BASICS Act

Overview

• Bill: HR 7437
• Session: 119th Congress
• Title: Bridges And Safety Infrastructure for Community Success Act (BASICS Act)
• Introduced: February 9, 2026
• Prime sponsor: Ms. McDonald Rivet (also a sponsor on behalf of Mr. Bresnahan)
• Co-sponsors: Ken Calvert, Jim Baird, Salud Carbajal, Frank Mrvan, Jay Obernolte, Gabe Vasquez
• Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
• Purpose: To improve Federal transportation programs, with a focus on bridge strengthening, regional planning, metropolitan planning funding, and related safety and planning reforms.

Main purpose and intent

• Strengthen and reallocate federal transportation funding to prioritize bridge safety and resilience, bolster metropolitan and regional planning, and enhance consultation with local governments.
• Create a dedicated Strengthening Bridges Formula Program to fund replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, and protection of bridges.
• Expand and reform metropolitan and regional planning funding to support faster project delivery, administrative flexibility, and direct planning organization access to federal funds.
• Improve consultation and coordination between states, local governments, and regional planning organizations, especially in nonmetropolitan areas.
• Enhance safety funding mechanisms and ensure transparent, competitive processes for fund transfers.

Key provisions and changes

Section 2 – Definitions

• Establishes defined terms for the act, including Secretary of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Urbanized Area, Off-System Bridge, and Regional Transportation Planning Organization.

Section 3 – Apportionment (amendments to 23 U.S.C. §104)

• Reconfigures existing apportionment formulas by:

  • Replacing certain referenced paragraphs (4,5,6) with new paragraphs (9,10) in multiple subsections.
  • Adjusting numeric distribution figures (percent shares) used in apportionments.
  • Adding new subsection (b)(9) to create and fund a nationwide Strengthening Bridges Formula Program with details on total funding and distribution.
  • Adding subsection (b)(10) for Regional Transportation Planning funding framework.

• Strengthening Bridges Formula Program specifics:

  • Total annual funding: $5.5 billion for each fiscal year 2027–2031.
  • State distribution: Funds allocated to each state proportional to the estimated cost to replace or rehabilitate bridges in poor condition relative to all states.
  • Cost basis: Uses average bridge unit costs from 2021–2024 (as reported to FHWA under 144(b)(5)).
  • Minimum State allocation: $45 million per state per year.
  • Adjustment: After set-asides, remaining funds distributed to states by described formula.

• Section 3 also provides for program administration guidelines and alignment with planning requirements.

Section 4 – Surface Transportation Block Grant Program

• Adds requirement for local consultation when obligating funding attributed to areas with populations under 50,000 not represented by an MPO.
• Encourages partnership with local governments and nonpartisan statewide organizations to facilitate consultation.

Section 5 – Bridge Formula Program

• Establishes a new federal program: Strengthening Bridges Formula Program (Section 180 of Title 23).
• Eligible uses: Construction, replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, and protection of highway bridges on public roads.
• State allocation mechanics:
  • 25% of apportioned funds must be obligated in specified population-based areas before using remaining funds in any area.
  • Project selection: Prioritize MPO-covered areas with TP programs, areas under 50,000 with MPO coverage (in cooperation with MPOs), and areas under 50,000 not covered by MPOs through local government consultation.
  • State may partner with nonpartisan organizations to identify eligible projects.
• Planning applicability: Funds must be consistent with 134 and 135 planning requirements.

Section 6 – Highway Safety Improvement Program (Local Safety Set-Aside)

• Adds a 25% population-based obligation rule for funds apportioned under 104(b)(3) (Local Safety Set-Aside) for 2027–2031.
• Maintains the same project selection and planning alignment as other sections.
• Includes for inclusion of projects eligible under 24112 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Section 7 – Transferability

• Expands transferability rules to allow transfers subject to both subsections (b) and (c) of Section 126.
• Adds safety fund transfer conditions:
  • Before transferring 104(b)(3) funds to other uses, states must make funds available to local governments and regional planning organizations through competitive processes.
  • Transfers require certification of open and fair competition.

Section 8 – Project Selection (Sense of Congress)

• Encourages States to obligate all funds to locally selected projects.
• Secretary should partner with FHWA to ensure local consultation and coordination processes are followed.

Section 9 – Metropolitan Planning

• a) Eliminates local match for Metropolitan Planning Funds (100% federal share for activities under 134 and 104(b)(6)).
• b) Expands uses of metropolitan planning funding (administration, design, data procurement, housing/economic development studies linked to transportation, etc.).
• Allows metropolitan planning organizations to become direct recipients of federal funds, with a defined process and timelines.
• 100% federal share for activities funded under these provisions.

Section 10 – Rural Transportation Planning

• Adds a Rural Regional Planning Funding provision:
  • Establishes a program to assist nonmetropolitan regional planning organizations and regional entities.
  • Uses funds to support planning, capacity building, and technical assistance for rural transportation planning.
  • Ensures minimum allocations to federally designated regional planning organizations ($300,000 per year 2027–2031).
  • 100% federal share for activities under this program.
  • Details on distribution within states, with state-developed formulas and grant processes subject to Secretary approval.

Who and what would be affected

• Federal and state Departments of Transportations, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), regional transportation planning organizations, local governments, and nonmetropolitan regional entities.
• Bridge projects across the states, particularly those in poor condition needing replacement or rehabilitation.
• Local safety programs funded under the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) set-aside.
• Nonmetropolitan regions and rural planning entities through new Rural Regional Planning Fund.
• Metropolitan planning funding processes, potential direct funding channels, and expanded planning-related uses.

Significant procedural and timeline aspects

• Funding window for the Strengthening Bridges Formula Program: $5.5 billion per year from 2027 to 2031.
• Metropolitan planning funds would shift toward 100% federal share for MPO activities; direct recipient status for MPOs would be established not later than 180 days after enactment for direct funding processes.
• New transferability provisions require open and fair competitive processes before reallocating Safety Funds.
• Section 4 and 9 introduce enhanced consultation requirements and direct funding pathways, with Secretary-level approvals and oversight on formulas and distributions.
• Rural planning provisions would be implemented within 180 days of enactment for program establishment.

Potential impact and considerations

• Accelerated bridge rehabilitation and replacement could improve safety and infrastructure resilience.
• Increased federal investment in both urban and rural planning could improve project delivery timelines.
• Local governments would gain greater input and clearer avenues to access funds.
• States face more prescriptive allocation rules and competitive processes for transfers, potentially affecting flexibility.
• Overall, BASICS aims to modernize transportation funding, emphasize bridge safety, and strengthen regional and metropolitan planning capacities.