Signed Legislation: Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (Part 16)

Read part I of  Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015

SEC. 5518. GAO REVIEW OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a review of the following:

(1) Existing Federal and State rules and guidance, as of the date of the review, concerning school bus transportation of elementary school and secondary school students engaging in home-to-school transport or other transport determined by the Comptroller General to be a routine part of kindergarten through grade 12 education, including regulations and guidance regarding driver training programs, capacity requirements, programs for special needs students, inspection standards, vehicle age requirements, best practices, and public access to inspection results and crash records.

(2) Any correlation between public or private school bus fleet operators whose vehicles are involved in an accident as defined by section 390.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, and each of the following:

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(A) A failure by those same operators of State or local safety inspections.

(B) The average age or odometer readings of the school buses in the fleets of such operators.

(C) Violations of Federal laws administered by the Department of Transportation, or of State law equivalents of such laws.

(D) Violations of State or local law relating to illegal passing of a school bus.

(3) A regulatory framework comparison of public and private school bus operations.

(4) Expert recommendations on best practices for safe and reliable school bus transportation, including driver training programs, inspection standards, school bus age and odometer reading maximums for retirement, the percentage of buses in a local bus fleet needed as spare buses, and capacity levels per school bus for different age groups.

TITLE VI--INNOVATION

SEC. 6001. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the `Transportation for Tomorrow Act of 2015'.

SEC. 6002. 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 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM- To carry out section 503(b) of title 23, United States Code, $125,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021.

(2) TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM- To carry out section 503(c) of title 23, United States Code--

(A) $67,000,000 for fiscal year 2016;

(B) $67,500,000 for fiscal year 2017;

(C) $67,500,000 for fiscal year 2018;

(D) $67,500,000 for fiscal year 2019;

(E) $67,500,000 for fiscal year 2020; and

(F) $67,500,000 for fiscal year 2021.

(3) TRAINING AND EDUCATION- To carry out section 504 of title 23, United States Code $24,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021.

(4) INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS PROGRAM- To carry out sections 512 through 518 of title 23, United States Code $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021.

(5) UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS PROGRAM- To carry out section 5505 of title 49, United States Code--

(A) $72,500,000 for fiscal year 2016;

(B) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2017;

(C) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;

(D) $77,500,000 for fiscal year 2019;

(E) $77,500,000 for fiscal year 2020; and

(F) $77,500,000 for fiscal year 2021.

(6) BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS- To carry out chapter 63 of title 49, United States Code, $26,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021.

(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 apportioned 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, except as otherwise provided in this Act.

SEC. 6003. ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION AND CONGESTION MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES DEPLOYMENT.

Section 503(c) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(4) ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES DEPLOYMENT-

`(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall establish an advanced transportation and congestion management technologies deployment initiative to provide grants to eligible entities to develop model deployment sites for large scale installation and operation of advanced transportation technologies to improve safety, efficiency, system performance, and infrastructure return on investment.

`(B) CRITERIA- The Secretary shall develop criteria for selection of an eligible entity to receive a grant under this paragraph, including how the deployment of technology will--

`(i) reduce costs and improve return on investments, including through the enhanced use of existing transportation capacity;

`(ii) deliver environmental benefits that alleviate congestion and streamline traffic flow;

`(iii) measure and improve the operational performance of the applicable transportation network;

`(iv) reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes and increase driver, passenger, and pedestrian safety;

`(v) collect, disseminate, and use real-time traffic, transit, parking, and other transportation-related information to improve mobility, reduce congestion, and provide for more efficient and accessible transportation;

`(vi) monitor transportation assets to improve infrastructure management, reduce maintenance costs, prioritize investment decisions, and ensure a state of good repair;

`(vii) deliver economic benefits by reducing delays, improving system performance, and providing for the efficient and reliable movement of goods and services; or

`(viii) accelerate the deployment of vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure, autonomous vehicles, and other technologies.

`(C) APPLICATIONS-

`(i) REQUEST- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and for every fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall request applications in accordance with clause (ii).

`(ii) CONTENTS- An application submitted under this subparagraph shall include the following:

`(I) PLAN- A plan to deploy and provide for the long-term operation and maintenance of advanced transportation and congestion management technologies to improve safety, efficiency, system performance, and return on investment.

