23 U.S.C. § 510 Future Strategic Highway Research Program

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-34 (published on www.congress.gov on 12/26/2023), except for [P. L. 118-31]
• Year: 2023
• Citation: 23 U.S.C. § 510

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.-The Secretary, in consultation with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, shall establish and carry out, acting through the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, the future strategic highway research program.

(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.-The Secretary may make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the National Academy of Sciences to carry out such activities under this section as the Secretary determines are appropriate.

(c) PROGRAM PRIORITIES.-

(1) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.-The program established under this section shall be based on the National Research Council Special Report 260, entitled "Strategic Highway Research: Saving Lives, Reducing Congestion, Improving Quality of Life" and the results of the detailed planning work subsequently carried out in 2002 and 2003 to identify the research areas through National Cooperative Research Program Project 20-58. The research program shall include an analysis of the following:

(A) Renewal of aging highway infrastructure with minimal impact to users of the facilities.

(B) Driving behavior and likely crash causal factors to support improved countermeasures.

(C) Reducing highway congestion due to nonrecurring congestion.

(D) Planning and designing new road capacity to meet mobility, economic, environmental, and community needs.

(2) DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS.-The research results of the program, expressed in terms of technologies, methodologies, and other appropriate categorizations, shall be disseminated to practicing engineers for their use, as soon as practicable.

(d) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.-In carrying out the program under this section, the National Research Council shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that-

(1) projects and researchers are selected to conduct research for the program on the basis of merit and open solicitation of proposals and review by panels of appropriate experts;

(2) State department of transportation officials and other stakeholders, as appropriate, are involved in the governance of the program at the overall program level and technical level through the use of expert panels and committees;

(3) the Council acquires a qualified, permanent core staff with the ability and expertise to manage the program and multiyear budget; and

(4) there is no duplication of research effort between the program and any other research effort of the Department.