119-hr3712

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3712 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 3712

To require States to establish complete streets programs, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 June 4, 2025

 Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. Auchincloss, Mr. Espaillat, Mrs. Foushee, 
and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To require States to establish complete streets programs, and for other 
 purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Complete Streets Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Complete street.--The term ``complete street'' means a 
 public road that provides safe and accessible options for 
 multiple travel modes for people of all ages, abilities, and 
 disabilities, including modes such as walking, cycling, 
 transit, mobility devices, automobiles, and freight.

    (2) Complete streets 

=== policy ===
-The term ``complete streets 
 policy'' means a complete streets policy adopted by an eligible 
 entity under subsection
            (d) (1) .

    (3) Complete streets principle.--The term ``complete 
 streets principle'' means a principle at the local, State, or 
 regional level that ensures--
        (A) the safe and adequate accommodation, in all 
 phases of project planning and development, of all 
 users of the transportation system, including 
 pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, 
 children, older individuals, individuals with 
 disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles; and
        (B) the consideration of the safety and convenience 
 of all users of the transportation system in all phases 
 of project planning and development.

    (4) Complete streets prioritization plan.--The term 
 ``complete streets prioritization plan'' means a complete 
 streets prioritization plan developed by an eligible entity 
 under subsection

    (f)

    (1) .

    (5) Complete streets program.--The term ``complete streets 
 program'' means a complete streets program established by a 
 State under subsection

    (b)

    (1) .

    (6) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
        (A) a unit of local government;
        (B) a regional planning organization;
            (C) a metropolitan planning organization;
            (D) a transit agency;
        (E) a natural resource or public land agency;
        (F) a Tribal government;
        (G) a nonprofit entity; or
        (H) any other local or regional governmental 
 entity, other than a State agency, with responsibility 
 for or oversight of transportation or recreational 
 trails that the State in which the project will occur 
 determines to be eligible, consistent with the goals of 
 this section.

    (7) Metropolitan planning organization.--The term 
 ``metropolitan planning organization'' means a metropolitan 
 planning organization designated under--
        (A) section 134 of title 23, United States Code; or
        (B) section 5303 of title 49, United States Code.

    (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Transportation.

    (9) State.--The term ``State'' means--
        (A) any of the 50 States;
        (B) the District of Columbia;
            (C) Puerto Rico;
            (D) American Samoa;
        (E) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
 Islands;
        (F) Guam; and
        (G) the United States Virgin Islands.

    (b) Establishment.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than October 1 of the second 
 full fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act, each 
 State shall establish a program for a competitive process for 
 an eligible entity to seek--
        (A) technical assistance for a project to design 
 and construct a project included in the complete 
 streets prioritization plan of the eligible entity 
 under subsection

    (f)

    (5) ; and
        (B) grants for the design and construction of 
 complete streets under subsection

    (g) .

    (2) Funding.--Not later than October 1 of the third full 
 fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this 
 Act, each State shall begin to provide grants for the design 
 and construction of complete streets under subsection

    (g)

    (1) .

    (3) Goals.--The goals of a complete streets program are--
        (A) to provide technical assistance and incentives 
 for the development and adoption of complete streets 
 policies;
        (B) to encourage eligible entities to adopt a 
 strategic and comprehensive approach for the 
 development of complete streets;
            (C) to facilitate better pedestrian, bicycle, and 
 public transit travel for users of all ages and 
 abilities by addressing critical gaps in pedestrian, 
 bicycle, and public transit infrastructure;
            (D) to distribute funding to reward eligible 
 entities that have committed to adopting complete 
 streets benchmarks developed by the Secretary under 
 subsection
            (c) ; and
        (E) to ensure that underserved municipalities, 
 neighborhoods, rural areas, Tribal areas, territorial 
 communities, and people, including low-income people 
 and communities of color, are served equitably by the 
 complete streets program.
            (c) Complete Streets Benchmarks and Guidance.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
 enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and make 
 available to States and eligible entities benchmarks and 
 guidance by which--
        (A) States can carry out complete streets programs;
        (B) eligible entities can carry out complete 
 streets policies and complete streets principles; and
            (C) eligible entities can evaluate the 
 effectiveness of complete streets projects.

    (2) Focus.--The benchmarks and guidance developed and made 
 available under paragraph

    (1) shall--
        (A) be designed to result in the establishment of 
 methods of effectively carrying out a complete streets 
 policy, a complete streets program, and complete 
 streets principles, as applicable;
        (B) focus on modifying scoping, design, and 
 construction procedures to more effectively combine 
 modes of transportation into integrated facilities that 
 meet the needs of each of those modes of transportation 
 in an appropriate balance;
            (C) indicate the expected operational and safety 
 performance of alternative approaches to facility 
 design; and
            (D) suggest design options specific to road 
 classifications, land use, traffic volume, and speed.

