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119-hr-6435119th CongressWALLET

Transportation Megaprojects Accountability and Oversight Act

Sponsored By: Representative DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

In Committee

Summary

Stricter oversight for transportation megaprojects. This bill would require large federally funded projects to use formal risk management, independent peer review, and public transparency to cut cost overruns, delays, and poor outcomes.

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  • Project sponsors and recipients seeking federal aid for projects costing $2.5 billion or more would have to submit a comprehensive risk management plan before construction authorization. They must regularly update cost estimates and maintain financial reserves to cover known and unknown risks.
  • Each megaproject would get a peer review group of at least five experts within 90 days of construction authorization. The group must meet annually, review scope, schedule, and budget after major changes, and report findings to the Secretary, Congress, and the recipient within 90 days of each review.
  • The Transportation Research Board would host a Megaprojects Committee to review literature, study foreign experience (notably the United Kingdom and France), identify recurring problems, and recommend changes to federal and state oversight and funding. The committee would deliver a report with findings and recommendations within three years.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Independent peer review and disclosure

The bill would require a peer review group for each megaproject within 90 days after construction authorization. Each group would have at least five members, including one with project management experience, and no member could have a direct or indirect financial interest in the project. The Secretary would have 180 days after enactment to set selection and disclosure guidelines and to publish member identities. Peer groups would meet at least annually, review scope/schedule/budget within 90 days of setup and after major changes, and send reports to the Secretary, Congress, and the recipient. Recipients would have to post supervising engineers' names and license details and publish peer review findings on their websites within 90 days after report submission. These requirements would apply only to projects authorized for construction one year after enactment.

New $2.5 billion megaproject definition

This bill would define a "megaproject" as a transportation project with an estimated cost of $2.5 billion or more. The Secretary of Transportation would also be able to designate other projects as megaprojects. The new oversight and transparency rules would apply only to projects authorized for construction one year after enactment.

Required risk plans before construction

If enacted, recipients of federal funds for a megaproject would have to submit a comprehensive risk management plan to the Secretary before construction authorization. The plan would have to show how the recipient will identify, quantify, and monitor risks that could cause cost overruns, delays, lower construction quality, or reduced benefits. It would also have to describe tracking and control mechanisms and promise regular updated cost estimates and financial reserves for known and unknown risks. This requirement would apply only to projects authorized for construction one year after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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