Federal funding for removing highways that divide communities, with anti-displacement guardrails.

What it does

This bill reauthorizes and expands the REPAIR (Restoring Essential Public Access and Improving Resilient Infrastructure) program, a federal grant program that funds projects to remove or redesign highways and transportation barriers that divide communities. It allocates $3 billion annually from the Highway Trust Fund for fiscal years 2027–2031 ($750M for planning grants, $2.25B for construction), explicitly prohibits using funds to add travel lanes to existing highways, and adds new selection criteria prioritizing affordable transportation access, community engagement, anti-displacement measures, and land-use flexibility. The bill makes REPAIR projects eligible across multiple federal transportation funding programs.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is reauthorizing and expanding a federal grant program for removing or redesigning highways that divide communities, with explicit anti-sprawl and anti-displacement provisions. It is straightforward infrastructure legislation with a clear public-interest purpose.

What the text implies

• The prohibition on adding travel lanes may redirect state/local transportation spending toward transit, pedestrian, and cycling infrastructure, potentially reducing future highway expansion projects.
• Mandatory community participation and anti-displacement criteria may slow project timelines and increase planning costs, but create enforceable accountability for how federal funds affect vulnerable residents.
• The bill's emphasis on land-use flexibility (duplexes, ADUs, reduced parking minimums) in selection criteria may incentivize zoning reform in participating jurisdictions, with broader housing-affordability spillovers.
• Eligibility across multiple federal programs (NHPP, STBG, HSIP, CMAQ, etc.) creates funding flexibility but may increase administrative complexity for state DOTs unfamiliar with community-engagement requirements.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill funds infrastructure explicitly designed to reconnect divided communities, prioritizes affordable transportation and community participation in project selection, and includes anti-displacement protections for low-income residents. The prohibition on adding travel lanes redirects spending away from highway expansion (which typically increases sprawl and displacement) toward alternatives that serve existing communities.

Who stands to gain

• construction contractors and engineering firms (capital construction grants)
• community development financial institutions (explicitly named as eligible partners)
• community-based organizations (eligible for formal partnerships and funding)
• transit agencies and local governments (grant recipients)

Named in the bill

Highway Trust Fund, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Section 11509 (REPAIR program), U.S. Department of Transportation, State DOTs, Tribal governments, Community development financial institutions, Community-based organizations

Where it stands

4 cosponsors: 4 Democrats.

• Dec 11, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Dec 11, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.