    (3) Topics of emphasis.--In developing the benchmarks and 
 guidance under paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary shall--
        (A) emphasize--
            (i) procedures for identifying the needs of 
 users of all ages and abilities of a particular 
 roadway;
            (ii) procedures for identifying the types 
 and designs of facilities needed to serve each 
 class of users;
            (iii) safety and other benefits provided by 
 carrying out complete streets principles;
            (iv) common barriers to carrying out 
 complete streets principles;
            (v) procedures for overcoming the most 
 common barriers to carrying out complete 
 streets principles;
            (vi) procedures for identifying the costs 
 associated with carrying out complete streets 
 principles;
            (vii) procedures for maximizing local 
 cooperation in the introduction of complete 
 streets principles and carrying out those 
 principles; and
            (viii) procedures for assessing and 
 modifying the facilities and operational 
 characteristics of existing roadways to improve 
 consistency with complete streets principles; 
 and
        (B) take into consideration findings of the 
 National Complete Streets Assessment of the Federal 
 Highway Administration.

    (4) Public review and comment.--The complete streets 
 benchmarks and guidance developed and made available under 
 paragraph

    (1) shall be subject to a period of public review and 
 comment.
            (d) Complete Streets Policies.--

    (1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking technical 
 assistance or funds from a complete streets program shall adopt 
 a complete streets policy using complete streets principles and 
 approved by--
        (A) the State of the eligible entity; or
        (B) a metropolitan planning organization that 
 serves an area under the jurisdiction of the eligible 
 entity, subject to the condition that the metropolitan 
 planning organization and the State execute an 
 agreement--
            (i) under which the State agrees--
            (I) to delegate policy approval 
 authority to the metropolitan planning 
 organization; and
            (II) to provide funding to the 
 metropolitan planning organization for 
 all reasonable costs related to review 
 of a complete streets policy; and
            (ii) that establishes guidelines for 
 approval of a complete streets policy as 
 required under subsection

    (e)

    (2) .

    (2) Guidance.--Not later than October 1 of the first full 
 fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this 
 Act, the Secretary shall provide guidance to States and 
 metropolitan planning organizations for review of complete 
 streets policies under this Act.

    (3) Requirements.--A complete streets policy of an eligible 
 entity shall--
        (A) include a description of--
            (i) how the eligible entity intends to 
 develop complete streets infrastructure, 
 including through an assessment of procedures, 
 design manuals, performance measures, and 
 training for planners and engineers;
            (ii) how, after the development of complete 
 streets infrastructure, the transportation 
 system will serve users of all ages and 
 abilities, including pedestrians, bicyclists, 
 and public transit passengers, as well as 
 trucks, buses, and automobiles;
            (iii) how the complete streets policy will 
 apply to all projects and phases of projects 
 that affect the streets under the complete 
 streets policy, including reconstruction, new 
 construction, planning, design, maintenance, 
 and operations, for the entire street;
            (iv) how the development of complete 
 streets infrastructure will improve safety for 
 all road users in underserved neighborhoods, 
 including any feedback from affected 
 communities;
            (v) any exceptions to the complete streets 
 policy, including a clear procedure for the 
 approval of those exceptions, as described in 
 paragraph

    (4) ;
            (vi) the jurisdiction in which the complete 
 streets policy applies; and
            (vii) the steps necessary for 
 implementation of the complete streets policy;
        (B) encourage a comprehensive, integrated, and 
 connected network for all modes of transportation;
            (C) benefit users of all abilities;
            (D) emphasize the need to coordinate with other 
 jurisdictions with respect to the streets under the 
 jurisdiction of the complete streets policy;
        (E) require the use of the latest and best design 
 criteria and guidelines, particularly standards 
 relating to providing access to individuals with 
 disabilities, in projects under the complete streets 
 policy;
        (F) recognize the need for flexibility in balancing 
 user needs;
        (G) be context sensitive and complement the 
 community, including consideration of--
            (i) the urban, suburban, or rural location 
 in which a project is located;
            (ii) land use; and
            (iii) planned investments on or near the 
 corridor, such as public transportation;
        (H) establish performance standards with measurable 
 outcomes to ensure that the complete streets 
 infrastructure complies with complete streets 
 principles;
            (I) meet the minimum standards established by the 
 Secretary under subsection

    (e)

    (2)
        (A)
            (i) ;
        (J) comply with public right-of-way accessibility 
 guidelines; and
        (K) except as provided in paragraph

    (4) , require 
 the complete streets policy to apply to new road 
 construction and road modification projects, including 
 design, planning, construction, reconstruction, 
 rehabilitation, maintenance, and operations, for the 
 entire right-of-way under the jurisdiction of the 
 complete streets policy.

