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
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
(a) In general. Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a working group to examine and develop recommendations on opportunities and methods to improve, streamline, and standardize processes, requirements, and timeframes to assist in the review and approval of access agreements between State transportation departments, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, and railroads involving Federal, State, or locally funded infrastructure projects involving interactions with a railroad right-of-way.
(b) Duties. In carrying out the requirements under subsection (a), the working group shall examine and make recommendations related to the following:
(1) Opportunities and methods to standardize templates and model access agreements for routine and recurring activities related to infrastructure projects are within or across a railroad right-of-way, including by defining the term routine and recurring activities and developing template agreements for each identified project type that outlines the minimum information needed by party.
(2) Develop a no-cost standardized short form right of entry agreement for non-intrusive activities within or across a railroad right-of-way.
(3) Current and needed policies, orders, guidance, and regulations for the establishment of agreements addressing more complex activities related to infrastructure projects within or across a railroad right-of-way, including criteria and standards to define the term complex activities.
(4) Current processes, methods, and timeframes for interparty information exchanges, commitments, insurance, indemnification and liability allocation, labor and financial agreements and safety measures and whether such exchanges can be standardized.
(5) The impacts of administrative capacities and delays on project completion and solutions to mitigate delays, including ideal timeframes for responses by—
(A) Federal, State, and local government representatives; and
(B) railroad representatives.
(6) Processes and methods to resolve disputes between States, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, and railroads.
(7) Additional issues related to project delivery and coordination determined to be relevant by the Secretary or the working group.
(c) Membership. The working group established under subsection (a) shall be comprised of members appointed by the Secretary, including representatives of the following:
(1) State departments of transportation from different regions of the United States.
(2) Metropolitan planning organizations from different regions of the United States.
(3) Local governments from different regions of the United States.
(4) Class I railroads.
(5) Class II or Class III railroads.
(6) Providers of intercity rail passenger transportation (as defined in section 24102 of title 49, United States Code) who own and operate rail service and public transportation agencies that provide commuter rail passenger transportation (as defined in section 24102 of title 49, United States Code).
(7) Nonprofit labor organization representing various classes or crafts of employees of rail carriers.
(8) Other stakeholders determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(d) Appointments. In appointing members of the working group under subsection (c), the Secretary shall solicit nominations from the entities listed in paragraphs (1) through (8) of such subsection.
(e) Consultation. Members of the working group described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (c) shall consult with representatives from the respective organization of such member located in each of the 8 geographic regions with a Federal Railroad Administration safety office, as described in section 103 of title 49, United States Code.
(f) Meetings. The working group described in subsection (a) shall meet at least 3 times before submitting the required report in subsection (g).
(g) Report. Not later than 1 year after the date on which the working group is established, the working group shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report detailing the findings of the working group relating to its examination under subsection (b) and any associated recommendations.
(h) Termination. The working group shall terminate upon submission of the report under subsection (g).
F Hazardous Materials Transportation