`(II) OBJECTIVES- Quantifiable system performance improvements, such as--

`(aa) reducing traffic-related crashes, congestion, and costs;

`(bb) optimizing system efficiency; and

`(cc) improving access to transportation services.

`(III) RESULTS- Quantifiable safety, mobility, and environmental benefit projections such as data-driven estimates of how the project will improve the region's transportation system efficiency and reduce traffic congestion.

`(IV) PARTNERSHIPS- A plan for partnering with the private sector or public agencies, including multimodal and multijurisdictional entities, research institutions, organizations representing transportation and technology leaders, or other transportation stakeholders.

`(V) LEVERAGING- A plan to leverage and optimize existing local and regional advanced transportation technology investments.

`(D) GRANT SELECTION-

`(i) GRANT AWARDS- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and for every fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall award grants to not less than 5 and not more than 8 eligible entities.

`(ii) GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY- In awarding a grant under this paragraph, the Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that grant recipients represent diverse geographic areas of the United States.

`(E) USE OF GRANT FUNDS- A grant recipient may use funds awarded under this paragraph to deploy advanced transportation and congestion management technologies, including--

`(i) advanced traveler information systems;

`(ii) advanced transportation management technologies;

`(iii) infrastructure maintenance, monitoring, and condition assessment;

`(iv) advanced public transportation systems;

`(v) transportation system performance data collection, analysis, and dissemination systems;

`(vi) advanced safety systems, including vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, technologies associated with autonomous vehicles, and other collision avoidance technologies, including systems using cellular technology;

`(vii) integration of intelligent transportation systems with the Smart Grid and other energy distribution and charging systems;

`(viii) electronic pricing and payment systems; or

`(ix) advanced mobility and access technologies, such as dynamic ridesharing and information systems to support human services for elderly and disabled individuals.

`(F) REPORT TO SECRETARY- Not later than 1 year after an eligible entity receives a grant under this paragraph, and each year thereafter, the entity shall submit a report to the Secretary that describes--

`(i) deployment and operational costs of the project compared to the benefits and savings the project provides; and

`(ii) how the project has met the original expectations projected in the deployment plan submitted with the application, such as--

`(I) data on how the project has helped reduce traffic crashes, congestion, costs, and other benefits of the deployed systems;

`(II) data on the effect of measuring and improving transportation system performance through the deployment of advanced technologies;

`(III) the effectiveness of providing real-time integrated traffic, transit, and multimodal transportation information to the public to make informed travel decisions; and

`(IV) lessons learned and recommendations for future deployment strategies to optimize transportation efficiency and multimodal system performance.

`(G) REPORT- Not later than 3 years after the date that the first grant is awarded under this paragraph, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall make available to the public on an Internet Web site a report that describes the effectiveness of grant recipients in meeting their projected deployment plans, including data provided under subparagraph (F) on how the program has--

`(i) reduced traffic-related fatalities and injuries;

`(ii) reduced traffic congestion and improved travel time reliability;

`(iii) reduced transportation-related emissions;

`(iv) optimized multimodal system performance;

`(v) improved access to transportation alternatives;

`(vi) provided the public with access to real-time integrated traffic, transit, and multimodal transportation information to make informed travel decisions;

`(vii) provided cost savings to transportation agencies, businesses, and the traveling public; or

`(viii) provided other benefits to transportation users and the general public.

`(H) ADDITIONAL GRANTS- The Secretary may cease to provide additional grant funds to a recipient of a grant under this paragraph if--

`(i) the Secretary determines from such recipient's report that the recipient is not carrying out the requirements of the grant; and

`(ii) the Secretary provides written notice 60 days prior to withholding funds to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate.

`(I) FUNDING-

`(i) IN GENERAL- From funds made available to carry out section 503(b), this subsection, and sections 512 through 518, the Secretary shall set aside for grants awarded under subparagraph (D) $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021.

`(ii) EXPENSES FOR THE SECRETARY- Of the amounts set aside under clause (i), the Secretary may set aside $2,000,000 each fiscal year for program reporting, evaluation, and administrative costs related to this paragraph.

`(J) FEDERAL SHARE- The Federal share of the cost of a project for which a grant is awarded under this subsection shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the project.

`(K) GRANT LIMITATION- The Secretary may not award more than 20 percent of the amount described under subparagraph (I) in a fiscal year to a single grant recipient.

`(L) EXPENSES FOR GRANT RECIPIENTS- A grant recipient under this paragraph may use not more than 5 percent of the funds awarded each fiscal year to carry out planning and reporting requirements.

