Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Act Could Fully Fund Bike Lanes and Safer Crossings Under Highway Safety Program Update

This bill, the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act, adjusts the existing Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to put more focus—and potentially more federal dollars—towards making roads safer for people walking and biking. Specifically, it updates the program to explicitly include projects that connect segments of bicycle or pedestrian paths and initiatives designed to reduce safety risks for what the bill terms 'vulnerable road users'.

More Green Lights for Green Lanes?

A key change here is how these safety projects get funded. The bill allows the federal government to cover up to 100% of the cost for certain highway safety projects using a state's allocated funds. This full federal coverage applies specifically to projects connecting those bike/pedestrian paths or those aimed at reducing risks for vulnerable users. Think about that tricky intersection near you, or that gap in the bike lane network – this change could make fixing them much more financially feasible for your state or city, removing the hurdle of needing local matching funds for these specific safety upgrades. The bill also allows flexibility in how the state/local share (if any) is calculated – potentially spreading it across multiple projects or an entire program.

Planning Meets Pavement

The legislation broadens the types of safety plans that can qualify a project for HSIP funding. Now, projects identified in plans like local Pedestrian Safety Plans, Complete Streets plans, Vision Zero Action Plans, or Tribal Transportation Safety Plans are explicitly eligible. This means safety improvements already mapped out in community-focused plans have a clearer path to federal funding. Furthermore, states can get credit towards their non-federal funding share if a project includes safety measures for cyclists or pedestrians, particularly if the state's overall safety plan prioritizes vulnerable road users or the project addresses a known high-risk area identified in one of these diverse safety plans. It also specifically adds 'Proven Safety Countermeasures for bicyclists or pedestrians'—think protected bike lanes or high-visibility crosswalks—to the list of items eligible for an increased federal funding share.

Real-World Routes

So, what does this mean when you're actually out on the street? If implemented effectively, this could translate to more connected bike networks, safer crossings near schools or transit stops, and infrastructure designed with pedestrians and cyclists clearly in mind, not just as an afterthought. By potentially covering the full project cost and recognizing a wider range of local safety planning efforts, the bill aims to incentivize states and cities to prioritize and build projects that directly address the dangers faced by those not in vehicles. The success, of course, will depend on states utilizing these options and ensuring funds target genuine safety needs.