HR7437-119

What This Bill Does

The BASICS Act changes title 23 highway formulas. It creates a Strengthening Bridges Formula Program with $5.5 billion per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, distributed by each state's cost to replace or rehabilitate poor-condition bridges, with a $45 million state minimum. It also creates $150 million per year for regional transportation planning in fiscal years 2027 through 2031. States must consult local governments before obligating certain Surface Transportation Block Grant funds in unrepresented areas under 50,000 people. The new bridge program funds construction, replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, and protection of public-road bridges, requires 25 percent to be obligated by population-area shares, requires project selection through MPO transportation improvement programs, regional transportation planning organizations, or local consultation, sets aside 3 percent for section 202(d), allows up to 0.5 percent for FHWA administration, and provides a 100 percent federal share for local or Tribal off-system bridges. The bill applies similar 25-percent population allocation and local/regional selection rules to highway safety improvement funds, requires an open and fair competition before states transfer section 104(b)(3) safety funds, expresses Congress's preference for locally selected projects, gives metropolitan planning funds a 100 percent federal share, expands MPO eligible uses, creates a direct-recipient process for MPOs within 180 days, and creates a rural transportation planning program with at least $300,000 per federally designated RTPO from FY2027 through FY2031 and 100 percent federal share.

Who Benefits and How

States with high poor-condition bridge replacement costs benefit from the $5.5 billion annual bridge set-aside and $45 million minimum. Local governments, Tribes, MPOs, regional transportation planning organizations, rural planning entities, and nonmetropolitan communities benefit from consultation requirements, direct planning funds, 100 percent federal shares, and minimum RTPO allocations. FHWA benefits from an administrative set-aside and clearer program structures.

Who Bears the Burden and How

State DOTs must follow population-based suballocations, consult local governments, use MPO or regional planning project-selection processes, run open and fair competitions before transferring safety funds, distribute RTPO funds through approved formulas and grants, and manage direct-recipient relationships. The Secretary of Transportation and FHWA must administer new formula programs, approve distribution methods, certify competitions, and provide MPOs access to financial-management systems.

Key Provisions

• Creates a $5.5 billion-per-year FY2027-FY2031 Strengthening Bridges Formula Program distributed by poor-condition bridge replacement and rehabilitation costs, with a $45 million state minimum.
• Creates a $150 million-per-year FY2027-FY2031 regional transportation planning program and requires each federally designated RTPO to receive at least $300,000 annually.
• Requires 25 percent of bridge and highway-safety funds to be obligated by population-area shares and selected through MPO, RTPO, or local-government consultation processes.
• Provides a 100 percent federal share for local or Tribal off-system bridge projects, metropolitan planning funds, and regional transportation planning activities.
• Requires open and fair competition before states transfer section 104(b)(3) safety funds and creates a direct-recipient process for MPO federal planning funds.