`(M) GRANT FLEXIBILITY-

`(i) IN GENERAL- If, by August 1 of each fiscal year, the Secretary determines that there are not enough grant applications that meet the requirements described in subparagraph (C) to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall transfer to the programs specified in clause (ii)--

`(I) any of the funds reserved for the fiscal year under subparagraph (I) that the Secretary has not yet awarded under this paragraph; and

`(II) an amount of obligation limitation equal to the amount of funds that the Secretary transfers under subclause (I).

`(ii) PROGRAMS- The programs referred to in clause (i) are--

`(I) the program under section 503(b);

`(II) the program under section 503(c); and

`(III) the programs under sections 512 through 518.

`(iii) DISTRIBUTION- Any transfer of funds and obligation limitation under clause (i) shall be divided among the programs referred to in that clause in the same proportions as the Secretary originally reserved funding from the programs for the fiscal year under subparagraph (I).

`(N) DEFINITIONS- In this paragraph, the following definitions apply:

`(i) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- The term `eligible entity' means a State or local government, a transit agency, metropolitan planning organization representing a population of over 200,000, or other political subdivision of a State or local government or a multijurisdictional group or a consortia of research institutions or academic institutions.

`(ii) ADVANCED AND CONGESTION MANAGEMENT TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES- The term `advanced transportation and congestion management technologies' means technologies that improve the efficiency, safety, or state of good repair of surface transportation systems, including intelligent transportation systems.

`(iii) MULTIJURISDICTIONAL GROUP- The term `multijurisdictional group' means a any combination of State governments, locals governments, metropolitan planning agencies, transit agencies, or other political subdivisions of a State for which each member of the group--

`(I) has signed a written agreement to implement the advanced transportation technologies deployment initiative across jurisdictional boundaries; and

`(II) is an eligible entity under this paragraph.'.

SEC. 6004. TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM.

Section 503(c)(3) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (C) by striking `2013 through 2014' and inserting `2016 through 2021'; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

`(D) PUBLICATION- The Secretary shall make available to the public on an Internet Web site on an annual basis a report on the cost and benefits from deployment of new technology and innovations that substantially and directly resulted from the program established under this paragraph. The report may include an analysis of--

`(i) Federal, State, and local cost savings;

`(ii) project delivery time improvements;

`(iii) reduced fatalities; and

`(iv) congestion impacts.'.

SEC. 6005. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM GOALS.

Section 514(a) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in paragraph (4) by striking `and' at the end;

(2) in paragraph (5) by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

`(6) enhancement of the national freight system and support to national freight policy goals by conducting heavy duty vehicle demonstration activities and accelerating adoption of intelligent transportation system applications in freight operations.'.

SEC. 6006. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PROGRAM REPORT.

Section 515(h)(4) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by striking `February 1 of each year after the date of enactment of the Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Act of 2012' and inserting `May 1 of each year'; and

(2) by striking `submit to Congress' and inserting `make available to the public on a Department of Transportation Web site'.

SEC. 6007. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND STANDARDS.

Section 517(a)(3) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking `memberships are comprised of, and represent,' and inserting `memberships include representatives of'.

SEC. 6008. COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS DEPLOYMENT REPORT.

Section 518(a) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking `Not later than 3' and all that follows through `House of Representatives' and inserting `Not later than July 6, 2016, the Secretary shall make available to the public on a Department of Transportation Web site a report'.

SEC. 6009. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT.

(a) In General- Chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`Sec. 519. Infrastructure development

`Funds made available to carry out this chapter for operational tests--

`(1) shall be used primarily for the development of intelligent transportation system infrastructure, equipment, and systems; and

`(2) to the maximum extent practicable, shall not be used for the construction of physical surface transportation infrastructure unless the construction is incidental and critically necessary to the implementation of an intelligent transportation system project.'.

(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments-

(1) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The analysis for chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`519. Infrastructure development.'.

(2) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT- The item relating to section 512 in the analysis for chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

`512. National ITS program plan.'.

SEC. 6010. DEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS.

(a) Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology- Section 102(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in paragraph (1) by striking `5' and inserting `6'; and

(2) in paragraph (1)(A) by inserting `an Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology,' after `Governmental Affairs,'.

