H.R. 8748 — Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2026

This section extends the authorization periods for technology and innovation programs related to highway and intermodal transportation systems through fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (from fiscal years 2022 through 2026) by amending subsection (c) of section 503 of title 23, United States Code, in (1) paragraph (3)(D), (2) paragraph (4)(I)(i), and (3) paragraph (5)(C).

This section revises the Bureau of Transportation Statistics by (1) locating the Director within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, (2) replacing the Bureau’s significant role in statistical activities with exclusive authority over them, and (3) directing the Secretary to coordinate all Department statistical activities to protect confidentiality, objectivity, and integrity in accordance with subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44 and related federal standards.

This section establishes the Transportation Statistics Coordination Council within the Department of Transportation to coordinate statistical activities and evaluations across the Department. The Council must be established not later than 90 days after enactment and composed of a representative from each operating administration that conducts statistical activities or evaluations, with the Director of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics serving as Chairperson. The Council must assist the Director in carrying out statutory duties, review the Department's comprehensive data inventory to identify duplicative or fragmented data assets, identify opportunities to reduce reporting burdens on State, local, Tribal, or private entities by consolidating collections into a centralized repository, and advise on Department-wide data guidelines, standards, metadata schemas, and taxonomies. Not later than three years after enactment, the Secretary must submit a report to the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that includes a comprehensive inventory of departmental statistical activities, a plan to eliminate duplicative activities outside the Bureau (including any interagency agreements or centralization analysis), a governance strategy for data standards, and an assessment of administrative, technical, or legal barriers to implementation.

This section removes the “not more than” limitation on grant amounts under the University Transportation Centers program and reauthorizes the program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (from fiscal years 2022 through 2026).

This section extends the authorization period for the advanced transportation research pilot program through 2031 (from 2026), removes the biennial frequency requirement for actions under subsection (f), redesignates subsection (i) as subsection (j), and inserts a new subsection (i) directing the Secretary of Transportation to develop an implementation plan to transition the pilot program to a sustained open research initiative and submit a report on the plan to the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Environment and Public Works not later than two years after enactment.

This section directs the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and in consultation with the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to enter into an agreement within 180 days of enactment with an appropriate entity to conduct a study on the effects of high-intensity LED, matrix LED, and other emerging headlamp technologies on driver visibility, glare exposure, and roadway safety, and to make related recommendations. The study may assess luminous intensity, beam patterns, vehicle mounting height, headlamp aim, and physiological and cognitive effects on drivers (with particular attention to older drivers and those with visual impairments) and their ability to identify vulnerable road users, as well as the adequacy of existing photometric test procedures. The Secretary must submit a report on the study findings and recommendations to the House Committees on Science, Space, and Technology and Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and make the report publicly available, not later than two years after entering into the agreement.

This section directs the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, to submit to the House Committees on Science, Space, and Technology and on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and on Environment and Public Works, not later than one year after enactment, a strategy to encourage nationwide standardization and utilization of reclaimed asphalt pavement on roadways while ensuring asphalt mixture quality does not decrease. The strategy must include a review and inventory of the Secretary’s related activities, an analysis of cost savings from increasing allowable use, a description of activities supporting technical standards and best practices for testing and use, and recommendations to promote utilization through Department of Transportation programs, developed after consultation with institutions of higher education, state departments of transportation, units of local government, metropolitan and regional planning organizations, nonprofit research organizations, private-sector asphalt producers, and heads of other relevant federal agencies.

This section expands the purposes of the rail cooperative research program to include addressing safety challenges with modern and future infrastructure and technology related to commuter rail, passenger rail, freight rail, and other rail networks. It also adds review of safety standards for the transportation of hazardous materials on freight rail to the list of eligible activities under the program. In addition, this section extends the authorization for the program through 2031 (from 2019) and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (from 2010 through 2013).