H.R. 8870
BUILD America 250 Act
Sponsor: Sam Graves
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America's 250th Act or the BUILD America 250 Act
This bill authorizes federal surface transportation (highway, public transportation, and rail) programs and activities through FY2031. The bill also establishes or modifies Department of Transportation (DOT) programs and policies that are a part of the federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier, research, hazardous materials, and rail programs.
For example, the bill authorizes appropriations through FY2031 out of the Highway Trust Fund for the federal-aid highway program, the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, highway safety programs, and bridge programs. The bill also authorizes funding through FY2031 for Amtrak. Current authorization for these programs expires on September 30, 2026.
Among other provisions, the bill
- establishes a Surface Transportation Accelerator Grant (STAG) discretionary program to fund surface transportation projects in rural, urban, local, and regional communities;
- requires the Federal Highway Administration to impose a new annual electric vehicle (EV) registration fee, starting at $130 for a covered EV and $35 for a covered plug-in hybrid vehicle;
- exempts automated driving system technology and equipment from vehicle width requirements;
- establishes a consolidated state block grant program that allows DOT to allocate a lump sum to participating states to fund public transportation services in rural and urbanized areas;
- allows state rail safety inspectors to conduct railroad bridge inspections; and
- establishes a system for state, local, and tribal governments to report safety concerns about the condition of railroad bridges.
Text of the bill
I Federal-Aid Highways
A Authorizations and Programs
B Improved Project Delivery and Environmental Streamlining
C Miscellaneous
II Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation
III Public Transportation
A Reforms
(a) In general. Section 5326 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
5326. Transit asset management
(a) In general. The Secretary shall maintain—
(1) a national transit asset management system for purposes of monitoring and managing public transportation capital assets to enhance safety, reduce maintenance costs, increase reliability, and improve performance of public transportation systems; and
(2) objective standards for measuring the condition of capital assets of recipients, including equipment, rolling stock, infrastructure, and facilities, for purposes of determining state of good repair.
(b) Requirements. In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall require a transit provider to—
(1) develop a transit asset management plan;
(2) not less frequently than once per fiscal year in which the transit provider receives Federal assistance—
(A) establish performance targets with respect to the state of good repair standards prescribed by the Secretary under part 625 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation);
(B) submit to the Secretary a data report that details—
(i) condition information for all assets of the public transportation system of such provider; and
(ii) the performance targets established pursuant to subparagraph (A) for the subsequent fiscal year; and
(C) submit to the Secretary a narrative report that—
(i) describes any change in the condition of the public transportation system from the year immediately preceding the year for which the report is submitted; and
(ii) describes the progress made during the period covered by the report toward meeting each performance target established by the transit provider pursuant to subparagraph (B) with respect to such period; and
(3) report any additional information the Secretary determines appropriate to demonstrate compliance with the state of good repair standards prescribed by the Secretary under part 625 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
(c) Transit asset management for certain transit providers. For purposes of complying with the requirements under subsection (b), a tier II provider may, at the discretion of the Secretary, coordinate with a sponsor.
(d) Support tools and technical assistance. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall—
(1) develop an analytical process or decision support tool for use by a transit provider subject to the requirements of subsection (b) that—
(A) aids in estimating the amount of capital investment needed for a public transportation system over time;
(B) assists with asset investment prioritization within a public transportation system; and
(C) enables continuous monitoring of capital assets and the real-time performance of such assets;
(2) provide technical assistance to such providers; and
(3) maintain, and periodically update, a transit asset management system guide to foster consistency in transit system asset management practices by such providers.
(e) Definitions. In this section:
(1) Sponsor. The term sponsor means a State, a designated recipient, or a direct recipient that develops a group transportation asset management plan on behalf of at least 1 tier II provider.
(2) Tier II provider. The term tier II provider has the meaning prescribed by part 625.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(3) Transit asset management system. The term transit asset management system means a strategic and systematic process of operating, maintaining, and improving public transportation capital assets effectively throughout the life cycle of such assets.
(4) Transit provider. The term transit provider means a recipient or subrecipient of Federal financial assistance under this chapter that owns, operates, or manages capital assets used in providing public transportation.
(b) Savings clause. The amendments made by this section to section 5326 of title 49, United States Code, shall not be construed by the Secretary to—
(1) require any updates to the regulations promulgated in part 625 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, (or any successor regulation) for purposes of administering such section, as amended; and
(2) impose any requirements on a tier II provider (as such term is prescribed by part 625.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation) that is in addition to the requirements imposed on such a provider under such part, as of the date of enactment of this Act.
B Miscellaneous
C Reorganization and Consolidation of Chapter 53
IV Highway Safety
V Motor Carriers
A General Provisions
B Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators
C Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety
D Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Reform
E Safe Integration of Autonomous Commercial Motor Vehicles
VI Innovation
VII Freight and Multimodal Transportation Programs
A Freight Policy
B Multimodal Policy and Programs
VIII Miscellaneous
IX Sport Fishing and Recreational Boating Safety
X Railroads and Hazardous Materials
A Authorization of Appropriations and Grant Reforms
B Amtrak Reforms
C Passenger Rail Policy
D Rail Safety and Innovation
E Project Delivery
F Hazardous Materials Transportation