(b) Research Activities- Section 330 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in the section heading by striking `contracts' and inserting `activities';

(2) in subsection (a) by striking `The Secretary of' and inserting `In General- The Secretary of';

(3) in subsection (b) by striking `In carrying' and inserting `Responsibilities- In carrying';

(4) in subsection (c) by striking `The Secretary' and inserting `Publications- The Secretary'; and

(5) by adding at the end the following:

`(d) Duties- The Secretary shall provide for the following:

`(1) Coordination, facilitation, and review of Department of Transportation research and development programs and activities.

`(2) Advancement, and research and development, of innovative technologies, including intelligent transportation systems.

`(3) Comprehensive transportation statistics research, analysis, and reporting.

`(4) Education and training in transportation and transportation-related fields.

`(5) Activities of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center.

`(6) Coordination in support of multimodal and multidisciplinary research activities.

`(e) Additional Authorities- The Secretary may--

`(1) enter into grants and cooperative agreements with Federal agencies, State and local government agencies, other public entities, private organizations, and other persons to conduct research into transportation service and infrastructure assurance and to carry out other research activities of the Department of Transportation;

`(2) carry out, on a cost-shared basis, collaborative research and development to encourage innovative solutions to multimodal transportation problems and stimulate the deployment of new technology with--

`(A) non-Federal entities, including State and local governments, foreign governments, institutions of higher education, corporations, institutions, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and trade associations that are incorporated or established under the laws of any State;

`(B) Federal laboratories; and

`(C) other Federal agencies; and

`(3) directly initiate contracts, grants, cooperative research and development agreements (as defined in section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a)), and other agreements to fund, and accept funds from, the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, State departments of transportation, cities, counties, institutions of higher education, associations, and the agents of those entities to carry out joint transportation research and technology efforts.

`(f) Federal Share-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraph (2), the Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out under subsection (e)(3) shall not exceed 50 percent.

`(2) EXCEPTION- If the Secretary determines that the activity is of substantial public interest or benefit, the Secretary may approve a greater Federal share.

`(3) NON-FEDERAL SHARE- All costs directly incurred by the non-Federal partners, including personnel, travel, facility, and hardware development costs, shall be credited toward the non-Federal share of the cost of an activity described in subsection (e)(3).

`(g) Program Evaluation and Oversight- For each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021, the Secretary is authorized to expend not more than 1 and a half percent of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the coordination, evaluation, and oversight of the programs administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology.

`(h) Use of Technology- The research, development, or use of a technology under a contract, grant, cooperative research and development agreement, or other agreement entered into under this section, including the terms under which the technology may be licensed and the resulting royalties may be distributed, shall be subject to the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).

`(i) Waiver of Advertising Requirements- Section 6101 of title 41 shall not apply to a contract, grant, or other agreement entered into under this section.'.

(c) Clerical Amendment- The item relating to section 330 in the analysis of chapter 3 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

`330. Research activities.'.

(d) Technical and Conforming Amendments-

(1) TITLE 5 AMENDMENTS-

(A) POSITIONS AT LEVEL II- Section 5313 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking `The Under Secretary of Transportation for Security.'.

(B) POSITIONS AT LEVEL IV- Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended in the undesignated item relating to Assistant Secretaries of Transportation by striking `(4)' and inserting `(5)'.

(C) POSITIONS AT LEVEL V- Section 5316 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking `Associate Deputy Secretary, Department of Transportation.'.

(2) BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS- Section 6302(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

`(a) In General- There shall be within the Department of Transportation the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.'.

SEC. 6011. RESEARCH AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION.

(a) Repeal- Section 112 of title 49, United States Code, is repealed.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The analysis for chapter 1 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 112.

SEC. 6012. OFFICE OF INTERMODALISM.

(a) Repeal- Section 5503 of title 49, United States Code, is repealed.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The analysis for chapter 55 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 5503.

SEC. 6013. UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS.

Section 5505 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

`Sec. 5505. University transportation centers program

`(a) University Transportation Centers Program-

`(1) ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION- The Secretary shall make grants under this section to eligible nonprofit institutions of higher education to establish and operate university transportation centers.

`(2) ROLE OF CENTERS- The role of each university transportation center referred to in paragraph (1) shall be--

`(A) to advance transportation expertise and technology in the varied disciplines that comprise the field of transportation through education, research, and technology transfer activities;

`(B) to provide for a critical transportation knowledge base outside of the Department of Transportation; and

`(C) to address critical workforce needs and educate the next generation of transportation leaders.

