Sponsors (6)
The bill secures predictable multi-year funding to improve access and safety to federal lands and supports construction jobs, but it does so by drawing on Highway Trust Fund resources, excluding mass transit benefits, and committing additional federal spending that could strain budgets without offsets.
Local governments and rural communities receive predictable, gradually increasing annual federal funding for Federal Lands Access Program projects ($314M in FY2027 rising to $334M in FY2031), enabling planning and local road and safety improvements near federal lands.
Transportation workers and contractors gain multi-year work prospects from steady funding increases for road construction and maintenance under the program.
Residents and visitors near federal parks and recreation areas are likely to see improved access and safety through funded access projects.
Taxpayers and other highway programs may face reduced available Highway Trust Fund balances because these appropriations draw from the Highway Trust Fund (excluding Mass Transit), potentially crowding out other highway spending if revenues are limited.
Public transit agencies and riders receive no benefit from these appropriations because the provision excludes the Mass Transit Account, leaving transit projects unfunded by this measure.
Taxpayers could face increased federal budgetary pressure because the bill authorizes multi-year spending increases without specified offsets.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes specified annual Highway Trust Fund appropriations for the Federal Lands Access Program for FY2027–FY2031, with amounts that rise each year.
Authorizes specified annual funding from the Highway Trust Fund for the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) for fiscal years 2027–2031, with gradually increasing amounts each year. It sets the yearly authorization levels but does not itself appropriate or obligate the money. The change continues federal support for transportation projects that improve access to, and travel within, federal lands—affecting state and local governments, rural communities near federal lands, and users of those lands. Funding is drawn from the Highway Trust Fund (excluding the Mass Transit Account).
Introduced March 18, 2026 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress March 18, 2026