Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act

This bill aims to make walking and biking safer by expanding what counts as a highway safety project and by making it easier to fund those projects. It adds two new eligible uses: connecting gaps between existing bike or pedestrian paths, and projects that reduce safety risks for “vulnerable road users,” such as bicyclists and pedestrians. Some of these projects could be paid for with federal funds covering up to 100% of the cost .

It also gives states and communities more flexible ways to pay for safety work. In certain cases, the federal share for a project can be up to 100%. Funds from one safety program can count toward the local match on another if the project uses proven bike/ped safety countermeasures, is in a state plan that emphasizes vulnerable road users, or was identified by a local government, metropolitan planning organization, or regional transportation planning group through a data-based safety plan (like a Complete Streets or Vision Zero plan, an ADA Transition Plan, a Tribal transportation safety plan, or similar).

• Who is affected: People who walk or bike; state transportation departments; local governments; metropolitan and regional transportation planning organizations; Tribal governments.
• What changes: New eligible safety projects (connecting bike/ped gaps; reducing risks to vulnerable road users) and easier, more flexible funding, including up to 100% federal cost share in certain cases .
• When: The text does not specify an effective date in the provided sections.