`(b) Competitive Selection Process-

`(1) APPLICATIONS- To receive a grant under this section, a consortium of nonprofit institutions of higher education shall submit to the Secretary an application that is in such form and contains such information as the Secretary may require.

`(2) RESTRICTION-

`(A) LIMITATION- A lead institution of a consortium of nonprofit institutions of higher education, as applicable, may only submit 1 grant application per fiscal year for each of the transportation centers described under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (c).

`(B) EXCEPTION FOR CONSORTIUM MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT LEAD INSTITUTIONS- Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a nonprofit institution of higher education that is a member of a consortium of nonprofit institutions of higher education but not the lead institution of such consortium.

`(3) COORDINATION- The Secretary shall solicit grant applications for national transportation centers, regional transportation centers, and Tier 1 university transportation centers with identical advertisement schedules and deadlines.

`(4) GENERAL SELECTION CRITERIA-

`(A) IN GENERAL- Except as otherwise provided by this section, the Secretary shall award grants under this section in nonexclusive candidate topic areas established by the Secretary that address the research priorities identified in section 503 of title 23.

`(B) CRITERIA- The Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, shall select each recipient of a grant under this section through a competitive process based on the assessment of the Secretary relating to--

`(i) the demonstrated ability of the recipient to address each specific topic area described in the research and strategic plans of the recipient;

`(ii) the demonstrated research, technology transfer, and education resources available to the recipient to carry out this section;

`(iii) the ability of the recipient to provide leadership in solving immediate and long-range national and regional transportation problems;

`(iv) the ability of the recipient to carry out research, education, and technology transfer activities that are multimodal and multidisciplinary in scope;

`(v) the demonstrated commitment of the recipient to carry out transportation workforce development programs through--

`(I) degree-granting programs or programs that provide other industry-recognized credentials; and

`(II) outreach activities to attract new entrants into the transportation field, including women and underrepresented populations;

`(vi) the demonstrated ability of the recipient to disseminate results and spur the implementation of transportation research and education programs through national or statewide continuing education programs;

`(vii) the demonstrated commitment of the recipient to the use of peer review principles and other research best practices in the selection, management, and dissemination of research projects;

`(viii) the strategic plan submitted by the recipient describing the proposed research to be carried out by the recipient and the performance metrics to be used in assessing the performance of the recipient in meeting the stated research, technology transfer, education, and outreach goals; and

`(ix) the ability of the recipient to implement the proposed program in a cost-efficient manner, such as through cost sharing and overall reduced overhead, facilities, and administrative costs.

`(5) TRANSPARENCY-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall provide to each applicant, upon request, any materials, including copies of reviews (with any information that would identify a reviewer redacted), used in the evaluation process of the proposal of the applicant.

`(B) REPORTS- The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report describing the overall review process under paragraph (3) that includes--

`(i) specific criteria of evaluation used in the review;

`(ii) descriptions of the review process; and

`(iii) explanations of the selected awards.

`(6) OUTSIDE STAKEHOLDERS- The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, consult external stakeholders such as the Transportation Research Board of the National Research Council of the National Academies to evaluate and competitively review all proposals.

`(c) Grants-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary, Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, and the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration shall select grant recipients under subsection (b) and make grant amounts available to the selected recipients.

`(2) NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION CENTERS-

`(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall provide grants to 5 consortia that the Secretary determines best meet the criteria described in subsection (b)(4).

`(B) RESTRICTIONS-

`(i) IN GENERAL- For each fiscal year, a grant made available under this paragraph shall be not greater than $4,000,000 and not less than $2,000,000 per recipient.

`(ii) FOCUSED RESEARCH- A consortium receiving a grant under this paragraph shall focus research on 1 of the transportation issue areas specified in section 508(a)(2) of title 23.

`(C) MATCHING REQUIREMENT-

`(i) IN GENERAL- As a condition of receiving a grant under this paragraph, a grant recipient shall match 100 percent of the amounts made available under the grant.

`(ii) SOURCES- The matching amounts referred to in clause (i) may include amounts made available to the recipient under--

`(I) section 504(b) of title 23; or

`(II) section 505 of title 23.

