YourVoice.Now Summary
Your MoneyTransparency & AccountabilityEvery state would have to spend 5% of its federal highway money on sidewalks, crosswalks, and protected bike lanes.
Your Money
States would have to set aside 5 percent of the federal highway money they already get each year. Cities, counties, transit agencies, Tribal governments, and nonprofits could compete for grants of up to $20 million per project.
Two years after passage, new or rebuilt road projects in metro areas with transit service would need protected bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, and lighting. The rule would widen to metro road projects without transit service after five years, though freeways and emergency repairs stay exempt.
The Transportation and Justice Departments would turn 2023 federal sidewalk access guidelines into binding rules. Those rules would also have to cover people with vision, hearing, or thinking difficulties, and people with limited English.
States picking which projects to fund would have to look at recent crash and risk data first. Streets and intersections where people walking or biking are most at risk go to the front of the line.
Transparency & Accountability
Every two years, each state would have to publish a list showing which parts of its highway system meet the new design rules. Anyone could check whether their state is building them.
The Transportation Department would publish and update a chart showing what bike lanes, sidewalks, and lighting cost on different kinds of roads. It would let anyone compare cost claims for these projects.
More about this bill
Streets in your area could get protected bike lanes, new sidewalks, and better-lit crosswalks. Each state would put 5 percent of its federal road money into this work. The money is moved, not new. Cities, counties, transit agencies, and Tribal governments could apply. Grants could reach $20 million per project. The most dangerous crossings would get money first. The federal government would set street design rules within 180 days. Two years later, they would apply to new and rebuilt road work in metro areas. The road must have regular bus or train service. Any such project over $10 million counts too. After five years, the rules would cover metro road projects even without transit service. Some states would get there sooner. Freeways and urgent repairs would be left out. So would some roads next to factories. Every state and regional planning board would also have to use design rules serving all road users, not just drivers. Sidewalk rules for people with disabilities would become binding. They would have to cover people who have trouble seeing, hearing, thinking, or reading English. Every two years, each state would post which of its roads meet the rules. The money would take time to move. States would set up their grant programs within two budget years. Grants would start the year after.
Congressional Summary
This bill supports the development of safe and accessible roads through complete streets design and construction grants, policies, and design standards.Under the bill, a complete street means a public road that provides safe and accessible travel options for multiple travel modes (e.g., walking, cycling, transit, mobility devices, automobiles, and freight) for people of all ages, abilities, and disabilities.In general, each state must establish a competitive grant program that provides a portion of its federal highway funds to eligible entities for complete streets grants and technical assistance. Eligible entities include local and tribal governments, local agencies, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and nonprofit organizations.An eligible entity must develop a complete streets policy and a prioritization plan. The state or an MPO must approve the policy and plan. The Department of Transportation (DOT) must develop complete streets benchmarks and guidance for states and eligible entities.In addition, DOT and the Department of Justice must update and adopt certain accessibility standards (e.g., by including provisions for cognitive ability and language access).Further, DOT must require each state and MPO to adopt and implement design standards for the safe and adequate accommodation of all surface transportation network users.DOT must also establish complete streets design standards for federal projects and phase in their adoption, with exemptions for certain roadways, facilities, and projects. The standards must include (1) dedicated, protected bike lanes; (2) requirements for sidewalks and crosswalks; and (3) guidelines for lighting and signalization to promote safety.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-06-04
- Date Added
- 2026-03-30
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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