Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.3594 | Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice (D-TX)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2021
This bill addresses provisions related to surface transportation research, development, and deployment programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT).

To authorize appropriations to the Department of Transportation for 
 surface transportation research, development, and deployment, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Surface 
Transportation Research and Development Act of 2021''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                TITLE I--HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 102. Amendment to Highway Safety Improvement project definition.
Sec. 103. Behavioral traffic safety cooperative research program.
Sec. 104. Amendment to the exploratory advanced research program.
Sec. 105. Amendment to the State Planning and Research Program.
Sec. 106. Road weather centers of excellence.
              TITLE II--MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

Sec. 201. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 202. Advisory council on transportation statistics.
Sec. 203. Amendments to the University Transportation Centers Program.
Sec. 204. Resilient Transportation Infrastructure Centers of 
                            Excellence.
Sec. 205. Transportation Data for Healthy Living Study Pilot.
Sec. 206. Vehicular Data Analytics Pilot Program.
Sec. 207. National cooperative freight transportation research program.
Sec. 208. Heavy Freight Automated Trucking Research Corridor.
Sec. 209. Strategic Transportation Research Program.
Sec. 210. Advanced transportation research and innovation program.
Sec. 211. Rail Cooperative Research Program.
Sec. 212. Multimodal Transportation Demonstration Program.
Sec. 213. Advisory Council on Transportation Research and Development.
Sec. 214. Transportation research and development quinquennial review 
                            and strategic plan.

                TITLE I--HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--The following amounts are authorized to be 
appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit 
Account):
            (1) Highway safety research and development.--To carry out 
        section 403 of title 23, United States Code--
                    (A) $152,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
                    (B) $161,880,000 for fiscal year 2023;
                    (C) $172,402,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                    (D) $183,608,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
                    (E) $195,543,000 for fiscal year 2026.
            (2) Highway research and development program.--To carry out 
        sections 503(b) and 520 of title 23, United States Code--
                    (A) $142,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
                    (B) $151,230,000 for fiscal year 2023;
                    (C) $161,060,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                    (D) $171,530,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
                    (E) $182,680,000 for fiscal year 2026.
            (3) Technology and innovation deployment program.--To carry 
        out section 503(c) of title 23, United States Code--
                    (A) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
                    (B) $74,550,000 for fiscal year 2023;
                    (C) $79,396,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                    (D) $84,556,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
                    (E) $90,053,000 for fiscal year 2026.
            (4) Advanced transportation and congestion management 
        technologies deployment program.--To carry out section 
        503(c)(4) of title 23, United States Code--
                    (A) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
                    (B) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
                    (C) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                    (D) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
                    (E) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
            (5) Training and education.--To carry out section 504 of 
        title 23, United States Code--
                    (A) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
                    (B) $28,755,000 for fiscal year 2023;
                    (C) $30,624,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                    (D) $32,615,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
                    (E) $34,735,000 for fiscal year 2026.
            (6) Intelligent transportation systems program.--To carry 
        out sections 512 through 518 of title 23, United States Code--
                    (A) $158,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
                    (B) $168,270,000 for fiscal year 2023;
                    (C) $179,208,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                    (D) $190,856,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
                    (E) $203,262,000 for fiscal year 2026.
    (b) Applicability of Title 23, United States Code.--Funds 
authorized to be appropriated by subsection (a) shall--
            (1) be available for obligation in the same manner as if 
        those funds were appropriated under chapter 1 of title 23, 
        United States Code, except that the Federal share of the cost 
        of a project or activity carried out using those funds shall be 
        80 percent, unless otherwise expressly provided by this Act 
        (including the amendments by this Act) or otherwise determined 
        by the Secretary; and
            (2) remain available until expended and not be 
        transferable.

SEC. 102. AMENDMENT TO HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT DEFINITION.

    Section 148(a)(4)(B) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
                            ``(xxix) Education.
                            ``(xxx) Enforcement.
                            ``(xxxi) Research activities.
                            ``(xxxii) Cybersecurity.''.

SEC. 103. BEHAVIORAL TRAFFIC SAFETY COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Section 403(f) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``$2,500,000'' and inserting 
        ``$3,500,000''; and
            (2) by striking ``fiscal year ending before'' and all that 
        follows through ``December 4, 2015'' and inserting ``of fiscal 
        years 2022 through 2026''.

