ALLOCATIONS FOR NATIONAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS.

SEC. 3046. ALLOCATIONS FOR NATIONAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS.(a) In General.—Amounts appropriated pursuant to section 5338(d) of title 49, United States Code, for national research and technology programs under sections 5312, 5314, and 5322 of such title shall be allocated by the Secretary as follows:(1) Public transportation national security study.—(A) In general.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and evaluation of the value major public transportation systems in the United States serving the 38 urbanized areas that have a population of more than 1,000,000 individuals provide to the Nation’s security and the ability of such systems to accommodate the evacuation, egress or ingress of people to or from critical locations in times of emergency.(B) Alternative routes.—For each system described in subparagraph (A) the study shall identify—(i) potential alternative routes for evacuation using other transportation modes such as highway, air, marine, and pedestrian activities; and(ii) transit routes that, if disrupted, do not have sufficient transit alternatives available.(C) Report.—Not later than 24 months after the date of entry into the agreement, the Academy shall submit to the Secretary and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs of the Senate a final report on the results of the study 119 STAT. 1707 and evaluation, together with such recommendations as the Academy considers appropriate.(D) Funding.—For each of fiscal year 2006 and 2007 $250,000 shall be available to carry out this paragraph.(2) Center for transit-oriented development.—For each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009, not less than $1,000,000 shall be made available by the Secretary for establishment and operation of the Center for Transit-Oriented Development—(A) to develop standards and definitions for transit-oriented development adjacent to public transportation facilities;(B) to develop system planning guidance, performance criteria, and modeling techniques for metropolitan planning agencies and public transportation agencies to maximize ridership through land use planning and adjacent development; and(C) to provide research support and technical assistance to public transportation agencies, metropolitan planning agencies, and other persons regarding transit-oriented development.(3) Transportation equity research program.—For each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009, not less than $1,000,000 shall be made available by the Secretary for research and demonstration activities that focus on the impacts that transportation planning, investment, and operations have on low-income and minority populations that are transit dependent. Such activities shall include the development of strategies to advance economic and community development in low-income and minority communities and the development of training programs that promote the employment of low-income and minority community residents on Federal-aid transportation projects constructed in their communities.(4) Cognitive impairment study.—For fiscal year 2006, $1,000,000 shall be made available by the Secretary for research and demonstration activities that focus on the capacity and resources of Oregon public transportation systems to address the needs, barriers, and desires for travel of people with cognitive impairments.(5) Transit career ladder training program.—For each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009, not less than $1,000,000 shall be available for a nationwide career ladder job training partnership program for public transportation employees to respond to technological changes in the public transportation industry, especially in the area of maintenance. Such program shall be carried out by the Secretary through a contract with a national nonprofit organization with a demonstrated capacity to develop and provide such programs.(6) Pilot program for remote infrared audible signs.—(A) In general.—For each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009, not less than $500,000 shall be made available by the Secretary to carry out a pilot program to determine the benefits of remote infrared audible signage technology for provision of wayfinding and information to people who are visually, cognitively, or learning disabled.(B) Report.—(i) In general.—Not later than September 30, 2009, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee 119 STAT. 1708 on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report on the pilot program carried out under this section.(ii) Contents.—The report—(I) shall include—(aa) an evaluation of the effect of the pilot program on multimodal accessibility in public transportation;(bb) an evaluation of the effect of the program on operators of public transportation and their passengers;(cc) an evaluation of the effect of making public transportation accessible to people with visual, cognitive, and learning disabilities on ridership of public transportation and use of paratransit; and(dd) an evaluation of the effect of the program on the education, community integration, work life, and general quality of life of the targeted populations.(7) Hydrogen fuel cell shuttle deployment demonstration project.—To demonstrate the utility of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in daily shuttle service, $800,000 in each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 shall be provided for hydrogen fuel cell employee shuttle vans, related equipment, operations, public education and outreach in Allentown, Pennsylvania.(8) Wisconsin supplemental transportation rural assistance program (strap).—(A) In general.—For capital projects, operations, purchase or lease of vehicles, and integration, planning and coordination of public transportation services in the State of Wisconsin that will supplement and expand existing rural and special public transportation services in that State, $2,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 shall be provided to the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation.(B) Purpose.—Funds received under this program may be used to supplement public transportation programs for rural populations for activities authorized under sections 5310, 5311, and 5316 of title 49, United States Code. Funds made available under this program are subject to the requirements of section 5311 of title 49, United States Code, except that funds may be made available for up to 80 percent of net operating costs. In awarding grants made available under this program, the State shall consider—(i) rural population in the area to be served by the applicant;(ii) extent to which the applicant demonstrates coordination of existing transportation services or proposed public transportation services;(iii) need for additional services in the area being serviced by the applicant and the extent to which the proposed services will address those needs and provide accessibility for non-ambulatory recipients;119 STAT. 1709(iv) extent to which the applicant demonstrates an innovative approach that is responsive to the identified service needs of the rural population; and(v) extent to which the applicant demonstrates that the communities being served have been consulted in the planning process.