IMAGINE Act of 2023

This bill encourages the research and use of innovative materials in U.S. transportation and water infrastructure to extend service life, improve performance, reduce costs, and enhance resilience, sustainability, and safety. It establishes a task force, innovation hubs, and grant programs, and amends existing law to promote innovative materials and techniques.

Sec. 3, Interagency Innovative Materials Standards Task Force: Within 180 days, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology must create a task force of federal agency heads (including the Federal Highway Administration) to coordinate testing standards, design guidelines, regulations, and performance metrics for innovative materials in infrastructure. Within 18 months, the task force must report to Congress assessing standards, identifying barriers, and finding opportunities for standardized designs. Within 2 years, it must collaborate with non-federal entities on research, standards, and plans to address barriers and develop standardized designs.

Sec. 4, Innovative Material Innovation Hubs: The Secretary of Transportation must establish a program awarding consortia (of at least two qualifying entities like universities or federal research centers) to create Hubs for multidisciplinary research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of innovative materials. The Secretary selects Hubs competitively, considering geographic diversity and ability. Hubs must publish plans, submit annual reports, and maintain conflict-of-interest procedures. Funds cannot be used for new construction. Authorized appropriations are such sums as necessary, available for 3 years.

Sec. 5, Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center: Amends title 23 to expand the Center's capacity to collaborate with state and tribal agencies on innovative materials (defined to include high-performance asphalt, concrete, geosynthetics, advanced alloys, polymers, nanocellulose, coatings, adhesives, and more). Activities may include new training and technical training. Priority research includes innovative materials for bridges over 50 feet, highway reconstruction, rural roads, standardized designs, and coastal resiliency. Authorizes $8 million per year for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

Sec. 6, Innovative Bridge Program: The Federal Highway Administration must establish a grant program for state DOTs, tribal governments, toll authorities, and local governments for coastal or rural bridge projects and value engineering projects. Eligible projects must add multimodal components to an existing single-span suspension bridge over 1,500 feet and more than 50 years old, reduce traffic impact, and use corrosion-resistant innovative materials that extend service life. Preferences include domestic materials, factory prefabrication, multimodal separation, and retrofitting. Special consideration for rural or flood-prone areas. $10 million per year (2024-2028) is set aside for value engineering of standard bridge designs. Authorizes $65 million per year for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

Sec. 7, Water Infrastructure Innovation Program: The EPA Administrator must establish a grant program for water infrastructure projects (wastewater and drinking water systems) using innovative materials to reduce costs and extend service life. Eligible projects must serve communities with population 3,301 to 99,999 and use materials resistant to degradation or extending service life. Preference for domestic materials. Special consideration for areas prone to saltwater intrusion or flooding. Authorizes $65 million per year for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

Sec. 8, Innovative Project Delivery Federal Share: Amends title 23 to expand the list of innovative project delivery methods eligible for increased federal share to include prefabricated bridge elements, innovative materials, in-place recycling, digital 3D modeling, advanced construction management systems, and innovative pavement materials that reduce greenhouse gas emissions through sequestration or innovative manufacturing.