SEC. 104. AMENDMENT TO THE EXPLORATORY ADVANCED RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Section 503(b)(6) of title 23, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
            ``(6) Exploratory advanced research.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out 
                long-term, exploratory advanced research activities to 
                develop potentially transformational solutions to 
                improve the durability, efficiency, environmental 
                impact, productivity, and safety aspects of highway and 
                intermodal transportation systems, including by--
                            ``(i) awarding competitive grants and 
                        cooperative agreements to institutions of 
                        higher education and nonprofit research 
                        organizations (or consortia thereof);
                            ``(ii) leveraging the targeted capabilities 
                        of the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 
                        to develop technologies and innovations of 
                        national importance; and
                            ``(iii) collaborating with other Federal 
                        agencies with relevant expertise, including the 
                        National Science Foundation, the National 
                        Institute of Standards and Technology, and the 
                        Department of Energy.
                    ``(B) Funding.--From funds made available to carry 
                out this subsection, the Secretary shall obligate 
                $25,000,000 to carry out this paragraph for each of 
                fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.

SEC. 105. AMENDMENT TO THE STATE PLANNING AND RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Section 505(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Flexibility.--In addition to the minimum expenditures 
        required under paragraph (1), of the sums apportioned to a 
        State under paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 104(b), a 
        State may use additional funds under such paragraphs for multi-
        state pooled fund research activities.''.

SEC. 106. ROAD WEATHER CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

    Chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

``SEC. 520. ROAD WEATHER CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, and the National Science Foundation, as 
appropriate, shall carry out a program to make awards to institutions 
of higher education or nonprofit research organizations (or a 
consortium thereof) to establish regional road weather research and 
development centers.
    ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the centers established using funds 
under subsection (a) shall be to--
            ``(1) maximize use of available road weather information 
        and technologies;
            ``(2) expand road weather research and development efforts 
        to enhance roadway safety, mobility, and transportation system 
        efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts;
            ``(3) support research and development focused on improving 
        road weather information for automated vehicles and automated 
        transportation systems;
            ``(4) promoting the adoption of road weather information 
        and technologies by Federal, State, and local governments, and 
        private entities; and
            ``(5) foster collaboration among academic researchers, the 
        private sector, State and local governments, and 
        nongovernmental organizations, including transportation, 
        meteorological, and other organizations.
    ``(c) Activities.--The activities of the program established in 
subsection (a) shall include--
            ``(1) supporting research and development to--
                    ``(A) integrate existing observational networks, 
                including mobile and fixed sensor networks, and data 
                management systems for road weather applications;
                    ``(B) improve weather modeling capabilities and 
                forecast tools, such as the road surface and 
                atmospheric interface;
                    ``(C) enhance mechanisms for communicating road 
                weather information to users, such as transportation 
                officials and the public;
                    ``(D) understand the human and cultural factors in 
                driver decision-making in response to road weather 
                hazards and in response to the delivery of road weather 
                information; and
                    ``(E) integrate road weather technologies into an 
                information infrastructure;
            ``(2) improving coordination of research, development, 
        testing, and implementation of road weather information 
        technologies and automated vehicle and automated transportation 
        systems technologies;
            ``(3) partnering with private sector entities to promote 
        secure voluntary data sharing for the purposes of this section;
            ``(4) supporting implementation of road weather information 
        technology and improved communication of road weather 
        information to the public and other users, including 
        transportation officials, emergency managers and vehicle 
        manufacturers;
            ``(5) improving education and training of road weather 
        information users, such as State and local transportation 
        officials and private sector transportation contractors; and
            ``(6) coordinating with transportation weather research 
        activities in other modes, such as transit, railroad, and 
        aviation.
    ``(d) Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--An institution of higher education or a 
        nonprofit research organization (or a consortium thereof) 
        seeking funding under this subsection shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Applications.--Each application under paragraph (1) 
        shall include a description of--
                    ``(A) how the institution of higher education or 
                nonprofit research organization (or consortium thereof) 
                will work together with other research institutions, 
                industry partners, and State and local transportation 
                officials to carry out activities described in 
                subsection (c); and
                    ``(B) how the institution of higher education or 
                nonprofit research organization (or consortium thereof) 
                will promote multidisciplinary research to improve road 
                weather information implementation.
            ``(3) Selection and duration.--The Secretary, in 
        consultation with National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration and the National Science Foundation, shall 
        select not less than six regional centers that represent 
        diverse geographic regions and weather patterns, and to the 
        extent possible be located along major United States 
        transportation corridors. Each center established under this 
        section is authorized to carry out activities for a period of 5 
        years, renewable for an additional 5 years at the discretion of 
        the Director.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts made 
available by section 101(a)(2) of the Surface Transportation Research 
and Development Act of 2020, $12,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2022 through 2026 shall be made available to carry out this section.''.