(9) Human services transportation coordination.—(A) In general.—For the management of a program to improve and enhance the coordination of Federal resources for human services transportation with those of the Department of Transportation, $1,600,000 in each of fiscal years 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 shall be provided to a national non-profit organization that is competitively selected by the Secretary. Such organization shall have demonstrated expertise in issues of transportation coordination and in providing technical assistance to local transportation organizations.(B) Eligible activities.—Under this program, the organization selected by the Secretary shall—(i) establish an advisory panel consisting of Federal, State, and local officials and organizations;(ii) prepare an inventory of human service transportation agencies operating in the United States;(iii) prepare an inventory of Federal transportation spending;(iv) develop a program of technical assistance and training for human services transportation organizations that shall include on-site technical assistance, a resource clearinghouse, and preparation of technical manuals;(v) prepare an annual report for the Secretary on activities under this program and make recommendations for improving coordination.(10) Portland, oregon streetcar prototype purchase and deployment.—Not less than $1,000,000 shall be made available in each of fiscal years 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 by the Secretary to TriMet for the purchase and deployment of a domestically manufactured streetcar.(11) Public transportation participation pilot program.—(A) In general.—Of the funds allocated under this section for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009, $1,000,000 for each fiscal year shall be made available by the Secretary to establish a pilot program to support planning and public participation activities related to public transportation projects.(B) Eligible activities.—Activities eligible to be carried out under the pilot program may include the following:(i) Improving data collection analysis and transportation access for all users of the public transportation systems.(ii) Supporting public participation through the project development phases.(iii) Using innovative techniques to improve the coordination of transportation alternatives.(iv) Enhancing the coordination of public transportation benefits and services.119 STAT. 1710(v) Contracting with stakeholders to focus on the delivery of transportation plans and programs.(vi) Measuring and reporting on the annual performance of the transportation systems.(12) Transportation hybrid electric vehicle and fuel cell research.—$500,000 in each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for a transportation hybrid electric vehicle and fuel cell research program at the University of Alabama.(13) Trauma care system research and development.—$500,000 in each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for trauma care system research and development at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.(14) Transportation infrastructure and logistics research.—$500,000 in each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for transportation infrastructure and logistics research at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.(15) National bus rapid transit institute.—$1,750,000 in each of fiscal years 2006 though 2009 for the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute at the University of South Florida.(16) Application of information technology to transportation logistics and security.—$400,000 in each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for research on the application of information technology to transportation logistics and security at the Northern Kentucky University.(17) Intelligent transportation system pilot project.—$465,000 in each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for an intelligent transportation system pilot project with the National Consortium on Remote Sensing in Transportation Flows at the Ohio State University.(18) Regional public safety training center.—$500,000 in each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for a regional public safety training center at the Lehigh-Carbon Community College.(19) Transit security training facility.—$750,000 in each of fiscal years 2006 though 2009 for a transit security training facility in Chester County, Pennsylvania.(20) Small urban and rural transit center.—$800,000 in fiscal year 2006, $800,000 in fiscal year 2007, $1,200,000 in fiscal year 2008, and $1,200,000 in fiscal year 2009 for the Small Urban and Rural Transit Center at North Dakota State University.(21) Advanced technology bus rapid transit project.—$500,000 in fiscal year 2006, $540,000 in fiscal year 2007, $550,000 in fiscal year 2008, and $625,000 in fiscal year 2009 for the Southeastern Connecticut Advanced Technology Bus Rapid Transit Project.(22) Greater new haven transit district fuel cell-powered bus research.—$500,000 in fiscal year 2006, $540,000 in fiscal year 2007, $550,000 in fiscal year 2008, and $625,000 in fiscal year 2009 for the Greater New Haven Transit District Fuel Cell-Powered Bus Research.(23) Center for advanced transportation initiatives.—$500,000 in fiscal year 2006, $540,000 in fiscal year 2007, $540,000 in fiscal year 2008, and $625,000 in fiscal year 2009 for the Rutgers Center for Advanced Transportation Initiatives (CAIT).119 STAT. 1711(24) Institute of technology’s transportation, economic, and land use system.—$500,000 in fiscal year 2006, $540,000 in fiscal year 2007, $540,000 in fiscal year 2008, and $625,000 in fiscal year 2009 for the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Transportation, Economic, and Land Use System program (TELUS).(25) Regional transit training consortium pilot program.—$270,000 in fiscal year 2006, $380,000 in fiscal year 2007, $380,000 in fiscal year 2008, and $450,000 in fiscal year 2009 for the Southern California Regional Transit Training Consortium Pilot Program.(b) Remainder.—After making allocations under subsection (a), the remainder of funds made available by section 5338(d) of title 49, United States Code, for national research and technology programs under sections 5312, 5314, and 5322 for a fiscal year shall be allocated at the discretion of the Secretary to other transit research, development, demonstration and deployment projects authorized by sections 5312, 5314, and 5322 of such title.