23 U.S.C. § 508 : US Code - Section 508: Transportation research and development strategic planning

Search 23 U.S.C. § 508 : US Code - Section 508: Transportation research and development strategic planning

(a) In General. -
(1) Development. - Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the SAFETEA-LU, the Secretary shall develop a 5-year
transportation research and development strategic plan to guide
Federal transportation research and development activities. This
plan shall be consistent with section 306 of title 5, sections
1115 and 1116 of title 31, and any other research and development
plan within the Department of Transportation.
(2) Contents. - The strategic plan developed under paragraph
(1) shall -
(A) describe the primary purposes of the transportation
research and development program, which shall include, at a
minimum -
(i) reducing congestion and improving mobility;
(ii) promoting safety;
(iii) promoting security;
(iv) protecting and enhancing the environment;
(v) preserving the existing transportation system; and
(vi) improving the durability and extending the life of
transportation infrastructure;
(B) for each purpose, list the primary research and
development topics that the Department intends to pursue to
accomplish that purpose, which may include the fundamental
research in the physical and natural sciences, applied
research, technology development, and social science research
intended for each topic; and
(C) for each research and development topic, describe -
(i) the anticipated annual funding levels for the period
covered by the strategic plan; and
(ii) the additional information the Department expects to
gain at the end of the period covered by the strategic plan
as a result of the research and development in that topic
area.
(3) Considerations. - In developing the strategic plan, the
Secretary shall ensure that the plan -
(A) reflects input from a wide range of stakeholders;
(B) includes and integrates the research and development
programs of all the Department's operating administrations,
including aviation, transit, rail, and maritime; and
(C) takes into account how research and development by other
Federal, State, private sector, and nonprofit institutions
contributes to the achievement of the purposes identified under
paragraph (2)(A), and avoids unnecessary duplication with these
efforts.
(4) Performance plans and reports. - In reports submitted under
sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, the Secretary shall include -

(A) a summary of the Federal transportation research and
development activities for the previous fiscal year in each
topic area;
(B) the amount of funding spent in each topic area;
(C) a description of the extent to which the research and
development is meeting the expectations set forth in paragraph
(2)(C)(ii); and
(D) any amendments to the strategic plan.
(b) Annual Report. - The Secretary shall submit to appropriate
committees of Congress an annual report, in conjunction with the
President's annual budget request as set forth in section 1105 of
title 31, describing the amount spent in the last completed fiscal
year on transportation research and development and the amount
proposed in the current budget for transportation research and
development.
(c) National Research Council Review. - The Secretary shall enter
into an agreement for the review by the National Research Council
of the details of each -
(1) strategic plan under this section;
(2) performance plan required under section 1115 of title 31;
and
(3) program performance report required under section 1116 of
title 31, with respect to transportation research and
development.