              TITLE II--MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) University Transportation Centers Program.--The following 
amounts are authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund 
(other than the Mass Transit Account) to carry out section 5505 of 
title 49, United States Code:
            (1) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
            (2) $159,750,000 for fiscal year 2023.
            (3) $170,134,000 for fiscal year 2024.
            (4) $181,192,000 for fiscal year 2025.
            (5) $192,970,000 for fiscal year 2026.
    (b) Bureau of Transportation Statistics.--The following amounts are 
authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than 
the Mass Transit Account) to carry out chapter 63 of title 49, United 
States Code:
            (1) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
            (2) $35,875,000 for fiscal year 2023.
            (3) $36,772,000 for fiscal year 2024.
            (4) $37,691,000 for fiscal year 2025.
            (5) $38,633,000 for fiscal year 2026.
    (c) Transit Research and Development.--Section 5338(a)(2)(G) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(G) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, $35,875,000 
                for fiscal year 2023, $36,772,000 for fiscal year 2024, 
                $37,691,000 for fiscal year 2025, and $38,633,000 for 
                fiscal year 2026, shall be available to carry out 
                section 5312;''.
    (d) National Cooperative Rail Research Program.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 24910 of title 49, 
United States Code, $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
2026.
    (e) Hazardous Materials Research and Development.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 5118(c) of title 49, 
United States Code, $2,000,000 from the Highway Trust Fund and 
$2,000,000 from the General Fund for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
2026.
    (f) National Cooperative Freight Transportation Research Program.--
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 5509 of 
title 49, United States Code, $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
through 2026.

SEC. 202. ADVISORY COUNCIL ON TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS.

    Section 6305 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``The Director'' and all 
        that follows to the period and inserting ``Notwithstanding 
        section 418 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
        115-254), not later than 6 months after the date of enactment 
        of this Act, the Director shall establish and consult with an 
        advisory council on transportation statistics.''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (d)(3).

SEC. 203. AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS PROGRAM.

    Section 5505 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
                subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting the following before subparagraph 
                (C) as so redesignated:
                    ``(B) to address emerging transportation 
                challenges, as appropriate, including reducing 
                cybersecurity risks or other issues that have broad 
                impact to the issue areas specified in section 
                6503(c);'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(4)(A), by striking ``research 
        priorities identified in chapter 65.'' and inserting the 
        following: ``following research priorities:
                            ``(i) Improving the mobility of people and 
                        goods.
                            ``(ii) Reducing Congestion.
                            ``(iii) Promoting Safety.
                            ``(iv) Improving the durability and 
                        extending the life of transportation 
                        infrastructure and the existing transportation 
                        system.
                            ``(v) Preserving the environment.''; and
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``5'' 
                        and inserting ``10'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) by striking ``$4,000,000'' and 
                                inserting ``$6,000,000''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``$2,000,000'' and 
                                inserting ``$3,000,000'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by striking ``As 
                                a condition'' and inserting ``Subject 
                                to clause (ii), as a condition'';
                                    (II) in clause (ii), by striking 
                                ``section 6503(c)'' and inserting 
                                ``subsection (b)(4)(A)'';
                                    (III) by redesignating clause (ii) 
                                as clause (iii); and
                                    (IV) by inserting after clause (i) 
                                the following:
                            ``(ii) Exception.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--For fiscal years 
                                2022 and 2023, as a condition of 
                                receiving a grant under this paragraph, 
                                a grant recipient shall match 50 
                                percent of the amounts made available 
                                under the grant.
                                    ``(II) National emergency.--The 
                                Secretary may reduce the percentage 
                                described in subclause (I) to not less 
                                than 50 percent during a national 
                                emergency.'';
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) Requirement.--In awarding grants under this 
                section, the Secretary shall ensure that each of the 
                focus areas described in subsection (b)(4)(A) is the 
                priority focus for at least 1 national center.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) by striking ``$3,000,000'' and 
                                inserting ``$4,500,000''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``$1,500,000'' and 
                                inserting ``$2,500,000'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D)--
                                    (I) by striking ``As a condition'' 
                                and inserting ``Subject to clause (ii), 
                                as a condition'';
                                    (II) by redesignating clause (ii) 
                                as clause (iii); and
                                    (III) by inserting after clause (i) 
                                the following:
                            ``(ii) Exception.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--For fiscal years 
                                2022 and 2023, as a condition of 
                                receiving a grant under this paragraph, 
                                a grant recipient shall match 50 
                                percent of the amounts made available 
                                under the grant.
                                    ``(II) National emergency.--The 
                                Secretary may reduce the percentage 
                                described in subclause (I) to not less 
                                than 50 percent during a national 
                                emergency.''; and
                            (iii) by striking subparagraph (E);
                    (C) in paragraph (4)(A)--
                            (i) by striking ``The'' and inserting ``For 
                        each fiscal year, the'';
                            (ii) by striking ``$2,000,000'' and 
                        inserting ``$3,000,000'';
                            (iii) by striking ``$1,000,000'' and 
                        inserting ``$1,500,000''; and
                            (iv) by striking ``20'' and inserting 
                        ``30''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section, a grant is 
defined as a traditional grant award and not a cooperative agreement, 
such as a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, or other 
contractual vehicle.''.

