Sponsors (3)
The bill directs substantial federal resources and program eligibility toward reconstructing and reconnecting communities for safer, multimodal, and lower-emission infrastructure, but does so at recurring Highway Trust Fund cost and with new rules that increase administrative burdens, limit some capacity-expanding projects, and may constrain state and local flexibility.
States, local governments, tribal governments, territories, and communities gain new and expanded federal funding (about $3.0B/year FY2027–FY2031 plus expanded eligibility to use NHPP, STBG, HSIP, CMAQ, freight, territorial, rural, and Carbon Reduction funds) to plan and build REPAIR projects that reconnect communities and support multimodal reconstruction.
Low-income people, people with disabilities, and residents of previously divided neighborhoods will see increased investment in safe, multimodal access and connectivity to jobs, housing, services, and schools through prioritized REPAIR projects and HSIP evaluations.
States that certify emissions reductions are incentivized to continue cutting emissions, and Carbon Reduction Program funds can be directed to REPAIR projects that further reduce vehicle miles traveled.
Taxpayers and the Highway Trust Fund will face a recurring cost of roughly $3.0B/year (FY2027–FY2031), which may pressure other HTF priorities or require spending offsets.
States, local governments, and middle-class families risk seeing formula funds diverted from other priorities (like bridge repair or congestion relief) because multiple programs are directed to prioritize REPAIR projects.
Smaller and rural jurisdictions, MPOs, and some state agencies will face increased administrative complexity and capacity burdens from expanded eligible uses, new reporting/selection criteria, and required partnership documentation, disadvantaging those with limited staff.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes $3.0B/year (FY2027–FY2031) from the Highway Trust Fund for REPAIR (planning and construction), extends the program, broadens eligibility across Title 23 programs, and updates selection/evaluation criteria.
Official title: Reauthorize and improve the reconnecting communities program, and for other purposes.
Introduced December 10, 2025 by Lisa Blunt Rochester · Last progress December 10, 2025
Provides new multi-year funding and program changes to expand and continue the REPAIR infrastructure program through FY2027–FY2031. It authorizes $3.0 billion per year from the Highway Trust Fund (excluding the Mass Transit Account) with set shares for planning grants ($750 million/year) and capital construction grants ($2.25 billion/year), makes REPAIR projects explicitly eligible across multiple highway and surface-transportation programs, updates selection and evaluation criteria to emphasize affordable access, multimodal safety, community engagement, and requires states to prioritize certain carbon-reduction funds for REPAIR projects after federal certification of emissions reductions. Also removes the word “pilot” from the statutory REPAIR language, extends the program years, creates a new definition of “divisive roadway infrastructure” and requires safety planning to consider its impacts, and adjusts statute cross-references so REPAIR-eligible activities can be funded through a range of formula and competitive programs (NHPP, STBG, HSIP, CMAQ, National Highway Freight, Rural Surface Transportation grants, Territorial Highway Program, Carbon Reduction Program, and others).