23 USC § 516 - Research and development

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t23/s516"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "23 USC § 516 - Research and development"
title_number: 23
title_name: "HIGHWAYS"
section_number: "516"
section_name: "Research and development"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY, AND EDUCATION"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 112–141, div. E, title III, § 53004(a), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 902; amended Pub. L. 117–58, div. A, title III, § 13008(b), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 641.)"
---


# § 516. Research and development

**(a)** **In General.—** The Secretary shall carry out a comprehensive program of intelligent transportation system research and development, and operational tests of intelligent vehicles, intelligent infrastructure systems, and other similar activities that are necessary to carry out this chapter.

**(b)** **Priority Areas.—** Under the program, the Secretary shall give higher priority to funding projects that—

**(1)** enhance mobility and productivity through improved traffic management, incident management, transit management, freight management, road weather management, toll collection, traveler information, or highway operations systems and remote sensing products;

**(2)** use interdisciplinary approaches to develop traffic management strategies and tools to address multiple impacts of congestion concurrently;

**(3)** address traffic management, incident management, transit management, toll collection traveler information, or highway operations systems;

**(4)** incorporate research on the potential impact of environmental, weather, and natural conditions on intelligent transportation systems, including the effects of cold climates;

**(5)** enhance intermodal use of intelligent transportation systems for diverse groups, including for emergency and health-related services;

**(6)** enhance safety through improved crash avoidance and protection, crash and other notification, commercial motor vehicle operations, and infrastructure-based or cooperative safety systems, including animal detection systems to reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions; or

**(7)** facilitate the integration of intelligent infrastructure, vehicle, and control technologies.

**(c)** **Federal Share.—** The Federal share payable on account of any project or activity carried out under subsection (a) shall not exceed 80 percent.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 112–141, div. E, title III, § 53004(a), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 902; amended Pub. L. 117–58, div. A, title III, § 13008(b), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 641.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (b)(6).  inserted “, including animal detection systems to reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions” after “systems”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date

Section effective , see , set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under .