To provide for the conduct of a community enhancement study.

SA 621. Ms. LANDRIEU submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 605 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill H.R. 3, to
authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and
transit programs, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on
the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle H of title I, add the following:

SEC. 18__. 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 those projects
for communities.
(b) Contents.--The study shall address--
(1) the degree to which well-designed transportation
projects--
(A) have positive economic, cultural, aesthetic, scenic,
architectural, and environmental benefits for communities;
(B) protect and contribute to improvements in public health
and safety; and
(C) use inclusive public participation processes to achieve
quicker, more certain, and better results;
(2) the degree to which positive results are achieved by
linking transportation, design, and the implementation of
community visions for the future; and
(3) methods of facilitating the use of successful models or
best practices in transportation investment or development to
accomplish--
(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; and
(E) creation of a greater sense of community through public
involvement.
(c) Administration.--
(1) In general.--To carry out this section, the Secretary
shall make a grant to, or enter into a cooperative agreement
or contract with, a national organization with expertise in
the design of a wide range of transportation and
infrastructure projects, including the design of buildings,
public facilities, and surrounding communities.
(2) Federal share.--Notwithstanding section 1221(e)(2) of
the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (23 U.S.C.
101 note), the Federal share of the cost of the study under
this section shall be 100 percent.
(d) Report.--Not later than September 20, 2006, 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 under this section.
(e) Authorization.--Of the amounts made available to carry
out section 1221 of the Transportation Equity Act for the
21st Century (23 U.S.C. 101 note), $1,000,000 shall be
available for each of fiscal years 2005 and 2006 to carry out
this section.
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