SEC. 204. RESILIENT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE CENTERS OF 
              EXCELLENCE.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter 1 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 5506. RESILIENT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE CENTERS OF 
              EXCELLENCE.

    ``(a) Centers of Excellence.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
establish five Centers of Excellence to advance research and 
development that improves the resilience of regions of the United 
States to natural disasters, extreme weather, and the effects of 
climate change on modal and multimodal transportation and 
infrastructure.
    ``(b) Activities.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
shall ensure the Centers promote resilient infrastructure through--
            ``(1) development of new design, operations, and 
        maintenance standards that incorporate existing and anticipated 
        impacts of natural disasters, extreme weather, and climate 
        change;
            ``(2) development and integration of new materials and 
        technologies into existing and future modal and multimodal 
        transportation infrastructure;
            ``(3) workforce development and training; and
            ``(4) development and dissemination of tools, techniques, 
        and information that informs Federal, State, and local 
        government decision making, policies, planning, and 
        investments.
    ``(c) Center Coordination.--In making awards under subsection (f), 
the Secretary shall designate one of the Centers to coordinate 
activities of all five Centers to prevent duplication and promote 
dissemination of research among awardees.
    ``(d) Eligibility.--An institution of higher education as defined 
by section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002) or 
a consortium led by an institution of higher education shall be 
eligible to receive grants under this program.
    ``(e) Location.--Centers shall be located in diverse geographic 
regions that experience different natural disasters, extreme weather 
patterns, and climate change impacts.
    ``(f) Selection Criteria.--In awarding a grant, the Secretary 
shall--
            ``(1) give preference to the recipient's past performance 
        in the activities related to subsection (b);
            ``(2) consider the extent to which an applicant's proposal 
        would involve participation by local, regional, and national 
        stakeholders; and
            ``(3) consider the local, regional, and national impacts of 
        the applicant's proposal.
    ``(g) Use of Funds.--Funds awarded under this subsection shall be 
used for--
            ``(1) research and development;
            ``(2) education, workforce development, and outreach; and
            ``(3) technology transfer and commercialization.
    ``(h) Federal Share.--The Federal share of a grant under this 
subsection shall be 50 percent of the costs of establishing and 
operating the center of excellence and related activities carried out 
by the grant recipient.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2022 through 2026 for grants under this subsection.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for such 
subchapter is amended by adding at the end the following:

``5506. Resilient Transportation Infrastructure Centers of 
                            Excellence.''.