    (4) Exemption requirements and procedures.--A complete 
 streets policy shall allow for a project-specific exemption 
 from the complete streets policy if--
        (A) the roadway affected by the project may not, 
 under applicable law, be used by certain types of 
 users, in which case the eligible entity shall make a 
 greater effort to accommodate the types of users 
 elsewhere by providing the most efficient routing and 
 accessibility for those road users;
        (B) the cost of the project to comply with the 
 complete streets policy would be excessively 
 disproportionate (as defined in the document of the 
 Department of Transportation entitled ``Design Guidance 
 Accommodating Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel: A 
 Recommended Approach'' and required under 

section 1202

    (b) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
 Century (23 U.S.C. 217 note; Public Law 105-178)) 
 compared to the need, particular use of the affected 
 roadway, or prevalence of serious or fatal crashes on 
 that roadway;
            (C) the existing and expected population, 
 employment density, or level of transit service on and 
 around the affected roadway is so low that the expected 
 users of the affected roadway will not include 
 pedestrians or other vulnerable road users; or
            (D) there are complete streets principles fulfilled 
 on a parallel corridor connected to an area that is not 
 more than 0.25 mile away for pedestrians and not more 
 than 1.5 miles away for bicyclists, providing a 
 complete streets network.

    (5) Guidance.--The Secretary shall establish guidance for a 
 State or metropolitan planning organization to evaluate and 
 approve a complete streets policy of an eligible entity.

    (6) Reports.--
        (A) In general.--Each State department of 
 transportation shall submit to the Secretary a report 
 describing the implementation by the State of measures 
 to achieve complete streets principles within complete 
 streets policies of eligible entities within the State 
 at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
 information as the Secretary may require.
        (B) Determination by secretary.--On receipt of a 
 report under subparagraph
        (A) , the Secretary shall 
 determine whether the complete streets program of the 
 State has incorporated complete streets principles into 
 all aspects of the transportation project development, 
 programming, and delivery process, including project 
 planning, project identification, project scoping 
 procedures, design approval, design manuals, and 
 performance measures.

    (e) Certification.--

    (1) Certification of state programs.--Not later than the 
 first October 1 after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
 Secretary shall establish a method of evaluating and certifying 
 compliance by States with the requirements of this Act, 
 including a requirement that each State department of 
 transportation submit a report to the Secretary that 
 describes--
        (A) the complete streets program of the State;
        (B) the plan to carry out the complete streets 
 program of the State; and
            (C) the degree of involvement of eligible entities 
 within the State in developing and carrying out the 
 complete streets program of the State.

    (2) Minimum standards for complete streets policies.--
        (A) Establishment.--Not later than October 1 of the 
 first full fiscal year that begins after the date of 
 enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish 
 minimum requirements for the certification of an 
 eligible entity by a State or metropolitan planning 
 organization that describes--
            (i) the minimum standards for a complete 
 streets policy that allows an eligible entity 
 to receive a grant under subsection

    (g)

    (1) ; and
            (ii) a method for a State or metropolitan 
 planning organization to certify that the 
 complete streets policy of an eligible entity 
 meets the minimum requirements required by the 
 Secretary under clause
            (i) .
        (B) Lack of certification by state or mpo.--If the 
 State or metropolitan planning organization does not 
 certify the complete streets policy of an eligible 
 entity, the eligible entity--
            (i) may not participate in the grant 
 program under subsection

    (g)

    (1) ; but
            (ii) may use the complete streets policy 
 for local purposes.

    (3) Report.--Not later than October 1 of the fourth fiscal 
 year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
 Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes--
        (A) the evaluation and certification method 
 established under paragraph

    (1) ;
        (B) the status of activities for adopting and 
 carrying out complete streets programs by States;
            (C) the tools and resources provided by the 
 Secretary to States to assist with adopting and 
 carrying out complete streets programs by States; and
            (D) other measures carried out by the Secretary to 
 encourage the adoption of complete streets policies by 
 eligible entities.

