HR 5161
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5161
To provide for the establishment of Green Transportation Infrastructure
Research and Technology Transfer Centers, and for other purpose.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 29, 2008
Mr. WU introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee
on Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To provide for the establishment of Green Transportation Infrastructure
Research and Technology Transfer Centers, and for other purpose.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Green Transportation Infrastructure Research
and Technology Transfer Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Transportation infrastructure contributes to the pollution of surface
and ground water because it is comprised of impervious surfaces that
concentrate contaminants which are introduced into the water supply
during storms.
(2) Scientists and engineers have developed numerous technologies that
can be incorporated into transportation infrastructure which control
stormwater and mitigate nonpoint source water pollution.
(3) There has not been widespread implementation of green transportation
infrastructure by governments or private industry because of technical,
regulatory, and social barriers, such as lack of training and awareness
for builders.
(4) The Federal Highway Administration, in partnership with the Environmental
Protection Agency, has the technical expertise and capacity to promote
the use of green transportation infrastructure technologies by State
and local governments and private industry through education and outreach
and technical assistance programs.
SEC. 3. REGIONAL GREEN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CENTERS.
(a) Establishment- Subchapter I of chapter 55 of title 49, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 5505 following new section:
`SEC. 5505A. REGIONAL GREEN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CENTERS.
`(a) Green Transportation Infrastructure Research and Technology Transfer-
The Secretary of Transportation shall make grants to nonprofit institutions
of higher learning or consortia thereof to establish and operate university
transportation centers to carry out research and development and technology
transfer activities in the field of green transportation infrastructure.
`(b) Objectives- The purpose of Centers established pursuant to this section
shall be to--
`(1) generate innovative and cost-effective approaches to mitigating
environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle of transportation infrastructure;
`(2) develop holistic approaches to integrating green infrastructure
into existing wastewater management systems;
`(3) promote adoption of innovative green transportation infrastructure
systems by State and local governments and the private sector; and
`(4) manage technology transfer programs to disseminate information
on best management practices in the area of green transportation infrastructure
to State and local governments and the private sector.
`(c) Selection of Grant Recipients-
`(1) APPLICATIONS- In order to be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, a nonprofit institution of higher learning or consortia
thereof shall submit to the Secretary an application that is in such
form and contains such information as the Secretary may require.
`(2) MERIT REVIEW; PRIORITY- Grants shall be awarded under this section
on a merit-reviewed competitive basis.
`(3) REGIONAL CENTERS- To the greatest extent practicable, the Secretary
shall ensure that there is at least one grant recipient from each of
the 10 United States Government regions that comprise the Standard Federal
Regional Boundary System.
`(4) SELECTION CRITERIA- Except as otherwise provided by this section,
the Secretary shall select each recipient of a grant under this section
through a merit-reviewed competitive process on the basis of the following:
`(A) Demonstrated expertise in transportation research and environmental
impacts of transportation infrastructure.
`(B) Demonstrated research capacity and technology transfer resources.
`(C) Existing or proposed partnerships with State and local governments
and private industry involved in transportation-related construction,
environmental impact mitigation, or other areas related to green transportation
infrastructure research.
`(D) Capability to provide leadership in developing national best
management practices, regional best management practices, or both
in the field of green transportation infrastructure.
`(E) Expertise in specific regional climate characteristics which
impact the effectiveness of green transportation infrastructure technologies
and practices.
`(F) Demonstrated ability to disseminate results of research and education
programs through a statewide or regionwide continuing education program.
`(G) The strategic plan the recipient proposes to carry out under
the grant.
`(d) Activities- The types of activities the Secretary may support under
this section include the following:
`(1) Research and development of innovative technologies, construction
techniques, or best management processes that mitigate the environmental
impact of transportation infrastructure, including--
`(A) assessments of the lifecycle environmental impact of local existing
or planned transportation infrastructure;
`(B) integration of green transportation infrastructure elements into
existing transportation or waste management systems; and
`(C) research, development, testing, and evaluation of new technologies
or best management practices.
`(2) Establishment and operation of a regional technology transfer program
to disseminate information on new technologies and best management practices
to State and local governments, institutions of higher learning, and
private industry in the region.
`(3) Study of the impact of State, local, and Federal regulations on
the implementation of green transportation infrastructure technologies
and practices. These studies shall include collaboration with appropriate
Federal agencies to evaluate the effect of and possible changes to Federal
and State regulations that impede implementation of green transportation
infrastructure.
`(4) Public education campaigns to raise awareness of the benefits of
green transportation infrastructure technologies, including activities
to raise awareness and foster collaboration among regional governments,
private industry, and other public and private stakeholders.
`(e) Annual Meeting- The Secretary shall convene an annual meeting of
the Centers established pursuant to this section in order to foster collaboration
and communication among Center participants and disseminate best management
practices.
`(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
`(g) Definition- In this section, the term `green transportation infrastructure'
includes infrastructure that--
`(1) preserves and restores natural processes, landforms (such as floodplains),
natural vegetated stream side buffers, wetlands, or other topographical
features that can slow, filter, and naturally store stormwater runoff
and floodwaters for future water supply and recharge of natural aquifers;
`(2) utilizes natural design techniques that infiltrate, filter, store,
evaporate, and detain water close to its source;
`(3) minimizes the use of impervious surfaces in order to slow or infiltrate
precipitation;
`(4) minimizes lifecycle energy consumption, including during construction,
maintenance, use by vehicles, and destruction and recycling; and
`(5) minimizes lifecycle air pollution.'.
(b) Conforming Amendment- The table of sections for such subchapter is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5505 the following
new item:
`5505A. Regional Green Transportation Research Centers.'.
SEC. 4. GREEN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AMENDMENTS.
Section 504 of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii)--
(i) by striking `and' at the end of subclause (V);
(ii) by striking the period at the end of subclause (VI); and
(iii) by adding at the end the following new subclause:
`(VII) the use of green transportation infrastructure (as defined
in section 5505A(g) of title 49) for environmental protection
and mitigating environmental impacts of transportation construction.';
and
(B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
`(D) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION- The Institute shall coordinate the
development of curriculum and courses with other Federal agencies
with expertise in the course subject areas.'; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A)(i) by striking `and traffic safety countermeasures'
and inserting `traffic safety countermeasures, and options with respect
to green transportation infrastructure (as defined in section 5505A(g)
of title 49)'.
END