`(3) REGIONAL UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS-

`(A) LOCATION OF REGIONAL CENTERS- One regional university transportation center shall be located in each of the 10 Federal regions that comprise the Standard Federal Regions established by the Office of Management and Budget in the document entitled `Standard Federal Regions' and dated April 1974 (circular A-105).

`(B) SELECTION CRITERIA- In conducting a competition under subsection (b), the Secretary shall provide grants to 10 consortia on the basis of--

`(i) the criteria described in subsection (b)(4);

`(ii) the location of the lead center within the Federal region to be served; and

`(iii) whether the consortium of institutions demonstrates that the consortium has a well-established, nationally recognized program in transportation research and education, as evidenced by--

`(I) recent expenditures by the institution in highway or public transportation research;

`(II) a historical track record of awarding graduate degrees in professional fields closely related to highways and public transportation; and

`(III) an experienced faculty who specialize in professional fields closely related to highways and public transportation.

`(C) RESTRICTIONS- For each fiscal year, a grant made available under this paragraph shall be not greater than $3,000,000 and not less than $1,500,000 per recipient.

`(D) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS-

`(i) IN GENERAL- As a condition of receiving a grant under this paragraph, a grant recipient shall match 100 percent of the amounts made available under the grant.

`(ii) SOURCES- The matching amounts referred to in clause (i) may include amounts made available to the recipient under--

`(I) section 504(b) of title 23; or

`(II) section 505 of title 23.

`(E) FOCUSED RESEARCH- The Secretary shall make a grant to 1 of the 10 regional university transportation centers established under this paragraph for the purpose of furthering the objectives described in subsection (a)(2) in the field of comprehensive transportation safety, congestion, connected vehicles, connected infrastructure, and autonomous vehicles.

`(4) TIER 1 UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall provide grants of not greater than $2,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000 to not more than 20 recipients to carry out this paragraph.

`(B) MATCHING REQUIREMENT-

`(i) IN GENERAL- 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) SOURCES- The matching amounts referred to in clause (i) may include amounts made available to the recipient under--

`(I) section 504(b) of title 23; or

`(II) section 505 of title 23.

`(C) FOCUSED RESEARCH- In awarding grants under this section, consideration shall be given to minority institutions, as defined by section 365 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k), or consortia that include such institutions that have demonstrated an ability in transportation-related research.

`(d) Program Coordination-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall--

`(A) coordinate the research, education, and technology transfer activities carried out by grant recipients under this section; and

`(B) disseminate the results of that research through the establishment and operation of a publicly accessible online information clearinghouse.

`(2) ANNUAL REVIEW AND EVALUATION- Not less frequently than annually, and consistent with the plan developed under section 508 of title 23, the Secretary shall--

`(A) review and evaluate the programs carried out under this section by grant recipients; and

`(B) submit to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report describing that review and evaluation.

`(3) PROGRAM EVALUATION AND OVERSIGHT- For each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021, the Secretary shall expend not more than 1 and a half percent of the amounts made available to the Secretary to carry out this section for any coordination, evaluation, and oversight activities of the Secretary under this section.

`(e) Limitation on Availability of Amounts- Amounts made available to the Secretary to carry out this section shall remain available for obligation by the Secretary for a period of 3 years after the last day of the fiscal year for which the amounts are authorized.

`(f) Information Collection- Any survey, questionnaire, or interview that the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out reporting requirements relating to any program assessment or evaluation activity under this section, including customer satisfaction assessments, shall not be subject to chapter 35 of title 44.'.

SEC. 6014. BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS.

(a) Bureau of Transportation Statistics- Section 6302(b)(3)(B) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in clause (vi)(III) by striking `section 6310' and inserting `section 6309';

(2) by redesignating clauses (vii), (viii), (ix), and (x) as clauses (x), (xi), (xii), and (xiii), respectively; and

(3) by inserting after clause (vi) the following:

`(vii) develop and improve transportation economic accounts to meet demand for methods for estimating the economic value of transportation infrastructure, investment, and services;

`(viii) not be required to obtain the approval of any other officer or employee of the Department in connection with the collection or analysis of any information;

`(ix) not be required, prior to publication, to obtain the approval of any other officer or employee of the Federal Government with respect to the substance of any statistical technical reports or press releases that the Director has prepared in accordance with the law;'.

(b) Technical Amendment- Section 6311(5) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking `section 6310' and inserting `section 6309'.

SEC. 6015. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FUNDING ALTERNATIVES.

