Building Safer Streets Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10059 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10059

  To provide for consideration of all modes of transportation and all
   road users in certain highway and transit programs, and for other
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 6, 2026

 Mr. Moulton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
             Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To provide for consideration of all modes of transportation and all
   road users in certain highway and transit programs, and for other
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Building Safer Streets Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
        Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of Transportation.

SEC. 3. MANUAL ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES.

    (a) In General.--Section 109(d)(2) of title 23, United States Code,
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Not later than'' and inserting the
        following:
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Public accountability.--
                            ``(i) In general.--For the most recent
                        published edition of the Manual on Uniform
                        Traffic Control Devices (as of the date of
                        enactment of the Building Safer Streets Act),
                        and not later than 1 year after the date of
                        publication of each subsequent update of the
                        Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the
                        Secretary shall publish documentation
                        explaining all specific prohibitions against
                        devices or designs, including--
                                    ``(I) any considerations to allow
                                local flexibility;
                                    ``(II) research in support of the
                                prohibitions, including the need to
                                actively prohibit a design or practice;
                                and
                                    ``(III) proof of compliance with
                                Federal law (including regulations).
                            ``(ii) National committee on uniform
                        traffic control devices.--With respect to
                        updates to the Manual on Uniform Traffic
                        Control Devices after the most recent published
                        edition described in clause (i), the Secretary
                        shall request that the National Committee on
                        Uniform Traffic Control Devices provide
                        documentation of the decisions made during the
                        update process with respect to recommendations
                        provided to the Secretary by the National
                        Committee.''.
    (b) Updates to Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.--Section
11135 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 109
note; Public Law 117-58) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by adding ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
        period; and
            (3) by striking paragraph (5).
    (c) GAO Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
        States shall conduct a study on the use of the Manual on
        Uniform Traffic Control Devices (referred to in this subsection
        as the ``Manual'') by State and local government traffic
        engineers, planners, and consultants--
                    (A) to provide an estimate of the extent to which
                practitioners, based on a representative sample--
                            (i) exercise engineering discretion as
                        permitted by the Manual for street designs
                        intended to increase safety and improve
                        multimodal access; and
                            (ii) feel constrained or otherwise
                        discouraged from implementing alternative
                        street designs that improve safety outcomes by
                        the guidelines in the Manual;
                    (B) to estimate the average increases in costs and
                time needed to complete a project caused by the need to
                request or otherwise determine an exception to the
                Manual, including requirements for engineering studies;
                and
                    (C) to identify the types of facilities, projects,
                and contexts for which discretion to deviate from the
                Manual are most frequently sought.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
        States shall--
                    (A) submit to Congress a report that describes the
                findings and conclusions of the study conducted under
                paragraph (1); and
                    (B) make the report under subparagraph (A) publicly
                available online.

SEC. 4. FEDERAL DESIGN STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES.

