Federal Highway Research, Development and Technology Deployment Program and Reauthorization L egislation

Publication Date: September 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Transportation

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Abstract:

Debate over the future of federal support for highway research and development (RD) and technology deployment (TD) is part of the broader debate over reauthorization of federal policy regarding highway and transit programs. This report discusses the scope and nature of the RD and TD program of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and surveys issues associated with its reauthorization. Federal funding for RD and TD is authorized through FY2003 and proposed for the first five months of FY2004 by extension legislation, e.g., H.R. 3087. In the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 (SAFETEA), introduced, by request, as H.R. 2088 and S. 1072, the Administration proposes to change some aspects of the existing RD and TD program, but would, on the whole, continue many of the same types of activities at a higher funding level in the aggregate than that provided in TEA21. This report will not be updated.