§ 5314. National research programs
(a)
Program.—
(1)
The amounts made available under section
5338
(d) are available to the Secretary of Transportation for grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other agreements for the purposes of sections
5312,
5315, and
5322 of this title, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(2)
The Secretary shall provide public transportation-related technical assistance, demonstration programs, research, public education, and other activities the Secretary considers appropriate to help public transportation providers comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall carry out this paragraph through a contract with a national nonprofit organization serving individuals with disabilities that has a demonstrated capacity to carry out the activities.
(3)
Not more than 25 percent of the amounts available under paragraph (1) of this subsection is available to the Secretary for special demonstration initiatives, subject to terms the Secretary considers consistent with this chapter, except that section
5333
(b) of this title applies to an operational grant financed in carrying out section
5312
(a) of this title. For a nonrenewable grant of not more than $100,000, the Secretary shall provide expedited procedures on complying with the requirements of this chapter.
(4)
(5)
The Secretary may use amounts appropriated under this subsection to supplement amounts available under section
5313
(a) of this title, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(6)
Medical transportation demonstration grants.—
(A)
Grants authorized.—
The Secretary may award demonstration grants, from funds made available under paragraph (1), to eligible entities to provide transportation services to individuals to access dialysis treatments and other medical treatments for renal disease.
(B)
Eligible entities.—
An entity shall be eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph if the entity—
(C)
Use of funds.—
Grant funds received under this paragraph may be used to provide transportation services to individuals to access dialysis treatments and other medical treatments for renal disease.
(D)
Application.—
(b)
Government’s Share.—
When there would be a clear and direct financial benefit to an entity under a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other agreement under subsection (a) or section
5312, the Secretary shall establish a United States Government share consistent with the benefit.
(c)
National Technical Assistance Center for Senior Transportation.—
(1)
Establishment.—
The Secretary shall award grants to a national not-for-profit organization for the establishment and maintenance of a national technical assistance center.
(2)
Eligibility.—
An organization shall be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1) if the organization—
(3)
Use of funds.—
The national technical assistance center established under this section shall—
(A)
gather best practices from throughout the Nation and provide such practices to local communities that are implementing senior transportation programs;
(4)
Grants authorized.—
(A)
In general.—
The national technical assistance center established under this section, in consultation with the Federal Transit Administration, shall award senior transportation demonstration grants to—