23 U.S.C. § 507 : US Code - Section 507: Surface transportation-environmental cooperative research program

Search 23 U.S.C. § 507 : US Code - Section 507: Surface transportation-environmental cooperative research program

(a) In General. - The Secretary shall establish and carry out a
surface transportation-environmental cooperative research program.
(b) Contents. - The program carried out under this section may
include research -
(1) to develop more accurate models for evaluating
transportation control measures and transportation system designs
that are appropriate for use by State and local governments
(including metropolitan planning organizations) in designing
implementation plans to meet Federal, State, and local
environmental requirements;
(2) to improve understanding of the factors that contribute to
the demand for transportation;
(3) to develop indicators of economic, social, and
environmental performance of transportation systems to facilitate
analysis of potential alternatives;
(4) to meet additional priorities as determined by the
Secretary in the strategic planning process under section 508;
and
(5) to refine, through the conduct of workshops, symposia, and
panels, and in consultation with stakeholders (including the
Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and
other appropriate Federal and State agencies and associations)
the scope and research emphases of the program.
(c) Program Administration. - The Secretary shall -
(1) administer the program established under this section; and
(2) ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that -
(A) the best projects and researchers are selected to conduct
research in the priority areas described in subsection (b) -
(i) on the basis of merit of each submitted proposal; and
(ii) through the use of open solicitations and selection by
a panel of appropriate experts;
(B) a qualified, permanent core staff with the ability and
expertise to manage a large multiyear budget is used;
(C) the stakeholders are involved in the governance of the
program, at the executive, overall program, and technical
levels, through the use of expert panels and committees; and
(D) there is no duplication of research effort between the
program established under this section and the new strategic
highway research program established under section 510.
(d) National Academy of Sciences. - The Secretary may make grants
to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the National
Academy of Sciences to carry out such activities relating to the
research, technology, and technology transfer activities described
in subsections (b) and (c) as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.