REPAIR Infrastructure Act

Summary#

This bill reauthorizes and changes the Reconnecting Communities program and gives it a new name: the Restoring Essential Public Access and Improving Resilient Infrastructure (REPAIR Infrastructure) program. It authorizes funding from the Highway Trust Fund (not the Mass Transit Account) for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Each year the bill would make $3,000,000,000 available, with $750,000,000 for planning grants and $2,250,000,000 for capital construction grants. The bill updates the program’s selection criteria to prioritize projects that improve affordable transportation access, safe multimodal connections, community participation, partnerships with local organizations, remedies for historic barriers, creative placemaking, and measures to preserve affordability and limit displacement. It allows applicants to provide information about local land use rules (for example, how much land allows duplexes or accessory dwelling units). The bill also adds a rule that grant money cannot be used to increase the number of travel lanes on an existing highway. It amends multiple title 23 programs to make projects eligible for National Highway Performance Program, Surface Transportation Block Grant, Highway Safety Improvement, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, Territorial Highway, National Highway Freight, Rural Surface Transportation, and Carbon Reduction Program funds. For the Carbon Reduction Program, the bill directs States to prioritize REPAIR projects if the State certifies certain emissions reductions.

What it means for you#

• Local governments, Tribal governments, and community groups can apply for planning and construction grants to restore community connections cut by highways or other divisive roadways.
• Projects that expand safe walking, biking, transit access, and connections to jobs, housing, schools, and parks are emphasized.
• Grant funds may not be used to add travel lanes to existing highways.
• Applicants are encouraged to show community engagement, signed partnerships, and steps to prevent displacement, such as affordable housing preservation or renter assistance.
• The bill makes these projects eligible for several existing federal transportation funding programs, which could help get more local projects funded.

Expenses#

• The bill authorizes $3,000,000,000 per year for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account).
• Each annual appropriation is divided: $750,000,000 for planning grants and $2,250,000,000 for capital construction grants.
• Amounts are treated as if apportioned under title 23 and remain available until expended.
• No publicly available information on total budgetary effects beyond the authorized appropriations in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.