49 U.S.C. § 5314 - Technical assistance and workforce development

• Cite as: 49 U.S.C. § 5314

(a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND STANDARDS.-

(1) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT.-

(A) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary may make grants and enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements (including agreements with departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Government) to carry out activities that the Secretary determines will assist recipients of assistance under this chapter to-

(i) more effectively and efficiently provide public transportation service;

(ii) administer funds received under this chapter in compliance with Federal law; and

(iii) improve public transportation.

(B) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.-The activities carried out under subparagraph (A) may include-

(i) technical assistance; and

(ii) the development of voluntary and consensus-based standards and best practices by the public transportation industry, including standards and best practices for safety, fare collection, intelligent transportation systems, accessibility, procurement, security, asset management to maintain a state of good repair, operations, maintenance, vehicle propulsion, communications, and vehicle electronics.

(2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.-The Secretary, through a competitive bid process, may enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements with national nonprofit organizations that have the appropriate demonstrated capacity to provide public-transportation-related technical assistance under this subsection. The Secretary may enter into such contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements to assist providers of public transportation to-

(A) comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) through technical assistance, demonstration programs, research, public education, and other activities related to complying with such Act;

(B) comply with human services transportation coordination requirements and to enhance the coordination of Federal resources for human services transportation with those of the Department of Transportation through technical assistance, training, and support services related to complying with such requirements;

(C) meet the transportation needs of elderly individuals;

(D) increase transit ridership in coordination with metropolitan planning organizations and other entities through development around public transportation stations through technical assistance and the development of tools, guidance, and analysis related to market-based development around transit stations;

(E) address transportation equity with regard to the effect that transportation planning, investment, and operations have for low-income and minority individuals;

(F) facilitate best practices to promote bus driver safety;

(G) meet the requirements of sections 5323(j) and 5323(m);

(H) assist with the development and deployment of low or no emission vehicles (as defined in section 5339(c)(1)) or low or no emission vehicle components (as defined in section 5312(h)(1)); and

(I) any other technical assistance activity that the Secretary determines is necessary to advance the interests of public transportation.

(3) ANNUAL REPORT ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.-Not later than the first Monday in February of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that includes-