Sec. 5111. Metropolitan planning research pilot program
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Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall seek to enter into an agreement with a nonprofit nongovernmental entity that exclusively serves the needs and interests of metropolitan planning organizations to establish a pilot program to provide awards to eligible entities to carry out eligible activities to enhance and improve metropolitan planning practices in surface transportation. The goals of the pilot program established under this section include— enhancing metropolitan planning practices in surface transportation; improving the ability of metropolitan planning organizations to meet performance measures and targets under section 150 of title 23, United States Code; preparing for the impact that emerging technologies, such as connected and automated vehicles, will have on the metropolitan planning process; improving environmental considerations in the metropolitan planning process; reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting the effects of climate change; improving access to jobs and services; supporting underserved communities; and expanding the ability of metropolitan planning organizations to collect public input and strengthen community engagement.
An award provided under this section may be in the form of a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement. To be eligible to receive an award under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The Secretary may provide awards under this section to any eligible entity based on the demonstrated ability of the entity to fulfill the goals described under subsection
(b)and carry out eligible activities. The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report describing the selection process for providing an award under this section and the results of activities carried out under this section. In this section: The term eligible activity means— carrying out research to improve metropolitan planning practices; developing new metropolitan planning tools; improving existing metropolitan planning tools and practices; or any other research activities the Secretary determines to be appropriate, consistent with the goals under subsection (b). The term eligible entity means— a metropolitan planning organization designated under section 134(d) of title 23, United States Code; a metropolitan planning organization working in partnership with a nonprofit organization; a metropolitan planning organization working in partnership with a county; or a group of entities described under subparagraphs
(A)through (C). The Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out using an award under this section shall be 100 percent. From the amounts made available to carry out section 503(b) of title 23, United States Code, for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2026, the Secretary may expend $1,000,000 to carry out this section. Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1), the Secretary may use up to 5 percent of such funds for administrative expenses. Any survey, questionnaire, or interview that the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out reporting requirements relating to any program assessment or evaluation activity under this section, including customer satisfaction assessments, shall not be subject to chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the Paperwork Reduction Act ).