Grants for research on potential improvements to roadway, bridge, and tunnel locations

(a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a grant program to provide grants to eligible entities to conduct research using the clearinghouse established under section 4 to— (1) identify roadway, bridge, and tunnel locations for potential infrastructure improvement projects to mitigate bridge and tunnel clearance strikes; (2) conduct basic, preliminary engineering tasks to analyze alternative bridge strike mitigation options and identify preferred mitigation alternative recommendations; and (3) assess the effectiveness of currently implemented and future countermeasures against bridge and tunnel clearance strikes and strategies and programs to reduce such strikes. (b) Eligible entities An entity eligible to receive a grant under this section is— (1) a State department of transportation; (2) a unit of local government; (3) a metropolitan planning organization; (4) Class II and Class III railroads; and (5) a transportation safety organization. (c) Prioritization In providing grants under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize eligible entities located in States with a high incidence of bridge strikes, as determined by the Secretary. (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section.