SEC. 205. TRANSPORTATION DATA FOR HEALTHY LIVING STUDY PILOT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall publish the results a study for the 
purpose of informing land use and transportation planning for 
accessible health, food, education, and other essential services and 
activities.
    (b) Contents.--In carrying out the study, the Secretary shall 
collect and analyze data to determine--
            (1) if individuals travel to essential services and 
        activities;
            (2) how individuals travel to essential services and 
        activities;
            (3) how far individuals travel to essential services and 
        activities; and
            (4) to the extent practicable, the geographic location and 
        socioeconomic status of the study participants.
    (c) Geographic and Socioeconomic Diversity; Consultation.--In 
carrying out the study, the Secretary shall--
            (1) select geographically diverse areas, including rural, 
        tribal, and urban areas, and socioeconomically diverse 
        populations; and
            (2) consult with other Federal and State statistical 
        agencies with relevant data related to essential services.
    (d) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out the activities of this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 and 2023.

SEC. 206. VEHICULAR DATA ANALYTICS PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a pilot program for 
the purpose of integrating vehicle on-board sensor data with public and 
private data sets in existence as of the date of the enactment of this 
Act to improve safety, operations, cost reduction, and congestion 
relief strategies for local and State transportation authorities and 
private sector partners.
    (b) Award.--In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall make one or more awards to an institution of higher 
education or nonprofit research organization (or a consortium thereof).
    (c) Partnership.--The Secretary shall require a recipient of an 
award under subsection (b) to, on a voluntary basis, partner with 
private sector organizations and local and State transportation 
authorities to facilitate--
            (1) access to vehicle on-board sensor data; and
            (2) the sharing of information regarding operational needs 
        and research and development priorities from such organizations 
        or authorities to such recipient.
    (d) Activities.--The activities of the pilot program shall 
include--
            (1) development of strategies for the acquisition, 
        management, and analysis of large-scale vehicular on-board 
        sensor data to ensure the privacy and security of such data; 
        and
            (2) research and development to analyze and integrate 
        vehicle on-board sensor data with public and private data sets 
        in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act, 
        including development of applications to address safety, 
        operations, cost reduction, congestion mitigations, and other 
        transportation challenges.
    (e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee 
on Commerce and Transportation of the Senate, a report detailing--
            (1) a summary of the activities of the pilot program under 
        subsection (a); and
            (2) recommendations for continuing such pilot program or 
        integrating such pilot program into the activities of the 
        Department.
    (f) Protections.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall 
apply all applicable privacy protections of the Department of 
Transportation.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the activities of this section $4,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

SEC. 207. NATIONAL COOPERATIVE FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 702 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 70205. National cooperative freight transportation research 
              program
    ``(a) Establishment.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish 
and support a multimodal national cooperative freight transportation 
research program.
    ``(b) Agreement.--Upon establishment of the program under (a), the 
Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of 
Sciences to support and carry out administrative and management 
activities relating to the governance of the national cooperative 
freight transportation research program.
    ``(c) Advisory Committee.--The National Academy of Sciences shall 
select an advisory committee consisting of a representative cross-
section of freight stakeholders, including the Department of 
Transportation, other Federal agencies, State transportation 
departments, local governments, nonprofit research organizations, 
academia, and the private sector.
    ``(d) Governance.--The national cooperative freight transportation 
research program established under this section may include the 
following administrative and management elements:
            ``(1) National research agenda.--The advisory committee, in 
        consultation with interested parties, shall recommend a multi-
        year national research agenda for the program. At a minimum, 
        the advisory committee shall consider--
                    ``(A) techniques for estimating and quantifying 
                public benefits derived from transportation projects;
                    ``(B) methods for incorporating estimates of 
                international trade, originating at both water and land 
                ports, into landside transportation planning;
                    ``(C) ways to synchronize infrastructure 
                improvements with freight transportation demand, 
                including impacts of e-commerce on freight demand, and 
                strategies for better management;
                    ``(D) the effect of changing patterns of freight 
                movement on transportation planning decisions relating 
                to rest areas and implementation of truck parking 
                solutions;
                    ``(E) new innovative technologies and tools for 
                data collection, analysis, modeling, routing, and 
                overall management of freight movement;
                    ``(F) ways to advance deployment of freight 
                intelligent transportation systems, including advanced 
                information systems;
                    ``(G) methods for developing the outreach tools and 
                incentives to increase the workforce;
                    ``(H) new methods and technologies for monitoring 
                and enforcement, including data sharing and 
                harmonization;
                    ``(I) new methods and policies for incorporating 
                freight in urban transportation and land use planning; 
                and
                    ``(J) other research areas, including human factors 
                research, to identify and address emerging and future 
                research needs related to freight transportation by all 
                modes.
            ``(2) Program administration.--In carrying out the program 
        under this section, the National Academy of Sciences shall 
        ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that grants and 
        contracts awarded under this section are selected through open 
        competitions and merit review conducted on a regular basis.
            ``(3) Dissemination of research findings.--The National 
        Academy of Sciences shall disseminate research findings to 
        researchers, practitioners, and decisionmakers, including 
        through conferences and seminars, field demonstrations, 
        workshops, presentations, testimony to government officials, 
        the Internet, publications for the general public, and other 
        appropriate means.
    ``(e) Funding.--
            ``(1) Use of non-federal funds.--In addition to using funds 
        authorized for this section, the National Academy of Sciences 
        may seek and accept additional funding from non-Federal 
        sources, including public and private entities.
            ``(2) Period of availability.--Amounts made available to 
        carry out this section shall remain available until 
        expended.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for such chapter 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``70205. National cooperative freight transportation research 
                            program.''.