    (a) Statutory Design Guidelines.--Section 217(g)(1) of title 23,
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``given due
        consideration'' and inserting ``accounted for, where not
        incompatible,''; and
            (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``considered, where
        appropriate, in conjunction'' and inserting ``evaluated and,
        where appropriate, incorporated''.
    (b) Regulatory Updates.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall update the
        regulations implementing sections 109, 134, and 135 of title
        23, United States Code, to clarify the definition of
        ``consideration of all modes''.
            (2) Inclusions.--The updates under paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) outline accepted methods for formal evaluation
                on all modes of transportation, including pedestrians
                and cyclists, that will count as adequate consideration
                of all modes;
                    (B) differentiate between urban and suburban,
                rural, and natural area design guidelines for
                pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, consistent with
                the Bikeway Selection Guide published by the Federal
                Highway Administration and dated February 2019 (or a
                successor document);
                    (C) take into consideration the land use context
                surrounding the road or highway; and
                    (D) affirm the necessity of complete multimodal
                networks.
    (c) Categorical Exceptions.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall develop a list
        of categorical design exceptions from standards developed under
        section 109(c) of title 23, United States Code, for categories
        of multimodal projects and features on Federal-aid highways.
            (2) Inclusions.--The list developed under paragraph (1)
        shall include categories of multimodal projects and features
        that--
                    (A) are recommended by the Federal Highway
                Administration, including Proven Safety
                Countermeasures;
                    (B) improve safety for vulnerable road users; and
                    (C) are currently subject to the design exception
                process.
            (3) Update.--Not less frequently than every 5 years, the
        Administrator shall update the list under paragraph (1).
    (d) Multimodal Review.--
            (1) In general.--For each program described in paragraph
        (3), the Secretary shall include as part of the funding
        application for projects in urbanized areas a process for
        indicating that the applicant has considered multimodal
        infrastructure and concluded that the final design will not
        include facilities for nonmotorized forms of transportation.
            (2) Inclusions.--The process referred to in paragraph (1)
        shall include clear criteria, including--
                    (A) the availability of rights-of-way;
                    (B) the presence or absence of facilities on nearby
                parallel routes, or the possibility of providing
                facilities that meet the standards established in
                regulations implementing sections 109, 134, and 135 of
                title 23, United States Code;
                    (C) latent demand or potential for active
                transportation trips, including consideration of future
                land use; and
                    (D) other criteria, as determined by the
                Administrator.
            (3) Programs described.--A program referred to in paragraph
        (1) is any of the following:
                    (A) The Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing
                Transportation Grant Program established under section
                25005(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
                (23 U.S.C. 502 note; Public Law 117-58).
                    (B) Competitive awards under the Promoting
                Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and
                Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program under
                section 176(d) of title 23, United States Code.
                    (C) The advanced transportation technologies and
                innovative mobility deployment grant program under
                section 503(c)(4) of title 23, United States Code
                (commonly known as the ``ATTAIN program'').
    (e) Connected Networks.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall publish guidance
        on connected networks that accommodate all modes and users,
        including--
                    (A) design guidance for multimodal streets that
                include transit and freight networks;
                    (B) context-sensitive design considerations that
                account for the distinct needs of urban, rural, and
                suburban roads; and
                    (C) methods to address conflicts between modes when
                there is not sufficient right-of-way to accommodate
                separate facilities for all users in a single street,
                including reductions in design speed, designs to
                improve vulnerable road user visibility, and other
                features.
            (2) Prioritization.--Guidance published under paragraph (1)
        shall prioritize designs that ensure that all users have access
        to safe, comfortable, reliable, and healthy transportation
        options.
    (f) Transit Facilities.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the Administrator
        of the Federal Transit Administration shall jointly issue
        guidelines relating to placement of bus stops and associated
        roadway design.
            (2) Inclusions.--The guidelines issued under paragraph (1)
        shall--
                    (A) include provisions for locating and designing
                bus stops in various operating environments that
                consider convenience, safety, pedestrian accessibility,
                accessibility for individuals with disabilities,
                proximity to key destinations, density, and transit
                operations;
                    (B) include considerations of roadside factors, bus
                stop zone design types, roadway and intersection
                design, placement, and location;
                    (C) provide for a variety of local contexts,
                including urban, suburban, and rural road conditions;
                    (D) outline best practices for coordination between
                street departments, public transportation authorities,
                planning departments, and other relevant authorities on
                design issues;
                    (E) consider resources published during the
                preceding 10 years that provide guidelines for the
                location, design, user need, and context for transit
                facilities on streets, including the American
                Association of State Highway and Transportation
                Officials guide entitled ``Guide for Geometric Design
                of Transit Facilities on Highways and Streets'' and
                published July 2014, and the guide of the National
                Association of City Transportation Officials entitled
                ``Transit Street Design Guide'' and published April
                2016; and
                    (F) prioritize pedestrian and bicycle access to
                transit and proximity to key destinations.
            (3) Grant recipients.--Beginning not later than 2 years
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of
        the Federal Transit Administration shall ensure that a
        recipient of funds under section 5309 of title 49, United
        States Code, shall be provided the guidelines issued under
        paragraph (1).
            (4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to
        Congress a report that--
                    (A) describes the guidelines adopted by the
                Administrator supporting on-road transit vehicle
                accommodation, including guidance on issues such as
                turning radii, lane widths, bus lanes, bus stop
                placement, and transit signal priorities; and
                    (B) notes whether the Administrator has adopted the
                guide of the American Association of State Highway and
                Transportation Officials entitled ``Guide for Geometric
                Design of Transit Facilities on Highways and Streets''
                and published July 2014, the guide of the National
                Association of City Transportation Officials entitled
                ``Transit Street Design Guide'' and published April
                2016, or another transit facility guide, and if not,
                the reasons why not.
    (g) Value of Time Guidance.--Section 6702(d) of title 49, United
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (7) as
        paragraphs (6) through (8), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
            ``(5) Value of time.--In selecting projects to receive
        grants under the program and analyzing the benefits and costs
        of proposed projects, the Secretary shall not consider higher
        speed limits for motorized vehicles to be a contributor to
        value of travel time benefits for roads that are not freeways
        or on the Interstate System.''.
    (h) Study; Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall--
            (1) carry out a study on the design factors that
        contributed to fatal crashes on a representative sample of
        Federal-aid highways, including crashes involving pedestrians
        and cyclists; and
            (2) submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
        of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
        Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that
        includes the results of the study under paragraph (1).