    (f) Complete Streets Prioritization Plan.--

    (1) In general.--To receive a grant under subsection

    (g)

    (1) , an eligible entity shall develop, and the State of the 
 eligible entity shall approve, a complete streets 
 prioritization plan that consists of a comprehensive strategy 
 and list of specific projects to design, and carry out the 
 design of, complete streets--
        (A) to improve safety, mobility, or accessibility 
 of a street;
        (B) that identifies--
            (i) the streets and infrastructure to be 
 affected by a project;
            (ii) a cost estimate of the project; and
            (iii) a timeline for the completion of the 
 project;
            (C) that aligns with local infrastructure plans and 
 roadway maintenance schedules; and
            (D) that includes a description of how complete 
 streets priorities fit in with existing complete 
 streets policies of the applicable State or 
 metropolitan planning organization.

    (2) Requirements.--In developing a complete streets 
 prioritization plan, an eligible entity shall prioritize 
 projects based on the extent to which projects intended to be 
 included in the complete streets prioritization plan improve--
        (A) safety;
        (B) pedestrian mobility;
            (C) bicycle mobility;
            (D) public transit operations and access;
        (E) micromobility service operations and access, 
 including shared bicycle and scooter services;
        (F) vehicular operations;
        (G) freight operations;
        (H) air quality;
            (I) connections and access to jobs and services for 
 low-income people, communities of color, and people who 
 rely on public transit; and
        (J) any other factor the Secretary determines to be 
 necessary.

    (3) Inclusion of projects from existing plans.--In 
 developing a complete streets prioritization plan, an eligible 
 entity may include a project included in an existing local 
 infrastructure plan, including--
        (A) a pedestrian or bicyclist safety plan;
        (B) a complete streets plan in effect before the 
 date of enactment of this Act;
            (C) a local roadway safety plan;
            (D) a Vision Zero Action Plan;
        (E) a transition plan described in 

section 35.150
            (d) of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
 successor regulations) (commonly known as an `ADA 
 Transition Plan');
        (F) a Tribal transportation safety plan;
        (G) a comprehensive safety action plan (as defined 
 in 

section 24112

    (a) of the Infrastructure Investment 
 and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 402 note; Public Law 117-58)); 
 or
        (H) any other safety plan, as determined by the 
 Secretary.

    (4) Approval.--A State or metropolitan planning 
 organization shall approve of a complete streets prioritization 
 plan if the State or metropolitan planning organization 
 determines that the complete streets prioritization plan--
        (A) meets the requirements of this section; and
        (B) meets the goals described in subsection

    (b)

    (3) .

    (5) Technical assistance funding.--A State may provide not 
 more than $100,000 in each fiscal year to an eligible entity 
 with a complete streets policy approved by the applicable State 
 or metropolitan planning organization to conduct studies or 
 analyses to support the completion of a complete streets 
 prioritization plan.

    (g) Grants for Complete Streets Infrastructure.--

    (1) In general.--A State may provide a grant for the design 
 and construction of 1 or more projects included in the complete 
 streets prioritization plan of an eligible entity.

    (2) Limitation.--A grant provided to an eligible entity 
 under paragraph

    (1) may be in an amount equal to the lesser 
 of--
        (A) $20,000,000; and
        (B) 20 percent of the total amount of funding for 
 the complete streets program of the State for the 
 fiscal year.

    (h) Priority.--In selecting projects to receive grants under this 
section, the State shall give priority to projects on intersections and 
corridors in which nonmotorized users are most vulnerable, based on the 
most recent data and the evidence of risk.
            (i) Accessibility Standards.--The Secretary and the Attorney 
General shall update regulations of the Department of Transportation 
and the Department of Justice, respectively--

    (1) to adopt as accessibility standards the accessibility 
 guidelines for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way 
 described in the final rule of the Architectural and 
 Transportation Barriers Compliance Board entitled 
 ``Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the 
 Public Right-of-Way'' (88 Fed. Reg. 53604 (August 8, 2023)); 
 and

    (2) to include in those accessibility standards provisions 
 for vision, hearing, cognitive ability, and language access.

    (j) Funding.--For each fiscal year, each State shall obligate to 
carry out the complete streets program of the State--

    (1) 5 percent of the funds apportioned to the State under 
 

section 104

    (b) of title 23, United States Code, in the case of 
 a State described in subparagraph
        (A) or
        (B) of subsection

    (a)

    (9) ; or

    (2) 5 percent of the funds apportioned to the State under 
 

section 165 of title 23, United States Code, in the case of a 
 State described in subparagraph
            (C) through
        (G) of subsection

    (a)

    (9) .

SEC. 3. SAFETY FOR USERS.