SEC. 208. HEAVY FREIGHT AUTOMATED TRUCKING RESEARCH CORRIDOR.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter 1 of chapter 55 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 5507. Heavy Freight Automated Trucking Research Corridor
    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 
2021, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish a Heavy Freight 
Automated Trucking Research Initiative to explore the potential 
benefits and risks of the broad scale adoption of heavy freight 
automated commercial motor vehicles.
    ``(b) Responsibilities.--In carrying out the initiative established 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) support and conduct research and development on 
        automated and connected freight trucking with private industry, 
        driver associations, other Federal agencies, State and local 
        Transportation agencies, and a National Transportation center 
        selected under section 5505(c)(2) of title 49, United States 
        Code; and
            ``(2) support or establish a heavy freight automated 
        trucking testing and demonstration corridor and related pilot 
        programs.
    ``(c) Research and Development Agenda.--The Secretary shall 
establish an agenda for research and development conducted under 
subsection (b)(1) and the programs described in subsection (b)(2) that 
at a minimum, may include--
            ``(1) analyzing, modeling, and piloting the feasibility, 
        benefits, and risks of dedicated automated trucking corridors, 
        including their impact on--
                    ``(A) long Distance Freight movement;
                    ``(B) supply chains;
                    ``(C) fuel economy and emissions;
                    ``(D) transportation infrastructure;
                    ``(E) vehicle miles traveled;
                    ``(F) small business concerns (as defined in 
                section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632);
                    ``(G) the freight trucking workforce, including any 
                impact on pay, benefits, and working conditions in both 
                long-haul trucking and for any driving, warehousing, or 
                operations jobs being created;
                    ``(H) safety, including interactions with non-
                automated motor vehicles and other road users; and
                    ``(I) surrounding communities.
            ``(2) providing deployment guidance, including for--
                    ``(A) cyber-physical security; and
                    ``(B) human factors, including human-machine 
                interfaces, psychological impacts, training the next 
                generation of the transportation workforce, and how to 
                address impacts on the workforce, including impacts on 
                driver retention and on wages, benefits, and working 
                conditions across the industry.
    ``(d) Outreach and Consultation.--In developing the research agenda 
under subsection (b), the Secretary shall conduct outreach to, and 
solicit input from, public, private, and academic stakeholders, 
including individual workers and labor organizations (as defined in 
section 2 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152)).
    ``(e) Eligibility.--An institution of higher education (as defined 
by section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) or 
a consortium composed of nonprofit research organizations and 
institutions of higher education shall be eligible to receive grants 
under this program.
    ``(f) Selection Criteria.--In awarding a grant, the Secretary 
shall--
            ``(1) give preference to the recipient's past and current 
        collaboration with local and State transportation agencies, 
        other Federal agencies, private industry, and driver 
        associations in activities related to this section;
            ``(2) give preference to a recipient whose geographic 
        location offers access to long haul trucking corridors;
            ``(3) consider the extent to which an applicant's proposal 
        would involve participation by local, regional, and national 
        stakeholders; and
            ``(4) consider the local, regional, and national impacts of 
        the applicant's proposal.
    ``(g) Matching Requirement.--
            ``(1) In general.--As a condition of receiving a grant 
        under subsection (b)(2), a grant recipient shall match 50 
        percent of the costs of establishing and operating the testing 
        and demonstration corridor and related activities carried out 
        by the grant recipient.
            ``(2) Sources.--The matching amounts referred to in 
        paragraph (1) may include amounts made available to the 
        recipient under--
                    ``(A) section 504(b) of title 23; or
                    ``(B) section 505 of title 23.
    ``(h) Transparency.--The results of testing and research funded 
under this section shall be made available on a publicly accessible 
website of the Department of Transportation.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $6,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2022 through 2026 for grants under subsection (b)(2).
    ``(j) Definitions.--In this section, the term `heavy freight 
automated commercial motor vehicle' means a commercial motor vehicle as 
the term is defined in section 31101 of title 49, United States Code, 
that--
            ``(1) is designed to transport freight in interstate 
        commerce and has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle 
        weight of at least 26,001 pounds, whichever is greater; and
            ``(2) is designed to be operated exclusively by a Level 4 
        automated driving system for trips within its operational 
        design domain or a Level 5 automated driving system for all 
        trips according to the recommended practice standards published 
        on June 15, 2018, by the Society of Automotive Engineers 
        International (J3016_201806) or, when adopted, equivalent 
        standards established by the Secretary with respect to 
        automated motor vehicles, while operating on public roads.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for such 
subchapter is amended by adding at the end the following:

