The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, may conduct research on marine highway transportation, regarding—

((1)) the economic effects of marine highway transportation on the United States economy;

((2)) the effects of marine highway transportation, including with respect to the provision of additional transportation options, on rural areas;

((3)) the environmental and transportation benefits to be derived from marine highway transportation alternatives for other forms of transportation;

((4)) technology, vessel design, and other improvements that would reduce emissions, increase fuel economy, and lower costs of marine highway transportation and increase the efficiency of intermodal transfers; and

((5)) solutions to impediments to marine highway transportation projects designated under section 55601.