112 STAT. 458 PUBLIC LAW 105-178—JUNE 9, 1998 (b) PRIORITY AREAS. — Under the program, the Secretary shall give higher priority to funding projects that— (1) address traffic management, incident management, transit management, toll collection, traveler information, or highway operations systems; (2) focus on crash-avoidance and integration of in-vehicle crash protection technologies with other on-board safety systems, including the interaction of air bags and safety belts; (3) incorporate human factors research, including the science of the driving process; (4) facilitate the integration of intelligent infrastructure, vehicle, and control technologies, including magnetic guidance control systems or other materials or magnetics research; or (5) incorporate research on the impact of environmental, weather, and natural conditions on intelligent transportation systems, including the effects of cold climates. (c) OPERATIONAL TESTS. —Operational tests conducted under this section shall be designed for the collection of data to permit objective evaluation of the results of the tests, derivation of costbenefit information that is useful to others contemplating deploy- ment of similar systems, and development and implementation of standards. (d) FEDERAL SHARE. —The Federal share of the cost of operational tests and demonstrations under subsection (a) shall not exceed 80 percent. 23 USC 502 note. SEC. 5208. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM INTEGRATION PROGRAM. (a) IN GENERAL. —The Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive program to accelerate the integration and interoperability of intelligent transportation systems in metropolitan and rural areas. Under the program, the Secretary shall select for funding, through competitive solicitation, projects that will serve as models to improve transportation efficiency, promote safety (including safe freight movement), increase traffic flow (including the flow of intermodal travel at ports of entry), reduce emissions of air pollutants, improve traveler information, enhance alternative transportation modes, build on existing intelligent transportation system projects, or promote tourism. (b) SELECTION OF PROJECTS. —Under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to funding projects that— (1) contribute to national deployment goals and objectives outlined in the National ITS Program Plan under section 5205; (2) demonstrate a strong commitment to cooperation among agencies, jurisdictions, and the private sector, as evidenced by signed memoranda of understanding that clearly define the responsibilities and relations of all parties to a partnership arrangement, including institutional relationships and financial agreements needed to support deployment; (3) encourage private sector involvement and financial commitment, to the maximum extent practicable, through innovative financial arrangements, especially public-private partnerships, including arrangements that generate revenue to offset public investment costs; (4) demonstrate commitment to a comprehensive plan of fully integrated intelligent transportation system deployment
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