``5507. Heavy Freight Autonomous Trucking Research Corridor.''.

SEC. 209. STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter 1 of chapter 55 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 5508. SCOPING A NEW STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with 
the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to 
undertake a study of the research needs of the surface transportation 
system to fully adapt and integrate advanced technologies and 
innovation. The study shall include the following focus areas--
            ``(1) advancing connected and autonomous technologies;
            ``(2) incorporating safety-related technologies;
            ``(3) addressing infrastructure resiliency;
            ``(4) multimodal connectivity;
            ``(5) data gathering of travel behavior, including the 
        public's short and long-term responses to transformational 
        technologies;
            ``(6) impacts of private-sector transportation product 
        development on society and the traditional research enterprise;
            ``(7) support for a public-sector culture of transportation 
        innovation and acceleration of federally-funded research into 
        practice, codes, and standards; and
            ``(8) fostering development of transportation educators and 
        transportation professionals.
    ``(b) Report.--The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 
Medicine shall submit a report to Congress not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for such 
subchapter is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``5508. Strategic Transportation Research Program.''.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2022.

SEC. 210. ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 55 of title 49, United 
States Code, as amended, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 5509. Advanced Transportation Research and Innovation Program
    ``(a) Establishment; Purposes.--The Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish the Advanced Transportation Research and Innovation 
Program, to be administered by the Assistant Secretary of Research and 
Technology. The purposes of the program shall be to--
            ``(1) support research that addresses the long-term 
        barriers to development of multimodal advanced transportation 
        technologies with the potential to meet the Nation's long-term 
        safety, competitiveness, and transportation goals;
            ``(2) support high-risk research and development to 
        accelerate transformational transportation innovations and make 
        federal investments in emerging technology development;
            ``(3) leverage Federal interagency research mechanisms and 
        the academic research enterprise;
            ``(4) educate and train students in science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics fields to conduct research and 
        standards development relevant to transportation technologies, 
        materials, systems, operations, processes, and policies; and
            ``(5) fostering collaboration among Federal researchers and 
        academic researchers.
    ``(b) Interagency Collaboration.--The Secretary shall collaborate 
on, identify, and disseminate within the Department, as appropriate, 
advanced transportation research, development, and other activities of 
other Federal agencies, including the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of 
Homeland Security, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department 
of Defense to ensure the Department's research investments are making 
the best possible contribution to the Nation's goals of public health 
and safety, economic prosperity, national security, and environmental 
quality.
    ``(c) Research Grants.--The Secretary may support the purposes of 
the program and carry out activities described under subsection (a) 
through--
            ``(1) competitive, merit-based basic research grants to 
        individual investigators and teams of investigators; and
            ``(2) centers of excellence selected through a competitive, 
        merit-based process.
    ``(d) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--An investigator, team of investigators, 
        or an institution of higher education (or consortium thereof) 
        seeking funding under this section shall submit an application 
        to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing 
        such information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Research centers.--Each application under paragraph 
        (1) from an institution of higher education (or consortium 
        thereof) shall include a description of how the Center will 
        promote multidisciplinary transportation research and 
        development collaboration.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026.
    ``(f) Research.--At a minimum, the Secretary shall award 75 percent 
of awards under this program to projects for basic research.
    ``(g) Review.--Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary 
shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies to conduct a 
review of the research and activities carried out under this program 
and assess whether they are consistent with meeting the purposes 
described in subsection (a). Members of the review panel shall 
represent, at a minimum, multimodal surface transportation researchers 
and practitioners.
    ``(h) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall provide to 
the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Environment 
and Public Works of the Senate and the Committees on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives a report on implementation of this program and research 
areas that the program will support.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for such 
subchapter, as amended, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``5509. Advanced Transportation Research and Innovation Program''.

