Title 23 — HighwaysRelease 119-73not60
§515 General Authorities and Requirements
Title 23 › Chapter 5— RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY, AND EDUCATION › § 515
Summary
Run a continuous program to research, develop, and test intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and to help states and cities use those systems across the country. The program must encourage public‑private partnerships and not push out private investment. The Secretary must work with state and local governments, private companies, Federal labs, and colleges (including historically Black colleges and other minority schools). The Secretary may also give technical help, training, information, and funding to support planning and operations that include ITS. The Secretary must keep a data store of technical and safety information from federally funded ITS projects, make that information available on request except for proprietary data, may hire a third party to run the store (which can receive federal help), and the store is not covered by sections 552 and 555 of title 5, United States Code. Create an Advisory Committee of up to 25 members balanced between metro and rural interests. Members serve 3‑year terms and may be reappointed or stay until replaced. The committee must include representatives from state and local road and transit agencies, planners, academics in several fields, private ITS developers and users, vehicle makers, labor, safety and environmental groups, cybersecurity experts, and other relevant parties. The committee must meet at least twice a year (in person or by video), advise on ITS strategy, and each year review proposed ITS research and projects to judge technical advance, likely deployment, and government versus private roles. By May 1 each year the Secretary must publish on the Department website the committee’s recommendations, how they were handled, and reasons for any rejections. The committee follows chapter 10 of title 5. The Secretary must also issue rules for reporting and evaluating ITS tests and deployments to ensure independent, unbiased reports, avoid conflicts of interest, set reporting funding levels by project size, and surveys or interviews used for reporting are not subject to chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code.
Full Legal Text
Title 23, §515
Highways — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Subject to the provisions of sections 512 through 518, the Secretary shall conduct an ongoing intelligent transportation system program—
(1)to research, develop, and operationally test intelligent transportation systems; and
(2)to provide technical assistance in the nationwide application of those systems as a component of the surface transportation systems of the United States.
(c)The Secretary shall carry out the intelligent transportation system program in cooperation with State and local governments and other public entities, the private sector firms of the United States, the Federal laboratories, and institutions of higher education, including historically Black colleges and universities and other minority institutions of higher education.
(d)In carrying out the intelligent transportation system program, the Secretary shall consult with the heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate.
(e)The Secretary may provide technical assistance, training, and information to State and local governments seeking to implement, operate, maintain, or evaluate intelligent transportation system technologies and services.
(f)The Secretary may provide funding to support adequate consideration of transportation systems management and operations, including intelligent transportation systems, within metropolitan and statewide transportation planning processes.
(g)(1)The Secretary shall—
(B)make, on request, that information (except for proprietary information and data) readily available to all users of the repository at an appropriate cost.
(2)(A)The Secretary may enter into an agreement with a third party for the maintenance of the repository for technical and safety data under paragraph (1)(A).
(B)If the Secretary enters into an agreement with an entity for the maintenance of the repository, the entity shall be eligible for Federal financial assistance under this section.
(3)Information in the repository shall not be subject to section 552 and 555 of title 5, United States Code.
(h)(1)The Secretary shall establish an Advisory Committee (referred to in this subsection as the “Advisory Committee”) to advise the Secretary on carrying out sections 512 through 518.
(2)The Advisory Committee shall have no more than 25 members, be balanced between metropolitan and rural interests, and include, at a minimum—
(A)a representative from a State highway department;
(B)a representative from a local highway department who is not from a metropolitan planning organization;
(C)a representative from a State, local, or regional transit agency;
(D)a representative from a State, local, or regional wildlife, land use, or resource management agency;
(E)a representative from a metropolitan planning organization;
(F)a representative of a national transit association;
(G)a representative of a national, State, or local transportation agency or association;
(H)a private sector user of intelligent transportation system technologies;
(I)a private sector developer of intelligent transportation system technologies, which may include emerging vehicle technologies;
(J)an academic researcher with expertise in computer science or another information science field related to intelligent transportation systems, and who is not an expert on transportation issues;
(K)an academic researcher who is a civil engineer;
(L)an academic researcher who is a social scientist with expertise in transportation issues;
(M)an academic researcher who is a biological or ecological scientist with expertise in transportation issues;
(N)a representative from a nonprofit group representing the intelligent transportation system industry;
(O)a representative from a public interest group concerned with safety;
(P)a representative of a labor organization;
(Q)a representative of a mobility-providing entity;
(R)an expert in traffic management;
(S)a representative from a public interest group concerned with the impact of the transportation system on land use and residential patterns;
(T)a representative from a public interest group concerned with the impact of the transportation system on terrestrial and aquatic species and the habitat of those species; and
(U)members with expertise in planning, safety, telecommunications, and operations;
(V)an expert in cybersecurity; and
(W)an automobile manufacturer.
(3)(A)The term of a member of the Advisory Committee shall be 3 years.
