[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 651 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 651
To amend SAFETEA-LU to improve the Intelligent Transportation System
Program Advisory Committee, to require information and resources for
the development of local smart communities, to help establish a 21st
century transportation workforce, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 9, 2021
Ms. Cortez Masto introduced the following bill; which was read twice
and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend SAFETEA-LU to improve the Intelligent Transportation System
Program Advisory Committee, to require information and resources for
the development of local smart communities, to help establish a 21st
century transportation workforce, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Smart Transportation Advancement and
Transition Act'' or the ``STAT Act''.
SEC. 2. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
Section 5305 of SAFETEA-LU (23 U.S.C. 512 note; Public Law 109-59)
is amended by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
``(h) Advisory Committee.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an
advisory committee (referred to in this subsection as the
`Committee') to advise the Secretary in carrying out this
subtitle.
``(2) Membership.--
``(A) In general.--The Committee shall--
``(i) be composed of not more than 25
members;
``(ii) be balanced between metropolitan and
rural interests; and
``(iii) include, at a minimum--
``(I) a representative of a State
department of transportation;
``(II) a representative of a local
department of transportation (other
than a metropolitan planning
organization);
``(III) a representative of a
State, local, or regional transit
agency;
``(IV) a representative of a
metropolitan planning organization;
``(V) a representative of a
national transit association;
``(VI) a representative of a
national, State, or local
transportation agency or association;
``(VII) a private sector user of
intelligent transportation system
technologies, including emerging
vehicle technologies;
``(VIII) a private sector developer
of intelligent transportation system
technologies, including emerging
vehicle technologies;
``(IX) an academic researcher--
``(aa) with expertise in
computer science or another
information science field
related to intelligent
transportation systems; and
``(bb) who is not an expert
on transportation issues;
``(X) an academic researcher in
civil engineering or a civil
engineering practitioner;
``(XI) an academic researcher who
is a social scientist with expertise in
transportation issues;
``(XII) an academic researcher with
expertise in labor issues, including--
``(aa) disruptions due to
technology; and
``(bb) opportunities and
barriers related to
transportation and the
incorporation of emerging
technology;
``(XIII) a representative of a
nonprofit group representing the
intelligent transportation system
industry;
``(XIV) a representative of a
public interest group concerned with
safety, including bicycle and
pedestrian interests;
``(XV) a representative of a labor
organization;
``(XVI) a representative of a
mobility-providing entity, including
for seniors and people with
disabilities;
``(XVII) an expert in traffic
management;
``(XVIII) a representative of a
public interest group concerned with
the impact of the transportation system
on land use and residential patterns,
including housing availability;
``(XIX) members with expertise in
planning, safety, and operations;
``(XX) a member with expertise in
law enforcement; and
``(XXI) a member with expertise in
cybersecurity.
``(B) Term.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), the term of a member of the
Committee shall be 3 years.
``(ii) Staggered terms.--
``(I) In general.--Of the members
first appointed to the Committee--
``(aa) \1/3\ shall be
appointed for a term of 1 year;
``(bb) \1/3\ shall be
appointed for a term of 2
years; and
``(cc) \1/3\ shall be
appointed for a term of 3
years.
``(II) Timing.--The terms described
in subclause (I) shall not begin until
the last member of the members referred
to in that subclause is appointed.
``(iii) Renewal.--On expiration of the term
of a member of the Committee, the member--
``(I) may be reappointed; and
``(II) if the member is not
reappointed under subclause (I), may
serve until a new member is appointed.
``(3) Duties.--The Committee shall, at a minimum--
``(A) provide input into the development of the
intelligent transportation system aspects of the 5-year
strategic plan under section 6503 of title 49, United
States Code;
``(B) annually review areas of intelligent
transportation systems programs and research being
considered for funding by the Department, to
determine--
``(i) whether those areas of research are
likely to advance the state of the practice or
state of the art in intelligent transportation
systems;
``(ii) whether intelligent transportation
system technologies are likely to be deployed
by users, and if not, to determine the barriers
to deployment;
``(iii) the appropriate roles for
government and the private sector in investing
in the research and technologies being
considered;
``(iv) how Federal resources, especially
resources provided by the Department, are being
utilized to advance intelligent transportation
systems; and
``(v) how the Department is engaging and
supporting local communities in the adoption
and integration of intelligent transportation
systems across all modes;
``(C) help develop and revise the resource guide
described in section 4(b) of the Smart Transportation
Advancement and Transition Act; and
``(D) through the appropriate office of the
Department, help respond to requests for assistance,
advice, or consultation from States and local
communities as a result of the resource guide described
in section 4(b) of the Smart Transportation Advancement
and Transition Act.
