(a)
(1) carry out research, development, and deployment activities that encompass the entire innovation lifecycle; and
(2) ensure that all research carried out under this section aligns with the transportation research and development strategic plan of the Secretary under section 508.
(b)
(1)
(A) identify research topics;
(B) coordinate research and development activities;
(C) carry out research, testing, and evaluation activities; and
(D) provide technology transfer and technical assistance.
(2)
(A)
(B)
(i) to achieve greater long-term safety gains;
(ii) to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries on public roads;
(iii) to fill knowledge gaps that limit the effectiveness of research;
(iv) to support the development and implementation of State strategic highway safety plans;
(v) to advance improvements in, and use of, performance prediction analysis for decisionmaking; and
(vi) to expand technology transfer to partners and stakeholders.
(C)
(i) safety assessments and decisionmaking tools;
(ii) data collection and analysis;
(iii) crash reduction projections;
(iv) low-cost safety countermeasures;
(v) innovative operational improvements and designs of roadway and roadside features;
(vi) evaluation of countermeasure costs and benefits;
(vii) development of tools for projecting impacts of safety countermeasures;
(viii) rural road safety measures;
(ix) safety measures for vulnerable road users, including bicyclists and pedestrians;
(x) safety policy studies;
(xi) human factors studies and measures;
(xii) safety technology deployment;
(xiii) safety workforce professional capacity building initiatives;
(xiv) safety program and process improvements; and
(xv) tools and methods to enhance safety performance, including achievement of statewide safety performance targets.
(3)
(A)
(i) to maintain infrastructure integrity;
(ii) to meet user needs; and
(iii) to link Federal transportation investments to improvements in system performance.
(B)
(i) to reduce the number of fatalities attributable to infrastructure design characteristics and work zones;
(ii) to improve the safety and security of highway infrastructure;
(iii) to increase the reliability of lifecycle performance predictions used in infrastructure design, construction, and management;
(iv) to improve the ability of transportation agencies to deliver projects that meet expectations for timeliness, quality, and cost;
(v) to reduce user delay attributable to infrastructure system performance, maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction;
(vi) to improve highway condition and performance through increased use of design, materials, construction, and maintenance innovations;
(vii) to reduce the environmental impacts of highway infrastructure through innovations in design, construction, operation, preservation, and maintenance; and
(viii) to study vulnerabilities of the transportation system to seismic activities and extreme events and methods to reduce those vulnerabilities.
(C)
(i) long-term infrastructure performance programs addressing pavements, bridges, tunnels, and other structures;
(ii) short-term and accelerated studies of infrastructure performance;
(iii) research to develop more durable infrastructure materials and systems;
(iv) advanced infrastructure design methods;
(v) accelerated highway and bridge construction;
(vi) performance-based specifications;
(vii) construction and materials quality assurance;
(viii) comprehensive and integrated infrastructure asset management;
(ix) infrastructure safety assurance;
(x) sustainable infrastructure design and construction;
(xi) infrastructure rehabilitation and preservation techniques, including techniques to rehabilitate and preserve historic infrastructure;
(xii) hydraulic, geotechnical, and aerodynamic aspects of infrastructure;
(xiii) improved highway construction technologies and practices;
(xiv) improved tools, technologies, and models for infrastructure management, including assessment and monitoring of infrastructure condition;
(xv) studies to improve flexibility and resiliency of infrastructure systems to withstand climate variability;
(xvi) studies on the effectiveness of fiber-based additives to improve the durability of surface transportation materials in various geographic regions;
(xvii) studies of infrastructure resilience and other adaptation measures;
(xviii) maintenance of seismic research activities, including research carried out in conjunction with other Federal agencies to study the vulnerability of the transportation system to seismic activity and methods to reduce that vulnerability; and
(xix) technology transfer and adoption of permeable, pervious, or porous paving materials, practices, and systems that are designed to minimize environmental impacts, stormwater runoff, and flooding and to treat or remove pollutants by allowing stormwater to infiltrate through the pavement in a manner similar to predevelopment hydrologic conditions.
(D)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(I) the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials;
(II) appropriate experts in the field of lifecycle cost analysis; and
(III) appropriate industry experts and research centers.
(E)
(i) a summary of the latest research on lifecycle cost analysis; and
(ii) recommendations on the appropriate—
(I) period of analysis;
(II) design period;
(III) discount rates; and
(IV) use of actual material life and maintenance cost data.
(4)
(A)
(i) to minimize the cost of transportation planning and environmental decisionmaking processes;
(ii) to improve transportation planning and environmental decisionmaking processes; and
(iii) to minimize the potential impact of surface transportation on the environment.
(B)
(i) to minimize the cost of highway infrastructure and operations;
(ii) to reduce the potential impact of highway infrastructure and operations on the environment;
(iii) to advance improvements in environmental analyses and processes and context sensitive solutions for transportation decisionmaking;
(iv) to improve construction techniques;
(v) to accelerate construction to reduce congestion and related emissions;
(vi) to reduce the impact of highway runoff on the environment;
(vii) to improve understanding and modeling of the factors that contribute to the demand for transportation; and
(viii) to improve transportation planning decisionmaking and coordination.
