Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens oversight and transparency to reduce megaproject cost overruns and boost accountability, but it does so by imposing new administrative burdens and compliance costs that may slow projects and disadvantage smaller jurisdictions.
Taxpayers and state/local governments will get stronger upfront oversight—mandatory risk-management plans plus independent peer reviews—to help identify and mitigate cost overruns and schedule delays on major transportation megaprojects.
Taxpayers and project stakeholders will have greater transparency because peer-review reports and supervising engineers' credentials must be publicly disclosed, improving accountability and public trust.
State and local governments and taxpayers will benefit from evidence-based policy guidance because a Transportation Research Board committee will produce recommendations to improve DOT megaproject oversight and funding approaches within three years.
State and local agencies will face added administrative burdens and potential delays because preparing risk plans, assembling independent peer groups, and meeting new reporting requirements takes time and staff resources, which can slow project starts.
Taxpayers and local budgets could see higher near-term costs because compliance requirements (regular cost updates, financial reserves, additional reviews) can raise project budgets or divert funds from other local priorities.
Smaller jurisdictions and rural agencies may be disadvantaged because they could struggle to recruit qualified, uncompensated peer reviewers without conflicts, concentrating megaproject work with larger agencies that have more resources.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds risk-management, independent peer review, public disclosure, and a TRB study for federally assisted transportation megaprojects costing $2.5B+.
Introduced December 4, 2025 by Mark James Desaulnier · Last progress December 4, 2025
Creates new oversight and transparency requirements for very large federally assisted surface transportation projects (megaprojects) with estimated costs of $2.5 billion or more. Recipients must submit and maintain a comprehensive risk-management plan, form an independent peer review group of at least five experts, publish supervising engineer and peer-review information, and comply with related reporting; the Department must issue guidance and ask the Transportation Research Board to study megaproject practices and report back within three years. The rules apply to projects authorized for construction on or after one year after enactment.