``(4) Meetings.--The Committee--
``(A) shall convene not less frequently than twice
each year; and
``(B) may convene with the use of remote video
conference technology.
``(5) Assistance.--The Secretary may provide to the
Committee personnel or expertise from the Department to assist
the Committee in carrying out the duties of the Committee.
``(6) Report.--Not later than February 1 of each year
beginning after the date of enactment of the Smart
Transportation Advancement and Transition Act, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations, Commerce,
Science, and Transportation, and Environment and Public Works
of the Senate and the Committees on Appropriations and
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report that includes--
``(A) the recommendations made by the Committee
during the preceding calendar year;
``(B) an explanation of how the Secretary has
implemented those recommendations; and
``(C) for any recommendation not implemented, an
explanation of the reasons for not implementing the
recommendation.
``(7) Applicability of federal advisory committee act.--The
Committee shall be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.).''.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON LOCAL ENGAGEMENT.
Not later than 150 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Transportation, in
coordination with the advisory committee established under section
5305(h) of SAFETEA-LU (23 U.S.C. 512 note; Public Law 109-59), shall
submit to the Committees on Appropriations, Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, and Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the
Committees on Appropriations and Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives a report on efforts by the Department of
Transportation to engage with local communities, metropolitan planning
organizations, regional transportation commissions, and
multijurisdictional groups, including in rural areas, on advancing data
and intelligent transportation systems technologies and other smart
cities solutions.
SEC. 4. SMART COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Advisory committee.--The term ``advisory committee''
means the advisory committee established under section 5305(h)
of SAFETEA-LU (23 U.S.C. 512 note; Public Law 109-59).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(3) Smart community.--The term ``smart community'' means a
community that uses innovative technologies, data, analytics,
and other means to improve the community and address local
challenges.
(4) Smart community resource guide.--The term ``smart
community resource guide'' means the resource guide created,
published, and maintained under subsection (b).
(b) Resource Guide.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
advisory committee, shall create, publish, and maintain a resource
guide that is designed to assist States and local communities in
developing and implementing intelligent transportation technology or
smart community transportation programs.
(c) Inclusions.--The smart community resource guide may include--
(1) a compilation of existing related Federal and non-
Federal programs that are available to States and local
communities in developing and implementing smart community
transportation programs, including technical assistance,
education, training, research and development, analysis, and
funding;
(2) available examples of States and local communities
engaging private sector entities to carry out smart community
transportation solutions, including public-private partnership
models that could be used to leverage private sector funding to
solve local challenges;
(3) available examples of proven methods for States and
local communities to facilitate the integration of smart
community transportation technologies with, or within, new and
existing infrastructure and systems;
(4) best practices and lessons learned from smart community
transportation demonstration projects, including information on
return on investment and performance, to help other States and
local communities to decide how to begin the integration of
smart community transportation technologies; and
(5) other topics--
(A) as requested by industry entities, States, or
local governments; or
(B) as determined to be necessary by the Secretary
and the advisory committee.
(d) Use of Existing Guides.--In creating, publishing, and
maintaining the smart community resource guide, the Secretary shall
consider existing Federal, State, and local community information,
guides, and other resources that relate to smart community
transportation goals, activities, and best practices--
(1) to prevent duplication of efforts by the Federal
Government;
(2) to improve local accessibility to Federal programs; and
(3) to leverage existing, complementary efforts.
(e) Outreach.--The Secretary, with input from the advisory
committee at the determination of the Secretary, shall conduct outreach
to States, counties, local communities, and other relevant entities--
(1) to provide interested stakeholders with the smart
community resource guide, including through publication of the
guide on the internet;
(2) to promote the consideration of smart community
transportation technologies;
(3) to encourage States and local governments to contribute
smart community transportation program and activity information
to the smart community resource guide;
(4) to identify--
(A) barriers to the adoption of smart community
transportation technologies; and
(B) any research, development, and other assistance
that is needed that could be included in the smart
community resource guide; and
(5) for other purposes, as identified by the Secretary or
the advisory committee.
(f) Revision.--The Secretary and the advisory committee shall issue
a revised smart community resource guide not less frequently than once
every 3 years.
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