Transportation (Bridges) in United States

in committee · United States · House May 30, 2025

HR 3647: SAFE CROSS Act

HR 3647, the SAFE CROSS Act, requires the Federal Railroad Administration to study AI-enabled sensors at rail crossings. The study, to be completed within one year of the bill's enactment, will examine existing pilot programs, compare costs and benefits against alternatives like grade separations, and identify best practices. Results must be published publicly within 30 days, including recommendations for federal, state, tribal, local governments, and private entities responsible for rail crossing safety. This bill does not implement sensors but directs a review of their potential safety benefits and challenges.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Bridges Pedestrian Safety Rail Tags Artificial Intelligence

in committee · United States · House May 30, 2025

HR 3663: Bridge Protection Act

HR 3663, the Bridge Protection Act, requires owners of bridges built before 1996 over navigable water to conduct vessel collision vulnerability assessments using a specific method. If assessments show high risk, owners must develop and implement a risk reduction plan within one year; failure to do so after October 1, 2026, makes them ineligible for federal bridge grants (unless granted an extension). The bill also establishes an interdisciplinary bridge safety team to oversee compliance and maintain a national vulnerability database, and creates a $500 million competitive grant program (2026-2030) to fund assessments and physical improvements for these older bridges. This directly affects state and local bridge owners managing pre-1996 structures.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Bridges Ports Roads & Highways

in committee · United States · House Feb 2, 2026

HR 6531: Bridges not Bumpers Act of 2025

The Bridges not Bumpers Act of 2025 creates a working group to improve data sharing about bridge clearances for commercial vehicles, requiring better GPS navigation tools, clearer height labeling on rental vehicles (over 5,700 lbs), and warnings to renters. It mandates that rental companies provide height information and warnings about bridge clearance, while also addressing liability for inaccurate GPS data. The bill establishes a national clearinghouse for bridge strike data and funds research grants to identify high-risk locations and improve infrastructure. It directly affects commercial truck drivers, GPS navigation providers, and rental car companies with fleets of 5+ vehicles, aiming to reduce bridge strikes through better information and infrastructure planning.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Bridges Freight Roads & Highways

in committee · United States · House Feb 2, 2026

HR 6889: BRIDGE Act

The BRIDGE Act (HR 6889) creates a new federal grant program to fund the repair, replacement, or rehabilitation of bridges used in commuter rail operations. Public transportation operators can apply for competitive grants covering capital costs, with requirements including a bridge access agreement if the operator doesn’t own the bridge and eligibility limited to projects with projected usage-based costs. The bill authorizes $1.5 billion annually for fiscal years 2027-2031, prioritizing bridges in poor condition or identified for replacement in transit agencies’ asset management plans. It defines "commuter rail bridge" to include structures also used for intercity rail, other transit, or roadways.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Bridges Public Transit Rail

in committee · United States · House Feb 2, 2026

HR 6671: REPAIR Infrastructure Act

HR 6671, the REPAIR Infrastructure Act, reauthorizes $3 billion annually (2027-2031) for infrastructure projects that reconnect communities divided by highways or other "divisive roadway infrastructure" (like high-speed roads or viaducts). It directly affects local governments, tribes, and community groups seeking funding to rebuild access to jobs, healthcare, schools, and parks - especially in neighborhoods historically cut off by transportation projects. Key provisions prohibit using funds for new highway lanes, require projects to address historic inequities, and prioritize affordable housing, disability access, and community input. Projects must demonstrate how they prevent displacement, support low-income residents, and integrate with local land use (e.g., preserving affordable housing or limiting parking requirements).

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Community Development Land Use Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 16, 2025

S 3503: Wildlife Road Crossing Program Reauthorization Act of 2025

This bill reauthorizes a federal program that funds wildlife crossings - structures like overpasses or underpasses designed to help animals safely cross roads - through fiscal years 2027 to 2031. It authorizes $200 million annually from the Highway Trust Fund to support these projects, directly affecting state and tribal governments, local agencies, and conservation groups that apply for grants. Key provisions include making the program permanent (removing "pilot" language), requiring 100% federal funding for tribal projects, and dedicating 0.5% of annual funds to provide tribal technical assistance for faster project approval and funding access. The bill also allows the federal government to retain up to 0.5% of funds for administrative tasks like grant reviews and project oversight.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · United States · House Nov 1, 2025

HR 5886: Warrior Road Act

This bill requires the Transportation Secretary to prioritize highway projects that support national defense. It mandates a biennial list of the top 3 defense-focused highway projects in each state (developed with FEMA), and directs that projects designated for defense under existing law receive priority in federal funding decisions. States must ensure defense-designated projects get priority for both discretionary grants and apportioned highway funds under Title 23. The law updates existing highway funding rules to integrate civil defense planning into transportation project selection.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · House Dec 13, 2025

HR 6701: HEAT Act of 2025

The HEAT Act of 2025 updates federal disaster funding rules to include extreme heat as a qualifying event for transportation infrastructure repairs, addressing a gap where heat-related damage was previously excluded. It requires the Transportation Secretary to conduct a study on heat event costs and damage tracking methods, and to issue a best management practices report for highway and bridge safety. The bill directly affects state transportation departments, public transit systems, and freight rail operators by enabling them to seek federal relief for heat-induced infrastructure failures like cracked bridges or jammed drawbridges. Key provisions expand eligibility under Section 125 of Title 23, U.S. Code, and mandate new reporting to help states manage heat-related risks to critical transportation networks.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 10, 2025

S 3413: REPAIR Infrastructure Act

The REPAIR Infrastructure Act (S 3413) reauthorizes a federal program providing $3 billion annually (2027-2031) from the Highway Trust Fund to fund infrastructure projects that restore community connectivity and improve resilience. It allocates $750 million yearly for planning grants and $2.25 billion for capital construction grants, directly affecting state, local, and tribal governments applying for these funds. Key provisions require projects to avoid increasing highway travel lanes and prioritize affordable transportation access, community engagement, and preventing displacement in low-income areas - such as creating safe mobility options to jobs, healthcare, and housing. The program specifically targets "divisive roadway infrastructure" (e.g., highways separating neighborhoods) and mandates applicants demonstrate how projects address historic barriers and support underserved communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

in committee · United States · House May 20, 2025

HR 3505: Barriers to Suicide Act of 2025

HR 3505, the Barriers to Suicide Act of 2025, creates a federal grant program administered by the Department of Transportation to fund the installation of proven safety barriers and nets on specific high-risk structures. The program provides competitive grants (up to 80% federal funding) to states, local governments, or other eligible entities for projects installing suicide deterrents on bridges, buildings, parking garages, highway-rail crossings, or rail stations. It prioritizes areas with high suicide rates and mandates a study by the Comptroller General to evaluate effective deterrents for non-bridge structures and their costs, with a report due within one year of enactment. The bill authorizes $10 million annually from 2026-2030 for this initiative.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Mental Health Bridges Rail Roads & Highways

All transportation bills