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HR10059119th CongressWALLET

Building Safer Streets Act

Sponsored By: Representative Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

Introduced

Summary

Reorient federal road and transit rules toward explicit multimodal safety and accountability. The Building Safer Streets Act would require the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration to rewrite design manuals, publish guidance, and add documentation and review rules so pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users are treated as core design priorities.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

More Safe Streets money for small towns

If enacted, at least 10% of Safe Streets for All program money each year would be set aside for "small community" projects. Eligible projects must cost under $1,000,000 and finish within 5 years. The Department could simplify applications and, when an applicant shows a State or local funding commitment, raise the Federal share up to 90%. The Department would also help grantees collect nonmotorized traveler data for planning.

New federal bus stop placement rules

If enacted, FHWA and FTA would jointly issue bus stop placement and stop‑zone design guidelines within 1 year. Transit agencies receiving certain federal grants would get the guidance within 2 years. FHWA would report to Congress within 1 year describing whether and why the agencies adopted the AASHTO or NACTO guidance.

Stronger multimodal design rules

If enacted, DOT would raise the standard for how projects must account for walking, biking, and transit. The bill would change statutory language to require modes be "accounted for" and "evaluated and, where appropriate, incorporated." FHWA must publish connected‑network guidance within 1 year and create a list of categorical design exceptions within 2 years. States must tell the Secretary within 2 years whether they updated highway design manuals to reflect the guidance.

More traffic control transparency and studies

If enacted, the Secretary must publish documentation explaining any prohibitions in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and request records from the advisory committee. The Government Accountability Office would study how engineers use the Manual and estimate added costs and delays from seeking exceptions, with a report due in 2 years. FHWA must also study roadway design factors in fatal crashes and report to Congress within 2 years.

Cap on vulnerable user safety targets

If enacted, when States set Highway Safety Improvement Program targets, a State could not set its target for vulnerable road user fatalities higher than the number from the previous target period. This rule would apply upon enactment.

New grant rules shift funding to safety

If enacted, some competitive grant applications for projects in urbanized areas would need a documented process showing how walking, biking, and transit were considered. The Department would be barred from counting higher speeds on non‑freeway roads as a travel‑time benefit when scoring projects. These changes would push selection toward multimodal and safety projects and add application steps for some applicants.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

MA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 8/13/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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