§ 6502. Consolidated research database(a) Research Abstract Database.—(1)In general.—The Secretary shall annually publish on a public website a comprehensive database of all research projects conducted by the Department of Transportation, including, to the extent practicable, research funded through University Transportation Centers.(2)Contents.—The database published under paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable—(A) include the consolidated modal research plans approved under section 6501(b)(1)(B)(i);(B) describe the research objectives, progress, findings, and allocated funds for each research project;(C) identify research projects with multimodal applications;(D) specify how relevant modal administrations have assisted, will contribute to, or plan to use the findings from the research projects identified under paragraph (1);(E) identify areas in which more than 1 modal administration is conducting research on a similar subject or a subject that has a bearing on more than 1 mode;(F) indicate how the findings of research are being disseminated to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of transportation systems; and(G) describe the public and stakeholder input to the research plans submitted under section 6501(a)(1).(b)Funding Report.—In conjunction with each of the annual budget requests submitted by the President under section 1105 of title 31, the Secretary shall annually publish on a public website and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes—(1) the amount spent in the last full fiscal year on transportation research and development with specific descriptions of projects funded at $5,000,000 or more; and(2) the amount proposed in the current budget for transportation research and development with specific descriptions of projects funded at $5,000,000 or more.(c)Performance Plans and Reports.—In the plans and reports submitted under sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, the Secretary shall include—(1) a summary of the Federal transportation research and development activities for the previous fiscal year in each topic area;(2) the amount spent in each topic area;(3) a description of the extent to which the research and development is meeting the expectations described in section 6503(c)(1); and(4) any amendments to the strategic plan developed under section 6503.(Added Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title VI, § 6019(b)(1), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1579.)Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as an Effective Date of 2015 Amendment note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.