Transportation Bill Funds AEDs for Bus Terminals and Rest Stops: A Push to Boost Cardiac Survival Rates.

When you’re rushing through a crowded train station or taking a break at an interstate rest stop, the last thing on your mind is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). But the numbers are stark: SCA kills over 350,000 Americans outside of hospitals every year. This new piece of legislation, the Public Access to Defibrillation in Transportation Facilities Act of 2025, aims to tackle that problem head-on by making life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) standard equipment in major transportation hubs. Essentially, this bill is about cutting the response time for a cardiac emergency down to zero by placing the necessary equipment right where people are.

The Clock Is Ticking: Funding Life-Saving Seconds

The core of the bill is simple: survival rates drop by 7 to 10 percent for every minute that passes without defibrillation. That’s why this Act focuses on two major changes to speed up that response. First, it expands the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP)—the primary federal funding source for state and local transportation projects—to specifically cover the cost of purchasing and deploying AEDs at eligible facilities. This means state and local agencies can now tap into federal highway funds to buy this medical equipment, rather than having to find new money in already tight budgets.

Second, the bill mandates the development of written emergency action plans for these facilities. Simply having an AED isn’t enough; people need to know where it is and how to use it. This provision ensures that every terminal and rest area that installs an AED must also create a clear, documented plan for what happens when someone collapses. The Secretary of Transportation will even provide technical assistance, working with the CDC and HHS, to help states draft these plans.

Where You’ll See the Change

This isn't just about big city airports; the bill targets places where regular commuters and long-haul travelers spend time. The definition of “interstate transportation facility” covered by this Act is broad, including:

• Bus and Ferry Terminals
• Rail Passenger Transportation Terminals (commuter and intercity)
• Highway Rest Areas located on the Interstate System
• Long-distance Rail Vehicles (those moving between stations more than 15 minutes apart)

If you’re a truck driver grabbing coffee at a rest stop or a commuter waiting for the morning train, this bill means that if a medical emergency strikes, the life-saving equipment will be seconds away, not minutes. It’s a huge win for public safety in high-traffic, often high-stress environments.

The Trade-Off: New Rules and New Administrative Loads

While the public health benefits are clear, the bill does create new administrative requirements for state and local transportation authorities. The Secretary of Transportation is tasked with creating recommendations and guidelines for the placement, maintenance, and use of these AEDs.

Furthermore, the Secretary is given the authority to attach terms and conditions to financial assistance programs to ensure these recommendations are adopted. For the agencies running these facilities, this means adding AED inventory, maintenance checks, and staff training into their operational budgets and schedules. While the funding is provided through the block grant expansion, the ongoing administrative burden of managing medical equipment and emergency plans is a new cost of doing business.

This Act is set to take effect 180 days after it becomes law, kicking off a major push to integrate emergency medical readiness into the nation's transportation infrastructure. It’s a pragmatic approach to a deadly problem, essentially saying: if the public is gathering there, the tools to save a life should be there, too.