-
cial requirements; and
(E) based on the study, make specific rec-
ommendations regarding—
(i) actions that should be taken to de-
velop alternative revenue sources to sup port
the Highway Trust Fund; and
(ii) the time frame for taking those ac-
tions.
(4) RELATED WORK.—To the maximum extent
practicable, the study shall build on related work that
has been completed by—
(A) the Secretary of Transportation;
(B) the Secretary of Energy;
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(C) the Transportation Research Board, in-
cluding the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of the recent study conducted by
the Transportation Research Board on alter-
natives to the fuel tax to support highway pro-
gram financing; and
(D) other entities and persons.
(5) SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION
NEEDS.—With
respect to surface transportation needs, the investiga-
tion and study shall specifically address—
(A) the current condition and performance
of the Interstate System (including the physical
condition of bridges and pavements and oper-
ational characteristics and performance), relying
primarily on existing data sources;
(B) the future of the Interstate System,
based on a range of legislative and policy ap-
proaches for 15-, 30-, and 50-year time periods;
(C) the expected demographics and business
uses that impact the surface transportation sys-
tem;
(D) the expected use of the surface transpor-
tation system, including the effects of changing
vehicle types, modes of transportation, fleet size
and weights, and traffic volumes;
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(E) desirable design policies and standards
for future improvements of the surface transpor-
tation 
system, 
including 
additional 
access
points;
(F) the identification of urban, rural, na-
tional, and interregional needs for the surface
transportation system;
(G) the potential for expansion, upgrades,
or other changes to the surface transportation
system, including—
(i) deployment of advanced materials
and intelligent technologies;
(ii) critical multistate, urban, and
rural corridors needing capacity, safety,
and operational enhancements;
(iii) improvements to intermodal link-
ages;
(iv) security and military deployment
enhancements;
(v) strategies to enhance asset preserva-
tion; and
(vi) implementation strategies;
(H) the improvement of emergency pre-
paredness and evacuation using the surface
transportation system, including—
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(i) examination of the potential use of
all modes of the surface transportation sys-
tem in the safe and efficient evacuation of
citizens during times of emergency;
(ii) identification of the location of
critical bottlenecks; and
(iii) development of strategies to im-
prove system redundancy, especially in
areas with a high potential for terrorist at-
tacks;
(I) alternatives for addressing environ-
mental concerns associated with the future devel-
opment of the surface transportation system;
(J) the evaluation and assessment of the
current and future capabilities for conducting
system-wide real-time performance data collec-
tion and analysis, traffic monitoring, and trans-
portation systems operations and management;
and
(K) a range of policy and legislative alter-
natives for addressing future needs for the sur-
face transportation system.
(6) FINANCING.—With respect to financing, the
study shall address specifically—
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(A) the advantages and disadvantages of al-
ternative revenue sources to meet anticipated
Federal surface transportation financial require-
ments;
(B) recommendations concerning the most
promising revenue sources to support long-term
Federal surface transportation financing require-
ments;
(C) development of a broad transition strat-
egy to move from the current tax base to new
funding mechanisms, including the time frame
for various components of the transition strategy;
(D) recommendations for additional re-
search that may be needed to implement rec-
ommended alternatives; and
(E) the extent to which revenues should re-
flect the relative use of the highway system.
(7) FINANCING
RECOMMENDATIONS.—In devel-
oping financing recommendations under this sub-
section, the Commission shall consider—
(A) the ability to generate sufficient reve-
nues from all modes to meet anticipated long-
term surface transportation financing needs;
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(B) the roles of the various levels of govern-
ment and the private sector in meeting future
surface transportation financing needs;
(C) administrative costs (including enforce-
ment costs) to implement each option;
(D) the expected increase in nontaxed fuels
and the impact of taxing those fuels;
(E) the likely technological advances that
could ease implementation of each option;
(F) the equity and economic efficiency of
each option;
(G) the flexibility of different options to
allow various pricing alternatives to be imple-
mented; and
(H) potential compatibility issues with
State and local tax mechanisms under each al-
ternative.
(8) TECHNICAL
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.—The
Secretary shall establish a technical advisory com-
mittee, in a manner consistent with the Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), to collect and
evaluate technical input from—
(A) the Department of Defense;
(B) appropriate Federal, State, and local
officials with responsibility for transportation;
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(C) appropriate State and local elected offi-
cials;
(D) transportation and trade associations;
(E) emergency management officials;
(F) freight providers;
(G) the general public; and
(H) other entities and persons determined
to be appropriate by the Secretary to ensure a
diverse range of views.
(9) REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later
than September 30, 2007, the Commission shall sub-
mit to Congress a final report that contains—
(A) a detailed statement of the findings and
conclusions of the Commission; and
(B) the recommendations of the Commission
for such legislation and administrative actions
as the Commission considers to be appropriate.