SEC. 5. STATE GUIDANCE.

    (a) Timely Updates to State Guidance and Standards.--Not later than
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, as a condition of the
receipt of funds under title 23, United States Code, each State shall
notify the Secretary whether the State has updated the highway design
manuals of the State to reflect guidance of the Administrator relating
to controlling criteria for design of lower speed non-freeway roadways.
    (b) Safety of Vulnerable Road Users.--Section 150(d) of title 23,
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Not later than'' and
        inserting ``Subject to paragraph (3), not later than''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Highway safety improvement program.--In establishing
        performance targets that reflect the measures identified in
        subsection (c)(4), the target for vulnerable road user
        fatalities shall not exceed the total number of vulnerable road
        user fatalities for the previous target period in that
        State.''.

SEC. 6. SAFE STREETS FOR ALL COMMUNITIES.

    Section 24112 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23
U.S.C. 402 note; Public Law 117-58) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Small community.--The term `small community' has the
        meaning given the term `small and rural community' in section
        28(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980
        (15 U.S.C. 3722a(a)).'';
            (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Small communities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of the total amount made
                available to carry out the program for each fiscal
                year, not less than 10 percent shall be set aside for
                projects carried out by, or for the benefit of, a small
                community that each have--
                            ``(i) a total estimated cost of less than
                        $1,000,000; and
                            ``(ii) an estimated completion date of not
                        more than 5 years.
                    ``(B) Application.--The Secretary may develop a
                modified application process for projects described in
                subparagraph (A) that reflects small community capacity
                and project needs.
                    ``(C) Considerations.--In selecting projects under
                subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to
                projects that can demonstrate ineligibility or
                inability to obtain State funding due to the size of
                the project.'';
            (3) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) by striking ``The Federal share'' and inserting
                the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
        Federal share''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Small communities.--In the case of a grant for a
        project described in subsection (c)(3)(A) for which the
        applicant can demonstrate a funding commitment from a State or
        local entity, the Secretary may increase the Federal share of
        the cost of the project up to 90 percent.''; and
            (4) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide assistance
        to eligible entities that receive a grant under the program in
        collecting and meaningfully using data relating to nonmotorized
        travelers for planning and decisionmaking with respect to a
        project carried out with funds from the grant, particularly
        nonmotorized traveler volume data.''.
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