SEC. 1925. COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT STUDY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a study on--
(1) the role of well-designed transportation projects in--
(A) promoting economic development;
(B) protecting public health, safety, and the environment; and
(C) enhancing the architectural design and planning of communities; and
(2) the positive economic, cultural, aesthetic, scenic, architectural, and environmental benefits of such projects for communities.
(b) Contents.--The study shall address the following: [[Page 119 STAT. 1483]]
(1) The degree to which well-designed transportation projects have positive economic, cultural, aesthetic, scenic, architectural, and environmental benefits for communities.
(2) The degree to which such projects protect and contribute to improvements in public health and safety.
(3) The degree to which such projects use inclusive public participation processes to achieve quicker, more certain, and better results.
(4) The degree to which positive results are achieved by linking transportation, design, and the implementation of community visions for the future.
(5) Facilitating the use of successful models or best practices in transportation investment or development to accomplish each of the following:
(A) Enhancement of community identity.
(B) Protection of public health and safety.
(C) Provision of a variety of choices in housing, shopping, transportation, employment, and recreation.
(D) Preservation and enhancement of existing infrastructure.
(E) Creation of a greater sense of community through public involvement.
(c) Report.--Not later than September 20, 2007, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report on the results of the study.
(d) Administration.--To carry out this section, the Secretary shall make a grant to, or enter into a cooperative agreement or contract with, a national organization representing architects who have expertise in the design of a wide range of transportation and infrastructure projects, which include the design of buildings, public facilities, and surrounding communities.
(e) Authorization.--Of the amounts made available to carry out the transportation, community, and system preservation program by section 1117 of this Act $1,000,000 shall be available for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to carry out this section; except that, notwithstanding section 1117(g) of this Act, the Federal share of the cost of the study shall be 100 percent.