(10) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.—
(A) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold
such hearings, meet and act at such times and
places, take such testimony, and receive such evi-
dence as the Commission considers advisable to
carry out this section.
(B) INFORMATION
FROM
FEDERAL
AGEN-
CIES.—
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(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission
may secure directly from a Federal agency
such information as the Commission con-
siders necessary to carry out this section.
(ii) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—On
request of the Chairperson of the Commis-
sion, the head of a Federal agency shall pro-
vide the requested information to the Com-
mission.
(C) POSTAL
SERVICES.—The Commission
may use the United States mails in the same
manner and under the same conditions as other
agencies of the Federal Government.
(D) DONATIONS.—The Commission may ac-
cept, use, and dispose of donations of services or
property.
(11) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.—
(A) MEMBERS.—A member of the Commis-
sion shall serve without pay but shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee
of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57
of title 5, United States Code, while away from
the home or regular place of business of the mem-
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ber in the performance of the duties of the Com-
mission.
(B) CONTRACTORS.—The Commission may
enter into contracts with an appropriate organi-
zations, agencies, and entities to conduct the
study required under this section, under the stra-
tegic guidance of the Commission.
(C) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—On the re-
quest of the Commission, the Administrator of
the Federal Highway Administration shall pro-
vide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis,
the administrative support and services nec-
essary for the Commission to carry out the duties
of the Commission under this section.
(D) DETAIL OF PERSONNEL.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—On the request of the
Commission, the Secretary may detail, on a
reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of
the Department to the Commission to assist
the Commission in carrying out the duties
of the Commission under this section.
(ii) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The de-
tail of the employee shall be without inter-
ruption or loss of civil service status or
privilege.
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(12) COOPERATION.—The staff of the Secretary
shall cooperate with the Commission in the study re-
quired under this section, including providing such
nonconfidential data and information as are nec-
essary to conduct the study.
(13) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAW.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in
subparagraphs (B) and (C), funds made avail-
able to carry out this section shall be available
for obligation in the same manner as if the funds
were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23,
United States Code.
(B) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share
of the cost of the study and the Commission
under this section shall be 100 percent.
(C) AVAILABILITY.—Funds made available
to carry out this section shall remain available
until expended.
(14) DEFINITION OF SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘surface trans-
portation system’’ includes—
(A) the National Highway System;
(B) the Interstate System;
(C) the strategic highway network;
(D) congressional high priority corridors;
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(E) intermodal connectors;
(F) freight facilities;
(G) navigable waterways;
(H) mass transportation;
(I) freight and intercity passenger rail in-
frastructure and facilities; and
(J) surface access to airports.
(15) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There is authorized to be appropriated from the High-
way Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Ac-
count) to carry out this section $2,815,886 for fiscal
year 2005.
(16) TERMINATION.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall
terminate on the date that is 180 days after the
date on which the Commission submits the re-
port of the Commission under paragraph (10).
(B) RECORDS.—Not later than the date of
termination of the Commission under subpara-
graph (A), all records and papers of the Commis-
sion shall be delivered to the Archivist of the
United States for deposit in the National Ar-
chives.
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SEC. 
1203. 
FREIGHT 
TRANSPORTATION 
GATEWAYS;
FREIGHT INTERMODAL CONNECTIONS.
(a) FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION GATEWAYS.—Chapter
3 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘§ 325. Freight transportation gateways
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a freight transportation gateways program to
improve productivity, security, and safety of freight
transportation gateways, while mitigating congestion
and community impacts in the area of the gateways.
‘‘(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the freight
transportation gateways program shall be—
‘‘(A) to facilitate and support multimodal
freight transportation initiatives at the State
and local levels in order to improve freight
transportation gateways and mitigate the im-
pact of congestion on the environment in the
area of the gateways;
‘‘(B) to provide capital funding to address
infrastructure and freight operational needs at
freight transportation gateways;
‘‘(C) to encourage adoption of new financ-
ing strategies to leverage State, local, and pri-
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vate investment in freight transportation gate-
ways;
‘‘(D) to facilitate access to intermodal
freight transfer facilities; and
‘‘(E) to increase economic efficiency by fa-
cilitating the movement of goods.
‘‘(b) STATE RESPONSIBILITIES.—
‘‘(1) PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS.—Each
State, in coordination with metropolitan planning
organizations, shall ensure that intermodal freight
transportation, trade facilitation, and economic devel-
opment needs are adequately considered and fully in-
tegrated into the project development process, includ-
ing transportation planning through final design and
construction of freight-related transportation projects.
‘‘(2) 
FREIGHT
TRANSPORTATION
COORDI-
NATOR.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each State shall des-
ignate a freight transportation coordinator.
‘‘(B) DUTIES.—The coordinator shall—
‘‘(i) foster public and private sector
collaboration needed to implement complex
solutions to freight transportation and
freight transportation gateway problems,
including—