Sponsors (2)
The bill increases federal support and funding flexibility to make school routes and local roads safer—benefiting students, families, and local governments—at the cost of higher federal spending, potential reallocation that may crowd out other priorities, and concerns about enforcement and uneven implementation.
Students and children will have safer routes to and from school because the bill directs federal support for crossing guards, crosswalks, traffic calming, signals, automated enforcement, and other school-zone safety measures.
State and local governments (and schools) will receive expanded federal funding and allowable uses—covering infrastructure upgrades, audits/assessments, and Safe Routes to School programs—making it easier to plan and pay for road, bridge, and non-infrastructure safety projects.
Parents and families may experience reduced anxiety about children’s travel to school as crossings, sidewalks, and traffic enforcement improve.
Taxpayers could face higher federal spending and indirect costs because the bill expands allowable uses and increases allocations to state/local projects, which may require offsets or reduce funds available elsewhere.
Shifting program allocations and expanding allowable uses may crowd out or reduce funding for other federal transportation and highway-safety priorities and programs.
Use of federal funds for automated traffic enforcement in school zones could increase citations and create perceptions of increased government surveillance for drivers near schools.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Clarifies nine allowable highway safety uses for school-zone safety (e.g., crossing guards, lights, enforcement) and raises a statutory allocation share from 40% to 50%.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Alice Costandina Titus · Last progress December 17, 2025
Clarifies and expands how federal highway safety program funds may be used to improve safety in school zones, listing nine specific eligible activities (for example, crossing guards, flashing beacons, traffic calming, automated enforcement, and Safe Routes to School non-infrastructure). It also raises a statutory allocation percentage in the highway safety program from 40% to 50%, shifting a larger share of program resources toward the category governed by that clause. The measure directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue implementing regulations defining these eligible uses. No new dollar amounts or emergency funding are specified.