(B)On expiration of the term of a member of the Advisory Committee, the member—
(i)may be reappointed; or
(ii)if the member is not reappointed under clause (i), may serve until a new member is appointed.
(4)The Advisory Committee—
(A)shall convene not less frequently than twice each year; and
(B)may convene with the use of remote video conference technology.
(5)The Advisory Committee shall, at a minimum, perform the following duties:
(A)Provide input into the development of the intelligent transportation system aspects of the strategic plan under section 6503 of title 49.
(B)Review, at least annually, areas of intelligent transportation systems programs and research being considered for funding by the Department, to determine—
(i)whether these activities are likely to advance either the state-of-the-practice or state-of-the-art in intelligent transportation systems;
(ii)whether the intelligent transportation system technologies are likely to be deployed by users, and if not, to determine the barriers to deployment; and
(iii)the appropriate roles for government and the private sector in investing in the programs, research, and technologies being considered.
(6)Not later than May 1 of each year, the Secretary shall make available to the public on a Department of Transportation website a report that includes—
(A)all recommendations made by the Advisory Committee during the preceding calendar year;
(B)an explanation of the manner in which the Secretary has implemented those recommendations; and
(C)for recommendations not implemented, the reasons for rejecting the recommendations.
(7)The Advisory Committee shall be subject to chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code.
(i)(1)(A)The Secretary shall issue guidelines and requirements for the reporting and evaluation of operational tests and deployment projects carried out under sections 512 through 518.
(B)The guidelines and requirements issued under subparagraph (A) shall include provisions to ensure the objectivity and independence of the reporting entity so as to avoid any real or apparent conflict of interest or potential influence on the outcome by parties to any such test or deployment project or by any other formal evaluation carried out under sections 512 through 518.
(C)The guidelines and requirements issued under subparagraph (A) shall establish reporting funding levels based on the size and scope of each test or project that ensure adequate reporting of the results of the test or project.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (h)(7). Pub. L. 117–286, which directed amendment of subsec. (h)(5) by substituting “chapter 10 of title 5, united states code” for “federal advisory committee act” in heading and “chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code.” for “the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).” in text, was executed by making the substitutions in subsec. (h)(7) to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the prior amendment by Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(4). See 2021 Amendment note, below. 2021—Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(1), inserted “(referred to in this subsection as the ‘Advisory Committee’)” after “an Advisory Committee”. Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(2)(A), substituted “25 members” for “20 members” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (h)(2)(D) to (W). Pub. L. 117–58, § 13008(a) and § 25001(2)(D)–(G), added various subpars. and successively redesignated existing subpars., resulting in ultimate redesignations of original subpars. as follows: (D) as (E), (E) as (H), (F) as (J), (G) as (K), (H) as (L), (I) as (N), (J) as (O), (K) as (S), and (L) as (U). For newly added subpars., see notes below. Subsec. (h)(2)(D). Pub. L. 117–58, § 13008(a)(3), added subpar. (D). Subsec. (h)(2)(F), (G). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(2)(D), added subpars. (F) and (G). Subsec. (h)(2)(I). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(2)(E), added subpar. (I). Subsec. (h)(2)(J). Pub. L. 117–58, § 13008(a)(4), added subpar. (J), which was subsequently redesignated (M) by Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(2)(C). Subsec. (h)(2)(N). Pub. L. 117–58, § 13008(a)(5), added subpar. (N), which was subsequently redesignated (T) by Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(2)(C). Subsec. (h)(2)(O). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(2)(B), prior to redesignation of subpar. (O) as (U), struck out “utilities,” after “telecommunications,” and substituted semicolon for period at end. Subsec. (h)(2)(P) to (R). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(2)(F), added subpars. (P) to (R). Subsec. (h)(2)(V), (W). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(2)(G), added subpars. (V) and (W). Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(5), added par. (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (5). Subsec. (h)(3)(A). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(3)(A), substituted “section 6503 of title 49” for “section 508”. Subsec. (h)(3)(B). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(3)(B)(i), inserted “programs and” before “research” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (h)(3)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(3)(B)(ii), substituted “programs, research, and” for “research and”. Subsec. (h)(4). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(5), added par. (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (6). Subsec. (h)(5) to (7). Pub. L. 117–58, § 25001(4), redesignated pars. (3) to (5) as (5) to (7), respectively. 2015—Pub. L. 114–94, § 1446(a)(14), substituted “sections 512 through 518” for “this chapter” wherever appearing. Subsec. (h)(4). Pub. L. 114–94, § 6007, in introductory provisions, substituted “May 1 of each year” for “February 1 of each year after the date of enactment of the Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Act of 2012” and “make available to the public on a Department of Transportation website” for “submit to Congress”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2021 AmendmentAmendment by section 13008(a) of Pub. L. 117–58 effective Oct. 1, 2021, see section 10003 of Pub. L. 117–58, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
23 U.S.C. § 515
Title 23 — Highways
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60