 

Section 1442 of the FAST Act (23 U.S.C. 109 note; Public Law 114-
94) is amended by striking subsection

    (a) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall require each State and 
metropolitan planning organization to adopt and implement standards for 
the design of Federal surface transportation projects that provide for 
the safe and adequate accommodation of all users of the surface 
transportation network, including motorized and nonmotorized users, in 
all phases of project planning, development, and operation.''.

SEC. 4. COMPLETE STREETS DESIGN STANDARDS.

 

Section 109 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
 ``

    (t) Complete Streets Design Standards.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
 of enactment of the Complete Streets Act of 2025, the Secretary 
 shall establish complete streets design standards that 
 include--
 ``
        (A) dedicated, protected bike lanes with 
 advancing levels of protective design, consistent with 
 the traffic speed, volume, and number of lanes of the 
 road;
 ``
        (B) requirements for sidewalks and crosswalks 
 consistent with public right-of-way accessibility 
 guidelines; and
 ``
            (C) guidelines for lighting and signalization to 
 promote safety.
 ``

    (2) Initial requirement.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Beginning on the date that is 2 
 years after the date of enactment of the Complete 
 Streets Act of 2025, any project described in 
 subparagraph
        (B) shall comply with the complete streets 
 design standards established under paragraph

    (1) .
 ``
        (B) Projects described.--Except as provided in 
 paragraph

    (4) , a project referred to in subparagraph
        (A) is a new project--
 ``
            (i) on a Federal-aid highway that--
 ``
            (I) is within the boundaries of a 
 metropolitan planning area; and
 ``
            (II) has scheduled, fixed-route 
 transit service;
 ``
            (ii) that uses funds apportioned to a 
 State under 

section 104

    (b) ; and
 ``
            (iii) 
            (I) for new construction or 
 reconstruction; or
 ``
            (II) with a total cost of more than 
 $10,000,000.
 ``

    (3) Subsequent requirement.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Beginning on the date described 
 in subparagraph
        (B) , any project described in 
 subparagraph
            (C) shall comply with the complete streets 
 design standards established under paragraph

    (1) .
 ``
        (B) Date described.--The date referred to in 
 subparagraph
        (A) is, for each State, the earlier of--
 ``
            (i) 5 years after the date of enactment 
 of the Complete Streets Act of 2025; and
 ``
            (ii) the first statewide transportation 
 improvement program for the State that begins 
 after the deadline described in paragraph

    (2)
        (A) .
 ``
            (C) Projects described.--Except as provided in 
 paragraph

    (4) , a project referred to in subparagraph
        (A) is a new project--
 ``
            (i) on a Federal-aid highway that is 
 within the boundaries of a metropolitan 
 planning area;
 ``
            (ii) that uses funds apportioned to a 
 State under 

section 104

    (b) ; and
 ``
            (iii) 
            (I) for new construction or 
 reconstruction; or
 ``
            (II) with a total cost of more than 
 $10,000,000.
 ``

    (4) Exemptions.--A project described in paragraph

    (2)
        (B) or paragraph

    (3)
            (C) shall not include--
 ``
        (A) a limited access highway;
 ``
        (B) any portion of a signalized arterial roadway 
 adjacent to land that is zoned for heavy industrial 
 purposes, unless that portion of the roadway has 
 scheduled, fixed-route transit service;
 ``
            (C) a facility that has a documented absence of 
 current and future need;
 ``
            (D) a facility for which a project that complies 
 with the complete streets design standards established 
 under paragraph

    (1) is already underway; or
 ``
        (E) a project for emergency repairs, except that 
 temporary accommodations for all modes shall be made, 
 to the extent practicable.
 ``

    (5) Appeals.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--If a State denies a proposal by 
 a metropolitan planning organization to carry out a 
 project to comply with the complete streets design 
 standards under paragraph

    (1) , the metropolitan 
 planning organization may submit to the applicable 
 regional office of the Federal Highway Administration 
 an appeal.
 ``
        (B) Secondary review.--The metropolitan planning 
 organization may submit to the headquarters office of 
 the Federal Highway Administration a request to review 
 the determination of the regional office of the Federal 
 Highway Administration under subparagraph
        (A) .
 ``

    (6) Reporting.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
 date of enactment of the Complete Streets Act of 2025 
 and every 2 years thereafter, each State shall submit 
 to the Secretary and make publicly available an 
 inventory of the highway system of the State that shows 
 which portions have ongoing and completed projects that 
 comply with the complete streets design standards under 
 paragraph

    (1) .
 ``
        (B) Cost.--The Secretary shall make publicly 
 available, and update as appropriate, a chart that 
 shows the costs of complete streets design elements in 
 different contexts and for different functional 
 classifications.''.
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