S. 3701

119 S3701 IS: Building Rail Infrastructure for a Durable and Growing Economy Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-01-27
 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  2d Session  S. 3701  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   January 27, 2026   Ms. Duckworth  introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs    A BILL
To establish a competitive grant program to provide capital assistance for the maintenance, replacement, and rehabilitation needs of commuter rail bridges.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Building Rail Infrastructure for a Durable and Growing Economy Act   or the   BRIDGE Act  .
2.
Commuter rail bridge grants
(a)
In general
 Chapter 53  of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after  section 5312  the following:
5313.
Commuter rail bridge grants
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Commuter rail
The term  commuter rail  shall have the meaning given the term by the Secretary for purposes of reporting to the national transit database under section 5335.
(2)
Commuter rail bridge
The term  commuter rail bridge —
(A)
means a bridge used in commuter rail operations; and
(B)
includes a bridge described in subparagraph (A) that is also utilized for—
(i)
intercity passenger railroad service;
(ii)
other public transportation service; or
(iii)
a roadway.
(3)
Covered grant
The term  covered grant  means a grant awarded under subsection (b).
(b)
Grant authority
The Secretary may make grants to operators of public transportation systems for capital costs of maintenance, replacement, or rehabilitation of a commuter rail bridge.
(c)
Grant requirements
(1)
Terms and conditions
Except as otherwise provided in this section, a covered grant shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as a grant under section 5337.
(2)
Eligible costs
Eligible costs for a project funded by a covered grant shall be limited to the net capital costs of the public transportation costs attributable to the project based on projected use of the commuter rail bridge.
(3)
Bridge access agreement
Before executing a grant agreement with the Secretary under this section, an operator of a public transportation system seeking a covered grant for a commuter rail bridge that is not owned by the operator shall establish and maintain an agreement with the owner of the bridge that ensures bridge access by the operator.
(d)
Competitive process
The Secretary shall—
(1)
not later than 30 days after the date on which amounts are made available for obligation under this section for a full fiscal year, solicit applications for covered grants on a competitive basis; and
(2)
award a covered grant based on the solicitation under paragraph (1) not later than the earlier of—
(A)
75 days after the date on which the solicitation expires; or
(B)
the last day of the fiscal year in which the Secretary solicits the applications for covered grants.
(e)
Consideration
In awarding covered grants, the Secretary shall consider—
(1)
the size of the commuter rail system of the applicant;
(2)
the amount of funds available to the applicant under section 5337;
(3)
the age and condition of the commuter rail bridge; and
(4)
whether the applicant has identified replacement of the commuter rail bridge as a priority in the investment prioritization portion of the transit asset management plan developed by the applicant pursuant to part 625 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
 .
(b)
Technical and conforming amendment
The table of sections for  chapter 53  of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to  section 5312  the following:
5313. Commuter rail bridge grants.
  .
(c)
Authorization of appropriations
Section 5338 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
(f)
Commuter rail bridge grants
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 5313 $1,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
 .