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Background

Section 5207 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP), and authorized $16.875 million per year for FY2006-FY2009 to implement this new program. The general objective of the STEP is to improve understanding of the complex relationship between surface transportation, planning and the environment.

Due to obligation limitations, recissions and the over-designation of Title V Research in SAFETEA-LU, it is anticipated that approximately $11.9 million of the $16.875 million authorized will be available each year. STEP will also be the sole source of SAFETEA-LU funds available to conduct all FHWA research on planning and environmental issues. In addition, Congress mandated several special studies, i.e., Report on Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program (Section 1807 of SAFETEA-LU) and the Annual Report for the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Pilot Program (Section 6005(h) of SAFETEA-LU). STEP will also be the funding source for these projects.

Section 5207 of SAFETEA-LU identifies certain characteristics of STEP regarding program contents and administration. Regarding the program content, STEP may include research to:

• Develop more accurate models for evaluating transportation control measures and system designs for use by State and local governments to meet environmental requirements;
• Improve understanding of transportation demand factors;
• Develop indicators of economic, social, and environmental performance of transportation systems to facilitate alternatives analysis;
• Meet additional priorities determined through the transportation research and development strategic planning process identified in section 5208 of SAFETEA-LU;
• Refine the scope and research emphases through outreach and in consultation with stakeholders.

In administering the program, USDOT and FHWA will ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that:

• The best projects and researchers are selected based on merit, open solicitations, and selection by a panel of appropriate experts;
• Qualified, permanent core staff with ability to manage a large multiyear budget is used;
• Stakeholders are involved in governance of program;
• There is no duplication with the Future Strategic Highway Research Program (section 5210 of SAFETEA-LU), which will be administered by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.