SEC. 211. RAIL COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Section 24910 of title 49, United States Code is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(3) by striking ``2019'' and inserting 
        ``2026''; and
            (2) in subsection (e) by striking ``2010 through 2013'' and 
        inserting ``2022 through 2026''.

SEC. 212. MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary may establish a program for the 
demonstration of advanced transportation technologies, including 
autonomous systems, for surface transportation modes, including 
highways, public transportation, freight, ports, and maritime.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this program is to provide Federal 
investment in the demonstration of emerging technologies in small and 
mid-sized communities to achieve the purposes of the national 
transportation research and development program described in section 
6503 of title 49, United States Code. Activities supported under this 
section may include data interoperability, mobility-on-demand and 
micro-mobility projects to demonstrate first-mile/last-mile 
transportation, and any other topics as determined by the Secretary. 
Where appropriate, joint interagency funding for projects is authorized 
to support multimodal projects.
    (c) Eligibility.--Eligible recipients of grants under this program 
include local transportation organizations and transit agencies serving 
a population of not more than 250,000 individuals, including 
communities of economic hardship and communities that experience 
transportation equity and accessibility issues.
    (d) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An organization seeking funding under this 
        section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
        time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
        Secretary may require.
            (2) Collaboration.--Each application submitted under this 
        section shall describe how that organization will collaborate, 
        as appropriate, with institutions of higher education, State 
        and local governments, regional transportation organizations, 
        nonprofit research organizations, and private sector entities.
    (e) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out activities under this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2022 through 2026.

SEC. 213. ADVISORY COUNCIL ON TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Establishment.--In consultation with the Assistant Secretary 
for Research and Technology, the Secretary shall establish a surface 
transportation research and development advisory board.
    (b) Duties.--It shall be the duty of the advisory board to review 
and make recommendations to the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary 
for Research and Technology for general policy for the Department's 
surface transportation research and development activities, its 
organization, its budget and its programs as they relate to national 
surface transportation policies.
    (c) Membership.--The Secretary shall appoint not less than 9 
members from State transportation departments, local governments, 
nonprofit organizations, academia, and the private sector, a majority 
of whom shall be from institutions of higher education.
    (d) Qualifications.--The persons appointed as members of the 
advisory board--
            (1) shall be experts in areas such as Federal 
        transportation research and development, engineering, 
        education, climate change, resilient transportation 
        technologies; public-private partnerships; data science; 
        information and communications technologies; and social, 
        behavioral and economic sciences;
            (2) shall be selected solely on the basis of established 
        records of distinguished service;
            (3) shall not be employees of the Federal Government; and
            (4) shall represent multiple surface transportation modes 
        and disciplines of legacy and emerging technologies, materials, 
        and processes.
    (e) Report.--The advisory board established in this section shall 
make publicly available a biennial report of recommendations made by 
the advisory board to the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for 
Research and Technology and any such additional reports the advisory 
board deems necessary.

SEC. 214. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT QUINQUENNIAL REVIEW 
              AND STRATEGIC PLAN.

    Section 6503 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``The Secretary'' and 
        inserting ``For each 5-year period beginning with fiscal year 
        2022, the Secretary'';
            (2) in subsection (c)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking the semicolon 
                and inserting ``and security in the transportation 
                system;''; and
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (F) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(F) developing and maintaining a diverse 
                workforce in transportation sectors;''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``not later than 
        December 31, 2016,'' and inserting ``not later than December 
        31, 2022,''.
                                 <all>