(a) In General- The Secretary shall establish a program to provide grants to States to demonstrate user-based alternative revenue mechanisms that utilize a user fee structure to maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.

(b) Application- To be eligible for a grant under this section, a State or group of States shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(c) Objectives- The Secretary shall ensure that the activities carried out using funds provided under this section meet the following objectives:

(1) To test the design, acceptance, and implementation of 2 or more future user-based alternative revenue mechanisms.

(2) To improve the functionality of such user-based alternative revenue mechanisms.

(3) To conduct outreach to increase public awareness regarding the need for alternative funding sources for surface transportation programs and to provide information on possible approaches.

(4) To provide recommendations regarding adoption and implementation of user-based alternative revenue mechanisms.

(5) To minimize the administrative cost of any potential user-based alternative revenue mechanisms.

(d) Use of Funds- A State or group of States receiving funds under this section to test the design, acceptance, and implementation of a user-based alternative revenue mechanism--

(1) shall address--

(A) the implementation, interoperability, public acceptance, and other potential hurdles to the adoption of the user-based alternative revenue mechanism;

(B) the protection of personal privacy;

(C) the use of independent and private third-party vendors to collect fees and operate the user-based alternative revenue mechanism;

(D) market-based congestion mitigation, if appropriate;

(E) equity concerns, including the impacts of the user-based alternative revenue mechanism on differing income groups, various geographic areas, and the relative burdens on rural and urban drivers;

(F) ease of compliance for different users of the transportation system; and

(G) the reliability and security of technology used to implement the user-based alternative revenue mechanism; and

(2) may address--

(A) the flexibility and choices of user-based alternative revenue mechanisms, including the ability of users to select from various technology and payment options;

(B) the cost of administering the user-based alternative revenue mechanism; and

(C) the ability of the administering entity to audit and enforce user compliance.

(e) Consideration- The Secretary shall consider geographic diversity in awarding grants under this section.

(f) Limitations on Revenue Collected- Any revenue collected through a user-based alternative revenue mechanism established using funds provided under this section shall not be considered a toll under section 301 of title 23, United States Code.

(g) Federal Share- The Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out under this section may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the activity.

(h) Report to Secretary- Not later than 1 year after the date on which the first eligible entity receives a grant under this section, and each year thereafter, each recipient of a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report that describes--

(1) how the demonstration activities carried out with grant funds meet the objectives described in subsection (c); and

(2) lessons learned for future deployment of alternative revenue mechanisms that utilize a user fee structure.

(i) Biennial Reports- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter until the completion of the demonstration activities under this section, the Secretary shall make available to the public on an Internet Web site a report describing the progress of the demonstration activities.

(j) Funding- Of the funds authorized to carry out section 503(b) of title 23, United States Code--

(1) $15,000,000 shall be used to carry out this section for fiscal year 2016; and

(2) $20,000,000 shall be used to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021.

(k) Grant Flexibility- If, by August 1 of each fiscal year, the Secretary determines that there are not enough grant applications that meet the requirements of this section for a fiscal year, Secretary shall transfer to the program under section 503(b) of title 23, United States Code--

(1) any of the funds reserved for the fiscal year under subsection (j) that the Secretary has not yet awarded under this section; and

(2) an amount of obligation limitation equal to the amount of funds that the Secretary transfers under paragraph (1).

SEC. 6016. FUTURE INTERSTATE STUDY.

(a) Future Interstate System Study- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies to conduct a study on the actions needed to upgrade and restore the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways to its role as a premier system that meets the growing and shifting demands of the 21st century.

(b) Methodologies- In conducting the study, the Transportation Research Board shall build on the methodologies examined and recommended in the report prepared for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials titled `National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 20-24(79): Specifications for a National Study of the Future 3R, 4R, and Capacity Needs of the Interstate System', dated December 2013.

(c) Contents of Study- The study--

(1) shall include specific recommendations regarding the features, standards, capacity needs, application of technologies, and intergovernmental roles to upgrade the Interstate System, including any revisions to law (including regulations) that the Transportation Research Board determines appropriate; and

(2) is encouraged to build on the institutional knowledge in the highway industry in applying the techniques involved in implementing the study.

