This bill, titled the "Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2026," primarily focuses on extending and enhancing various federal transportation research and development initiatives. It reauthorizes funding for highway and intermodal transportation systems , University Transportation Centers , and the Open Research Initiative through fiscal years 2027 to 2031, ensuring continued investment in innovation and technology. A significant portion of the bill aims to improve the Department of Transportation's statistical programs. It grants the Director of Transportation Statistics exclusive authority over certain functions and mandates the establishment of a Transportation Statistics Coordination Council . This Council will coordinate statistical activities, identify duplicative data, and advise on department-wide data guidelines to ensure the confidentiality, objectivity, and integrity of transportation data. Furthermore, the legislation directs the Secretary of Transportation to undertake specific studies and develop new strategies. This includes a comprehensive study on the safety effects of emerging headlamp technologies , such as high-intensity LEDs, focusing on driver visibility and glare exposure. The bill also requires a strategy to encourage the nationwide standardization and utilization of reclaimed asphalt pavement , aiming to promote sustainability while maintaining asphalt mixture quality. Finally, the bill expands the scope of rail research programs to address safety challenges with modern and future rail infrastructure and technology. It specifically adds a new research area to review safety standards related to the transportation of hazardous materials on freight rail, alongside extending funding for these critical programs.