The "Complete Streets Act of 2025" aims to enhance transportation infrastructure by requiring States to establish comprehensive complete streets programs. These programs will offer competitive grants and technical assistance to eligible entities, such as local governments and metropolitan planning organizations, for the design and construction of complete streets. The core goals include encouraging strategic development, facilitating better pedestrian, bicycle, and public transit travel, and ensuring equitable service for underserved communities. To guide these efforts, the Secretary of Transportation will develop benchmarks and guidance for States and eligible entities, focusing on integrating multiple transportation modes and improving safety. Eligible entities seeking funding must adopt a complete streets policy, detailing how they will develop infrastructure, apply the policy to all project phases, and accommodate users of all ages and abilities. These policies must also include clear exemption procedures and meet minimum standards set by the Secretary. Furthermore, eligible entities must develop a "Complete Streets Prioritization Plan" to receive grants, outlining specific projects to improve safety, mobility, and accessibility for various users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. These plans will prioritize projects that enhance connections and access for low-income people and communities of color. States will provide grants for these projects, with a maximum amount per grant and a priority for areas where non-motorized users are most vulnerable. To fund these initiatives, each State is mandated to obligate 5 percent of its federal highway funds to carry out its complete streets program annually. The bill also requires the Secretary to establish comprehensive complete streets design standards, which include dedicated, protected bike lanes, accessible sidewalks and crosswalks, and guidelines for lighting and signalization. These standards will apply to new federal-aid highway projects within metropolitan areas, with specific implementation timelines and exemptions for certain road types. Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of Transportation and the Attorney General to update accessibility regulations for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way, incorporating guidelines for vision, hearing, cognitive ability, and language access. States will be required to report on their implementation of complete streets principles, and the Secretary will evaluate and certify State compliance, providing regular reports to Congress on the program's status and effectiveness.
The "Complete Streets Act of 2025" aims to enhance transportation infrastructure by requiring States to establish comprehensive complete streets programs. These programs will offer competitive grants and technical assistance to eligible entities, such as local governments and metropolitan planning organizations, for the design and construction of complete streets. The core goals include encouraging strategic development, facilitating better pedestrian, bicycle, and public transit travel, and ensuring equitable service for underserved communities. To guide these efforts, the Secretary of Transportation will develop benchmarks and guidance for States and eligible entities, focusing on integrating multiple transportation modes and improving safety. Eligible entities seeking funding must adopt a complete streets policy, detailing how they will develop infrastructure, apply the policy to all project phases, and accommodate users of all ages and abilities. These policies must also include clear exemption procedures and meet minimum standards set by the Secretary. Furthermore, eligible entities must develop a "Complete Streets Prioritization Plan" to receive grants, outlining specific projects to improve safety, mobility, and accessibility for various users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. These plans will prioritize projects that enhance connections and access for low-income people and communities of color. States will provide grants for these projects, with a maximum amount per grant and a priority for areas where non-motorized users are most vulnerable. To fund these initiatives, each State is mandated to obligate 5 percent of its federal highway funds to carry out its complete streets program annually. The bill also requires the Secretary to establish comprehensive complete streets design standards, which include dedicated, protected bike lanes, accessible sidewalks and crosswalks, and guidelines for lighting and signalization. These standards will apply to new federal-aid highway projects within metropolitan areas, with specific implementation timelines and exemptions for certain road types. Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of Transportation and the Attorney General to update accessibility regulations for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way, incorporating guidelines for vision, hearing, cognitive ability, and language access. States will be required to report on their implementation of complete streets principles, and the Secretary will evaluate and certify State compliance, providing regular reports to Congress on the program's status and effectiveness.