112 STAT. 428 PUBLIC LAW 105-178—JUNE 9, 1998 into cooperative agreements and contracts to foster alliances and support efforts to stimulate advances in transportation technology, including— "(A) the testing and evaluation of products of the strategic highway research program; "(B) the further development and implementation of technology in areas such as the Superpave system and the use of lithium salts and other alternatives to prevent and mitigate alkali silica reactivity; "(C) the provision of support for long-term pavement performance product implementation and technology access; and "(D) other activities to achieve the goals established under paragraph (3). "(8) REPORTS. —Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, and biennially theresifter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the progress and results of activities carried out under this section. "(9) ALLOCATION.— To the extent appropriate to achieve the goals established under paragraph (3), the Secretary may further allocate funds made available to carry out this section to States for their use. " (b) INNOVATIVE BRIDGE RESEARCH AND CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.— "(1) IN GENERAL. — The Secretary shall establish and carry out a program to demonstrate the application of innovative material technology in the construction of bridges and other structures. "(2) GrOALS.— The goals of the program shall include— "(A) the development of new, cost-effective innovative material highway bridge applications; "(B) the reduction of maintenance costs and life-cycle costs of bridges, including the costs of new construction, replacement, or rehabilitation of deficient bridges; "(C) the development of construction techniques to increase safety and reduce construction time and traffic congestion; "(D) the development of engineering design criteria for innovative products and materials for use in highway bridges and structures; "(E) the development of cost-effective and innovative techniques to separate vehicle and pedestrian traffic from railroad traffic; "(F) the development of highway bridges and structures that will withstand natural disasters, including alternative processes for the seismic retrofit of bridges; and "(G) the development of new nondestructive bridge evaluation technologies and techniques. "(3) GRANTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, AND CONTRACTS.— "(A) IN GENERAL. —Under the program, the Secretary shall make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements and contracts with—
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