Sec. 9606. Rail research and development Center of Excellence
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Section 20108 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary may provide a grant to an entity described in paragraph
(2)to establish a Center of Excellence to advance research and development that improves the safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger and freight rail transportation. An institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )) or a consortium of nonprofit institutions of higher education shall be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection. In awarding a grant under this subsection, the Secretary may— give preference to an applicant with strong past performance related to rail research, education, and workforce development activities; consider the extent to which the applicant would involve public passenger and private and public freight railroad operators; and consider the regional and national impacts of the applicant’s proposal. Amounts awarded under this subsection may be used to establish and operate the Center of Excellence described in paragraph
(1)and for research, evaluation, education, and workforce development and training efforts related to safety, environmental sustainability, and reliability of rail transportation, including— rolling stock; positive train control; human factors, systems design, or fatigue; rail infrastructure; shared corridors; grade crossings; rail systems maintenance; network resiliency; programs to train railroad workers in needed skills; and the development of programs or partnerships to raise awareness of railroad employment opportunities, in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration. The Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out with a grant under this subsection shall be 50 percent. .