Complete Streets Act of 2025

This bill would require every state to run a “Complete Streets” program to make roads safer and easier to use for everyone—people walking, biking, using mobility devices, taking transit, driving, and moving freight. States would offer technical help and grants to local communities to plan and build safer designs, such as protected bike lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks that meet accessibility rules, and better lighting and signals . The program must focus on safety and make sure underserved neighborhoods, rural areas, and Tribal areas are treated fairly.

It sets firm standards and timelines. The U.S. Department of Transportation must set national “complete streets” design standards within 180 days, and states and regional planners must use standards that serve all users through planning, design, and operations . These standards start applying to certain new, federally funded projects in metro areas with fixed‑route transit after 2 years, then more broadly by the earlier of 5 years or the first statewide plan after that; limited‑access highways and emergency repairs are exempt . States must dedicate 5% of specific federal highway funds each year to run the program, and they must publicly report progress every two years . Accessibility rules must also be updated to adopt the 2023 pedestrian‑facility guidelines and add support for vision, hearing, cognitive, and language access.

• Who is affected
  • State transportation departments, cities and towns, regional planning groups, and Tribal areas; people who walk, bike, roll, take transit, drive, and move freight .
• What changes
  • Competitive grants (up to $20 million per award) and technical help for safer street projects; priority for dangerous intersections and corridors; updated national design and accessibility standards .
• When
  • States must set up the program by October 1 of the second full fiscal year after enactment and start grants by the third; DOT issues benchmarks within 1 year and policy‑review guidance by the first full fiscal year; design standards are issued within 180 days and begin to apply after 2 years, expanding by 5 years (or earlier with the first statewide plan) .