S. 944

117 S944 IS: Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act
 U.S. Senate
 2025-03-11
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 944  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   March 11 (legislative day, March 10), 2025   Mr. Van Hollen  (for himself,  Mr. Johnson ,  Ms. Baldwin ,  Mr. Hagerty , and  Ms. Alsobrooks ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Environment and Public Works    A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, with respect to the highway safety improvement program, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act  .
2.
Highway safety improvement program
(a)
Highway safety improvement project
Section 148(a)(4)(B) of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in clause (xxix), by striking  through (xxviii)  and inserting  through (xxx) ;
(2)
by redesignating clause (xxix) as clause (xxxi); and
(3)
by inserting after clause (xxviii) the following:
(xxix)
The connection of 2 or more segments of existing bicyclist or pedestrian infrastructure.
(xxx)
The reduction of safety risks to vulnerable road users through a project or strategy described in a program of projects or strategies developed pursuant to subsection (l)(2)(B).
 .
(b)
Federal share of certain highway safety improvement projects
(1)
In general
Section 148(j) of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
(A)
by striking  Except as provided in sections 120 and 130  and inserting the following:
(1)
In general
Except as provided in sections 120 and 130 and paragraph (2)
 ; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following:
(2)
Exception
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal share of the cost of a highway safety improvement project carried out with funds apportioned to a State under section 104(b)(3) may be up to 100 percent if the project is a project described in clause (xxix) or (xxx) of subsection (a)(4)(B).
 .
(2)
Flexible financing
Section 133(h)(7) of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
(A)
by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (E); and
(B)
by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
(B)
Flexible financing
Notwithstanding section 120—
(i)
the non-Federal share for a project under this subsection may be calculated on a project, multiple-project, or program basis; and
(ii)
the Federal share of the cost of an individual project under this subsection may be up to 100 percent.
(C)
Treatment as non-Federal share
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made available to carry out section 148 may be credited toward the non-Federal share of the costs of a project under this subsection if—
(i)
the project includes a Proven Safety Countermeasure for bicyclists or pedestrians, as determined by the Federal Highway Administration;
(ii)
the relevant State strategic highway safety plan includes an emphasis area related to vulnerable road users; or
(iii)
the proposed project—
(I)
was described in a program of projects or strategies developed pursuant to section 148(l); or
(II)
was identified by a local government, metropolitan planning organization, or regional transportation planning organization, including in a safety plan described in subparagraph (D), as addressing 1 or more areas of high risk to vulnerable road users during the consultation process required under section 148(l)(4)(B) and through a planning process and data-based analysis.
(D)
Safety plans described
A safety plan referred to in subparagraph (C)(iii)(II) is—
(i)
a pedestrian or bicyclist safety plan;
(ii)
a Complete Streets plan;
(iii)
a local roadway safety plan;
(iv)
a Vision Zero Action Plan;
(v)
a transition plan described in section 35.150(d) of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations) (commonly known as an  ADA Transition Plan );
(vi)
a Tribal transportation safety plan;
(vii)
a comprehensive safety action plan (as defined in section 24112(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 23 U.S.C. 402  note;  Public Law 117–58 )); or
(viii)
any other safety plan, as determined by the Secretary.
 .
(3)
Increased Federal share for proven safety countermeasures
Section 120(c)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting  Proven Safety Countermeasures for bicyclists or pedestrians (as determined by the Federal Highway Administration),  before  breakaway utility poles .