U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
SAFETEA-LU establishes four new centers for surface transportation excellence. The goal of the centers is to promote and support strategic national surface transportation programs and activities, relating to the work of state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in the areas of environment, surface transportation safety, rural safety, and project finance.
SAFETEA-LU Section: §5309. Funding from §5101(a)(1)
The Rural Safety Center - Will provide research, training, and outreach on innovative uses of technology to: enhance rural safety, enhance economic development, assess local community needs to improve mobile emergency treatment, and develop online and seminar training to meet the needs of rural transportation practitioners and policy-makers.
The Surface Transportation Safety Center - Will develop and disseminate advanced transportation safety techniques and innovations in both rural areas and urban communities. The center will use a controlled access highway, with state-of-the-art features, to test safety devices and techniques that enhance driver performance; examine advanced pavement and lighting systems; and develop techniques to address older driver and driver fatigue issues.
The Environmental Excellence and Project Finance centers are administered separately.
Funds are authorized by section 5101(a)(1) of SAFETEA-LU for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 as follows:
| Year | 2005 | 2006* | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Transportation Safety | $0M | $529,517* | $750,000 | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| Rural Safety | $617,769* | $875,000 | $875,000 | $875,000 |
*Actual funding levels
With the exception of the Federal share, the funds authorized by this section will be available for obligation in the same manner as if apportioned under Chapter 1 of title 23 U.S.C.
The Federal share is 100%.
As specified in SAFETEA-LU, the Center for Excellence in Surface Transportation Safety will be established at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, and the Center for Excellence in Rural Safety will be established at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute, Minnesota. Each center must develop a multiyear strategic plan that describes activities and specific projects and how they will be coordinated with FHWA and other research, development, and technology transfer authorized by Title 5.
