Sponsors (2)
The bill increases transparency, goal-aligned project selection, and accountability for transportation spending, but at the cost of added reporting burden, risks that metric-driven scoring will sideline local needs, and potential inconsistency and political delays.
State departments of transportation (DOTs) and the public gain regular, clearer information because DOTs must publish annual reports listing major projects, locations, selection rationales, and benefit estimates.
State DOTs and taxpayers see better alignment of project spending with goals because projects must be scored against state performance measures and federal goals, which encourages prioritizing safety, condition, and mobility.
Taxpayers and state governments get stronger accountability through mandated review of progress toward projected benefits and cost-effectiveness, which can reduce wasteful investment in underperforming projects.
Local governments, rural and urban communities risk having locally important but hard-to-measure needs deprioritized because states may favor projects that score well on mandated metrics.
Federal oversight and taxpayers may get limited benefit if states adopt inconsistent scoring methodologies despite justification requirements, reducing comparability across states.
State DOTs and taxpayers will face additional administrative costs and staff burden to prepare annual scored reports and conduct reviews, which could divert resources from project delivery.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires State DOTs to publish annual online reports for STIP projects over $10M with scores, expected benefits, entry year, descriptions, coordinates, and progress reviews.
Introduced January 13, 2026 by Angela Deneece Alsobrooks · Last progress January 13, 2026
Requires State departments of transportation to publish an annual online report that lists large transportation projects in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) costing more than $10 million and to track their expected benefits and progress over time. Reports must include a performance score tied to federal and state goals, anticipated benefits, the year the project first appeared in the STIP, project descriptions and coordinates, and an explanation of the scoring methods; the first report is due within one year of enactment and then annually. After the first report, States must fold a review of actual progress, cost‑effectiveness, and the projects’ ability to meet state and national targets into both the STIP and the long‑range statewide transportation plan. The change creates a recurring public transparency and accountability requirement but does not provide new federal funding.