Sponsors (6)
The bill provides predictable, multi-year Highway Trust Fund support to improve road access and safety around federal lands, benefiting state and local governments and rural users, but does so by using Highway Trust Fund resources (outside the Mass Transit Account) which may divert funds from other highway priorities, increase budgetary pressure, and offer no help for urban mass transit needs.
State and local governments near federal lands receive dedicated, predictable, and rising Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) funding for FY2027–FY2031 to support road access projects and multi-year planning.
Residents, visitors, and transportation workers who use roads near federal lands experience improved transportation reliability and safety from targeted FLAP projects.
Taxpayers and state governments face reduced flexibility because the measure draws on the Highway Trust Fund (excluding the Mass Transit Account), potentially crowding out other highway priorities and creating additional budgetary pressures.
Urban communities, public transit agencies, and transit riders receive no benefit from these appropriations because the measure does not fund mass transit improvements.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Introduced March 18, 2026 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress March 18, 2026
Authorizes specific annual sums from the Highway Trust Fund (excluding the Mass Transit Account) to support the Federal Lands Access Program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The bill sets fixed funding levels each year totaling about $1.62 billion over the five-year period and does not change program rules or introduce new authorities.