Interactive Federal Review Act

This bill aims to speed up and improve environmental reviews for federally funded highway projects by using interactive, cloud-based tools and 3D digital models (often called digital twins). It’s meant to make reviews faster and help communities see and understand project impacts more clearly during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is told to encourage use of these tools, publish best-practice guidance within 90 days, and pick at least 10 highway projects to demonstrate how these tools work in real reviews and public meetings. DOT must also give priority to applications that plan to use these tools, report on results within 180 days, and share at least five example environmental documents within one year. States that already manage their own reviews keep their existing authority under current law.

• Who is affected: Highway projects that get major federal grants like INFRA, Mega, and RAISE (including past BUILD).
• What changes: DOT encourages and guides the use of cloud platforms and 3D models; selects at least 10 demonstration projects; gives priority to projects planning to use these tools; reports on efficiency and community engagement; and publishes example documents for others to follow.
• When: Guidance due within 90 days; a report due within 180 days; at least five example documents published within one year.