(C)
(i) creation of models and tools for evaluating transportation measures and transportation system designs, including the costs and benefits;
(ii) congestion reduction efforts;
(iii) transportation and economic development planning in rural areas and small communities;
(iv) improvement of State, local, and tribal government capabilities relating to surface transportation planning and the environment; and
(v) streamlining of project delivery processes.
(5)
(A)
(i) addressing congestion problems;
(ii) reducing the costs of congestion;
(iii) improving freight movement;
(iv) increasing productivity; and
(v) improving the economic competitiveness of the United States.
(B)
(i) to reduce traffic congestion;
(ii) to improve freight movement; and
(iii) to reduce freight-related congestion throughout the transportation network.
(C)
(i) active traffic and demand management;
(ii) acceleration of the implementation of Intelligent Transportation Systems technology;
(iii) advanced transportation concepts and analysis;
(iv) arterial management and traffic signal operation;
(v) congestion pricing;
(vi) corridor management;
(vii) emergency operations;
(viii) research relating to enabling technologies and applications;
(ix) freeway management;
(x) evaluation of enabling technologies;
(xi) impacts of vehicle size and weight on congestion;
(xii) freight operations and technology;
(xiii) operations and freight performance measurement and management;
(xiv) organization and planning for operations;
(xv) planned special events management;
(xvi) real-time transportation information;
(xvii) road weather management;
(xviii) traffic and freight data and analysis tools;
(xix) traffic control devices;
(xx) traffic incident management;
(xxi) work zone management;
(xxii) communication of travel, roadway, and emergency information to persons with disabilities;
(xxiii) research on enhanced mode choice and intermodal connectivity;
(xxiv) techniques for estimating and quantifying public benefits derived from freight transportation projects; and
(xxv) other research areas to identify and address emerging needs related to freight transportation by all modes.
(6)
(A) to leverage the targeted capabilities of the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center to develop technologies and innovations of national importance; and
(B) to develop potentially transformational solutions to improve the durability, efficiency, environmental impact, productivity, and safety aspects of highway and intermodal transportation systems.
(7)
(A)
(B)
(i) the conduct of highway research and development relating to emerging highway technology;
(ii) the development of understandings, tools, and techniques that provide solutions to complex technical problems through the development of economical and environmentally sensitive designs, efficient and quality-controlled construction practices, and durable materials;
(iii) the development of innovative highway products and practices; and
(iv) the conduct of long-term, high-risk research to improve the materials used in highway infrastructure.
(8)
(A)
(B)
(C)
(i) improvements to the quality and standardization of data collection on all functional classifications of Federal-aid highways for accurate system length, lane length, and vehicle-mile of travel; and
(ii) changes to the reporting requirements authorized under section 315, to reflect recommendations under this paragraph for collection, storage, analysis, reporting, and display of data for Federal-aid highways and, to the maximum extent practical, all public roads.
(c)
(1)
(A) significantly accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies by the surface transportation community;
(B) providing leadership and incentives to demonstrate and promote state-of-the-art technologies, elevated performance standards, and new business practices in highway construction processes that result in improved safety, faster construction, reduced congestion from construction, and improved quality and user satisfaction;
(C) constructing longer-lasting highways through the use of innovative technologies and practices that lead to faster construction of efficient and safe highways and bridges;
(D) improving highway efficiency, safety, mobility, reliability, service life, environmental protection, and sustainability; and
(E) developing and deploying new tools, techniques, and practices to accelerate the adoption of innovation in all aspects of highway transportation.
(2)
(A)
(B)
(i) establish and carry out demonstration programs;
(ii) provide technical assistance, and training to researchers and developers; and
(iii) develop improved tools and methods to accelerate the adoption of proven innovative practices and technologies as standard practices.
(C)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(3)
(A)
(B)
(i) the deployment of new, cost-effective designs, materials, recycled materials, and practices to extend the pavement life and performance and to improve user satisfaction;
(ii) the reduction of initial costs and lifecycle costs of pavements, including the costs of new construction, replacement, maintenance, and rehabilitation;
(iii) the deployment of accelerated construction techniques to increase safety and reduce construction time and traffic disruption and congestion;
(iv) the deployment of engineering design criteria and specifications for new and efficient practices, products, and materials for use in highway pavements;
(v) the deployment of new nondestructive and real-time pavement evaluation technologies and construction techniques; and
(vi) effective technology transfer and information dissemination to accelerate implementation of new technologies and to improve life, performance, cost effectiveness, safety, and user satisfaction.
(C)
(Added Pub. L. 105–178, title V, §5103, June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 427; amended Pub. L. 109–59, title V, §§5202(b)(1), (2), 5203(a), (b)(1), (c)(1), (d), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1786–1789; Pub. L. 112–141, div. E, title II, §52003(a), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 872.)
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