Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2021

Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2021

This bill addresses provisions related to surface transportation research, development, and deployment programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Among other provisions, the bill

• reauthorizes through FY2026 DOT highway research and development programs, including highway safety, technology and innovation deployment, training and education, and intelligent transportation systems;
• sets forth a program to provide awards to institutions of higher education or nonprofit research organizations to establish regional road weather research and development centers;
• reauthorizes through FY2026 the University Transportation Centers Program, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the public transportation research and development program, the National Cooperative Rail Research Program, the hazardous materials research and development program, and the National Cooperative Freight Transportation Research Program;
• establishes Centers of Excellence to advance research and development that improves the resilience of regions of the United States to natural disasters, extreme weather, and the effects of climate change on modal and multimodal transportation and infrastructure;
• directs DOT to carry out and publish the results of a study for the purpose of informing land use and transportation planning for accessible health, food, education, and other essential services and activities; and
• requires DOT to establish a multimodal national cooperative freight transportation research program, a Heavy Freight Automated Trucking Research Initiative, and an Advanced Transportation Research and Innovation Program.

Bill 117 hr 3594, also known as the Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2021, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to authorize funding for research and development projects related to surface transportation infrastructure in the United States.

If passed, this bill would allocate resources towards improving the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the nation's roads, bridges, and other transportation systems. It would also support efforts to develop new technologies and innovative solutions to address the challenges facing the country's transportation infrastructure.

Additionally, the Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2021 aims to promote collaboration between government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector partners in order to advance research and development in the transportation sector. By investing in these efforts, the bill seeks to enhance the overall quality and reliability of the nation's transportation networks. Overall, this legislation represents a significant step towards modernizing and improving the United States' transportation infrastructure. It reflects a bipartisan effort to address the pressing needs of the country's roads and bridges, and to ensure that they remain safe and efficient for years to come.