As the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) nears its end, two members of Congress have released bipartisan legislation that would empower local governments to achieve their transportation priorities.
The Bridges and Safety Infrastructure for Community Success Act (BASICS Act) was introduced by Reps. Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) and Rob Bresnahan (PA-08) — both members of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure — in response to the upcoming expiration of IIJA on Sept. 30.
According to a joint press release from the congressmembers, the legislation aims to “make it easier for counties, cities and towns to access federal dollars” for priority road, bridge and safety projects by amending federal transportation funding programs.
Because much of the nation’s infrastructure is locally owned, the bill would help ensure funds reach municipalities directly rather than being routed solely through state agencies, which have traditionally prioritized state-owned assets.
The bill is built on a formula that would focus on the country’s “most deficient bridges” at the state and local level, according to a fact sheet on the legislation. In contrast to previous transportation legislation, funding for locally owned bridges is tied to the number of locally owned bridges in each state, with the worst-condition bridges being a priority regardless of ownership.
Redirecting funding to local priorities
The transportation package would pump funds towards the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program, which gives states, regions and local governments flexibility to use funds as needed to fulfill their transportation priorities.
STBG funds are more easily accessible to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) that responsible for identifying local priority projects. The program’s flexibility channels funds more quickly, as there is less red tape speeding up project timelines, according to the fact sheet.
The BASICS Act also ramps up spending towards the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and prohibits states from transferring funds away from safety projects. Additionally, 25% of HSIP funding must be “delivered regionally in both urban and rural areas,” supporting local governments in accessing capital for safety projects, the fact sheet states.
The legislation also seeks to clarify how transportation dollars flow between federal, state, regional and local agencies by improving transparency around funding allocations, regional resources and project delivery timelines.
Additionally, the bill promotes collaboration between federal, state, local and regional partners to ensure projects move forward more efficiently, according to the fact sheet.
Under the proposed legislation, rural and metropolitan transportation planning will be strengthened, resulting in “better project selection, faster delivery and smarter investment” to support projects that advance local transportation priorities.
The BASICS Act has received widespread support from eight leading local and regional government organizations, according to a press release from the National League of Cities.
Sources: Reps. Kristen McDonald Rivet and Rob Bresnahan, BASICS Act Fact Sheet, National League of Cities
