---
kind: "section"
citation: "23 U.S.C. § 174"
title: "23"
title_heading: "Highways"
number: "174"
heading: "State human capital plans"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/23/174"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Federal-Aid Highways"
---

# §174. State human capital plans

- (a) **In General.—** Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) shall encourage each [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) to develop a voluntary plan, to be known as a “human capital plan”, that provides for the immediate and long-term personnel and workforce needs of the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) with respect to the capacity of the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) to deliver transportation and public infrastructure eligible under this title.
- (b) **Plan Contents.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** A human capital plan developed by a [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) under [subsection (a)](#a) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, take into consideration—
    - (A) significant transportation workforce trends, needs, issues, and challenges with respect to the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28);
    - (B) the human capital policies, strategies, and performance measures that will guide the transportation-related workforce investment decisions of the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28);
    - (C) coordination with educational institutions, industry, organized labor, workforce boards, and other agencies or organizations to address the human capital transportation needs of the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28);
    - (D) a workforce planning strategy that identifies current and future human capital needs, including the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to recruit and retain skilled workers in the transportation industry;
    - (E) a human capital management strategy that is aligned with the transportation mission, goals, and organizational objectives of the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28);
    - (F) an implementation system for workforce goals focused on addressing continuity of leadership and knowledge sharing across the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28);
    - (G) an implementation system that addresses workforce competency gaps, particularly in mission-critical occupations;
    - (H) in the case of public-private partnerships or other alternative [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) delivery methods to carry out the transportation program of the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28), a description of workforce needs—
      - (i) to ensure that the transportation mission, goals, and organizational objectives of the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) are fully carried out; and
      - (ii) to ensure that procurement methods provide the best public value;
    - (I) a system for analyzing and evaluating the performance of the State department of transportation with respect to all aspects of human capital management policies, programs, and activities; and
    - (J) the manner in which the plan will improve the ability of the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) to meet the national policy in support of performance management established under section 150.
  - (2) **Planning period.—** If a [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) develops a human capital plan under [subsection (a)](#a), the plan shall address a 5-year forecast period.
- (c) **Plan Updates.—** If a [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) develops a human capital plan under [subsection (a)](#a), the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) shall update the plan not less frequently than once every 5 years.
- (d) **Relationship to Long-range Plan.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Subject to [paragraph (2)](#d-2), a human capital plan developed by a [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) under [subsection (a)](#a) may be developed separately from, or incorporated into, the long-range statewide transportation plan required under section 135.
  - (2) **Effect of section.—** Nothing in this section requires a [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28), or authorizes the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) to require a [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28), to incorporate a human capital plan into the long-range statewide transportation plan required under section 135.
- (e) **Public Availability.—** Each [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) that develops a human capital plan under [subsection (a)](#a) shall make a copy of the plan available to the public in a user-friendly format on the website of the State department of transportation.
- (f) **Savings Provision.—** Nothing in this section prevents a [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) from carrying out transportation workforce planning—
  - (1) not described in this section; or
  - (2) not in accordance with this section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 117–58, div. A, title I, § 11203(a), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 519.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (a), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 117–58, which was approved Nov. 15, 2021.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 2021, see section 10003 of Pub. L. 117–58, set out as an Effective Date of 2021 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.