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 5329 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
(a) Definition of recipient. In this section, the term recipient means a State or local governmental authority, or any other operator of a public transportation system, that receives financial assistance under this chapter.
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (1) by striking create and implement and inserting maintain;
(B) in paragraph (2)—
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking include;
(ii) in subparagraph (A) by inserting include before safety performance criteria;
(iii) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
(B) consider transit asset management plans, including the state of good repair of capital assets, as such plans relate to the safety performance of public transportation systems;
(iv) in subparagraph (C) by inserting include before minimum safety performance;
(v) in subparagraph (D) by inserting provide information sources on before precautionary and reactive;
(vi) in subparagraph (E) by inserting establish voluntary before minimum safety standards to ensure;
(vii) in subparagraph (F) by striking a public and inserting provide information sources on the public; and
(viii) in subparagraph (G) by striking consideration, where appropriate, of and inserting encourage, where appropriate,; and
(C) in paragraph (3) by striking under paragraph (1) as necessary and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting described in paragraph (1) at least once every 5 years.;
(3) in subsection (c) by striking establish and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting
maintain a public transportation safety certification training program and curriculum for—
(1) Federal and State employees, or other designated personnel, who conduct safety audits and examinations of public transportation systems; and
(2) employees of public transportation agencies directly responsible for safety oversight.
(4) in subsection (d)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking Each recipient or State, as described in paragraph (3), shall certify that the recipient or State and inserting Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), each recipient shall certify that such recipient;
(ii) in subparagraph (B) by striking cooperation and inserting consultation; and
(iii) in subparagraph (I)—
(I) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively;
(II) by striking operations to improve safety by reducing and inserting
operations to—
(i) improve workplace safety for frontline employees by reducing
(III) in subclause (II), as so redesignated, by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and
(IV) by adding at the end the following:
(ii) improve passenger safety system-wide, including through a reduction in the number and rates of assaults and other violent crimes on transit passengers while onboard public transportation vehicles and in public transportation facilities, including intercity bus portions of such facilities and joint-use facilities where appropriate; and
(iii) mitigate fare evasion system-wide, to the greatest extent practicable.
(B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following:
(2) PTASP drafting and certification for small public transportation providers. A State shall draft and certify an agency safety plan described in this subsection on behalf of any small public transportation provider (as defined in part 673.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations) that is in that State unless such small public transportation provider notifies the State of intent to draft and certify an agency safety plan specific to such provider.
(3) Certain exempt operators. This subsection shall not apply to an operator of a public transportation system that—
(A) only receives Federal financial assistance under section 5310 or 5311; and
(B) does not operate a rail fixed guideway public transportation system.
; and
(C) in paragraph (4)—
(i) by striking rolling average of and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting
rolling average of—
(i) the data submitted by the recipient to the national transit database under section 5335; and
(ii) any other data related to system operations and revenues, as such data pertains to the safety of the transit system, captured by the recipient.
(ii) in subparagraph (B) by striking 0.75 percent and inserting 1 percent; and
(iii) in subparagraph (D) by striking including modifications to rolling stock and de-escalation training. and inserting
including modifications to—
(i) rolling stock;
(ii) farebox infrastructure; and
(iii) de-escalation training.
(5) in subsection (e)(3) by striking In order to obligate funds apportioned under section 5338 to carry out this chapter, effective 3 years after the date on which a final rule under this subsection becomes effective and inserting For purposes of obligating Federal assistance pursuant to this chapter; and
(6) in subsection (i) by striking consult with the and inserting obtain the concurrence of the.
(b) Regulations; guidance. Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue or update such regulations and guidance as may be necessary to implement the amendments made by this section.
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