Sponsors (2)
The bill directs $1 billion per year to improve multimodal connections to airports and prioritizes large/medium hubs to maximize passenger benefit and job creation, but it diverts Highway Trust Fund resources and risks leaving small, rural, and low‑income communities with fewer opportunities to compete for projects.
State and local governments (and travelers in urban areas) will receive $1 billion per year (FY2027–2031) from the Highway Trust Fund to finance multimodal projects that connect airports to roads, transit, and rail, increasing federal infrastructure investment and supporting job creation.
Communities near airports (especially in metro areas) will get grants to build or upgrade roads, transit, and rail links to airports, improving travel access and reducing congestion around airports.
Passengers and high‑volume airport communities will see a concentration of investment because at least 50% of funds are directed to large hub airports and 30% to medium hub airports, focusing resources where passenger volumes and potential benefits are largest.
Taxpayers and state transportation programs face reduced Highway Trust Fund flexibility because $1 billion per year is shifted out of the Trust Fund (outside the Mass Transit Account), which could reduce funding for other highway programs or strain the Trust Fund balance.
Small and rural airports and the communities that depend on them may be disadvantaged because the program prioritizes large and medium hub airports for the bulk of funds, reducing competitive chances for smaller airports to get connectivity improvements.
Low-income and small jurisdictions may still struggle to access federal funds because required non‑Federal matches remain, and some communities may be unable to generate sufficient matching resources even with PFC and TIFIA flexibility.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Department of Transportation grant program to pay for surface transportation projects that connect to or lie within five miles of public airports. The program funds highway, transit, and passenger rail projects that reduce congestion, expand capacity, improve access to under-connected areas, or rehabilitate roadway/rail infrastructure, and authorizes $1 billion per year from the Highway Trust Fund for FY2027–FY2031. Awards are open to states, territories, Indian tribes, and local governments or public agencies that control public airports. At least half of annually available funds must support projects serving large hub airports and at least 30% must support projects serving medium hub airports; federal cost share follows existing highway rules and nonfederal match can include TIFIA assistance and passenger facility charges.
Introduced June 5, 2025 by Tammy Duckworth · Last progress June 5, 2025