(d) Considerations- In carrying out the study, the Transportation Research Board shall determine the need for reconstruction and improvement of the Interstate System by considering--

(1) future demands on transportation infrastructure determined for national planning purposes, including commercial and private traffic flows to serve future economic activity and growth;

(2) the expected condition of the current Interstate System over the period of 50 years beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, including long-term deterioration and reconstruction needs;

(3) features that would take advantage of technological capabilities to address modern standards of construction, maintenance, and operations, for purposes of safety, and system management, taking into further consideration system performance and cost; and

(4) the resources necessary to maintain and improve the Interstate System.

(e) Consultation- In carrying out the study, the Transportation Research Board--

(1) shall convene and consult with a panel of national experts, including operators and users of the Interstate System and private sector stakeholders; and

(2) is encouraged to consult with--

(A) the Federal Highway Administration;

(B) States;

(C) planning agencies at the metropolitan, State, and regional levels;

(D) the motor carrier industry;

(E) freight shippers;

(F) highway safety groups; and

(G) other appropriate entities.

(f) Report- Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Transportation Research Board shall make available to the public on an Internet Web site the results of the study conducted under this section.

(g) Funding- From funds made available to carry out section 503(b) of title 23, United States Code, the Secretary may use to carry out this section up to $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2016.

SEC. 6017. HIGHWAY EFFICIENCY.

(a) Study-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology may examine the impact of pavement durability and sustainability on vehicle fuel consumption, vehicle wear and tear, road conditions, and road repairs.

(2) METHODOLOGY- In carrying out the study, the Assistant Secretary shall--

(A) conduct a thorough review of relevant peer-reviewed research published during at least the past 5 years;

(B) analyze impacts of different types of pavement on all motor vehicle types, including commercial vehicles;

(C) specifically examine the impact of pavement deformation and deflection; and

(D) analyze impacts of different types of pavement on road conditions and road repairs.

(3) CONSULTATION- In carrying out the study, the Assistant Secretary shall consult with--

(A) experts from the different modal administrations of the Department and from other Federal agencies, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology;

(B) State departments of transportation;

(C) local government engineers and public works professionals;

(D) industry stakeholders; and

(E) appropriate academic experts active in the field.

(b) Report-

(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall publish on a public Web site the results of the study.

(2) CONTENTS- The report shall include--

(A) a summary of the different types of pavements analyzed in the study and the impacts of pavement durability and sustainability on vehicle fuel consumption, vehicle wear and tear, road conditions, and road repairs; and

(B) recommendations for State and local governments on best practice methods for improving pavement durability and sustainability to maximize vehicle fuel economy, ride quality, and road conditions and to minimize the need for road and vehicle repairs.

SEC. 6018. MOTORCYCLE SAFETY.

(a) Study- The Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology of the Department of Transportation may enter into an agreement, within 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on the most effective means of preventing motorcycle crashes.

(b) Publication- The Assistant Secretary may make available the findings on a public Web site within 30 days after receiving the results of the study from the National Academy of Sciences.

SEC. 6019. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

Section 5118 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in subsection (a)(2)--

(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking `and' at the end;

(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

`(C) coordinate, as appropriate, with other Federal agencies.'; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(c) Cooperative Research-

`(1) IN GENERAL- As part of the program established in subsection (a), the Secretary may carry out cooperative research on hazardous materials transport.

`(2) NATIONAL ACADEMIES- The Secretary may enter into an agreement with the National Academies to support such research.

`(3) RESEARCH- Research conducted under this subsection may include activities related to--

`(A) emergency planning and response, including information and programs that can be readily assessed and implemented in local jurisdictions;

`(B) risk analysis and perception and data assessment;

`(C) commodity flow data, including voluntary collaboration between shippers and first responders for secure data exchange of critical information;

`(D) integration of safety and security;

`(E) cargo packaging and handling;

`(F) hazmat release consequences; and

`(G) materials and equipment testing.'.

SEC. 6020. WEB-BASED TRAINING FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.

Section 5115(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting `, including online curriculum as appropriate,' after `a current curriculum of courses'.

SEC. 6021. TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY POLICY WORKING GROUP.

To improve the scientific pursuit and research procedures concerning transportation, the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology may convene an interagency working group to--

(1) develop within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act a national transportation research framework;

(2) identify opportunities for coordination between the Department and universities and the private sector, and prioritize these opportunities;

(3) identify and develop a plan to implement best practices for moving transportation research results out of the laboratory and into application; and

(4) identify and develop a plan to address related workforce development needs.

Continue to part XVII of  Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015

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