INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM INTEGRATION PROGRAM.

SEC. 5208. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM INTEGRATION PROGRAM. (a) In General.— The Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive program to accelerate the integration and interoperability of intelligent transportation systems in metropolitan and rural areas. Under the program, the Secretary shall select for funding, through competitive solicitation, projects that will serve as models to improve transportation efficiency, promote safety (including safe freight movement), increase traffic flow (including the flow of intermodal travel at ports of entry), reduce emissions of air pollutants, improve traveler information, enhance alternative transportation modes, build on existing intelligent transportation system projects, or promote tourism. (b) Selection of Projects.— Under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to funding projects that— (1) contribute to national deployment goals and objectives outlined in the National ITS Program Plan under section 5205; (2) demonstrate a strong commitment to cooperation among agencies, jurisdictions, and the private sector, as evidenced by signed memoranda of understanding that clearly define the responsibilities and relations of all parties to a partnership arrangement, including institutional relationships and financial agreements needed to support deployment; (3) encourage private sector involvement and financial commitment, to the maximum extent practicable, through innovative financial arrangements, especially public-private partnerships, including arrangements that generate revenue to offset public investment costs; (4) demonstrate commitment to a comprehensive plan of fully integrated intelligent transportation system deployment 112 STAT. 459in accordance with the national architecture and standards and protocols established under section 5206; (5) are part of approved plans and programs developed under applicable statewide and metropolitan transportation planning processes and applicable State air quality implementation plans, as appropriate, at the time at which Federal funds are sought; (6) minimize the relative percentage and amount of Federal contributions under this section to total project costs; (7) ensure continued, long-term operations and maintenance without continued reliance on Federal funding under this subtitle, as evidenced by documented evidence of fiscal capacity and commitment from anticipated public and private sources; (8) demonstrate technical capacity for effective operations and maintenance or commitment to acquiring necessary skills; (9) mitigate any adverse impacts on bicycle and pedestrian transportation and safety; or (10) in the case of a rural area, meet other safety, mobility, geographic and regional diversity, or economic development criteria as determined by the Secretary. (c) Fiscal Year Limitations.— Of the amounts made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year— (1) not more that $15,000,000 may be used for projects in a single metropolitan area; (2) not more than $2,000,000 may be used for projects in a single rural area; and (3) not more than $35,000,000 may be used for projects in a State. (d) Funding Limitations.— (1) Projects in metropolitan areas.— Funding under this section for intelligent transportation infrastructure projects in metropolitan areas shall be used primarily for activities necessary to integrate intelligent transportation infrastructure elements that are either deployed or to be deployed with other sources of funds. (2) Other projects.— For projects outside metropolitan areas, funding provided under this subtitle may also be used for installation of intelligent transportation infrastructure elements. (e) Funding for Rural Areas.— The Secretary shall allocate not less than 10 percent of funds authorized by section 5001(c)(4)(A) in rural areas for intelligent transportation infrastructure deployment activities funded under this section to carry out intelligent transportation infrastructure deployment activities in rural areas. (f) Federal Share.— (1) Funds made available under this section.— The Federal share of the cost of a project payable from funds made available under this section shall not exceed 50 percent. (2) Funds made available from all federal sources.— The total Federal share of the cost of a project payable from all eligible sources (including this section) shall not exceed 80 percent. (g) Corridor Development and Coordination.— (1) In general.— The Secretary shall encourage multistate cooperative agreements, coalitions, or other arrangements intended to promote regional cooperation, planning, and shared 112 STAT. 460project implementation for intelligent transportation system projects. (2) Great lakes its implementation.— (A) In general.— The Secretary shall make grants under this subsection to the State of Wisconsin to continue ITS activities in the corridor serving the Greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, and Gary, Indiana, areas initiated under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and other areas of the State. (B) Funding.— Of the amounts made available for each of fiscal years 1998 through 2003 under section 5001(c)(4)(A) of this Act, $2,000,000 per fiscal year shall be available to carry out this paragraph. (3) Northeast its implementation.— (A) In general.— The Secretary shall make grants under this subsection to the States to continue ITS activities in the Interstate Route I–95 corridor in the northeastern United States initiated under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. (B) Funding.— Of the amounts made available for each of fiscal years 1998 through 2003 under section 5001(c)(4)(A) of this Act, $5,000,000 per fiscal year shall be available to carry out this paragraph.