Bill Boosts Funding for Safer Bike Paths and Walkways, Allows Up to 100% Federal Cover

This bill, named the "Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act," aims to make roads safer for people walking and biking by tweaking the existing Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). It essentially tells the feds to put more focus—and potentially more money—into projects that connect existing bike lanes or pedestrian paths and reduce safety risks for what the bill calls "vulnerable road users."

Connecting the Dots for Safer Trips

Ever notice a bike lane that just... ends? Or a sidewalk that disappears before a busy intersection? This legislation makes fixing those gaps eligible for federal safety dollars. Specifically, it adds projects that "connect existing bicycle or pedestrian facilities" or "reduce safety risks to vulnerable road users" to the list of things the HSIP can fund. Think about finally getting that protected bike lane extended across a major road or adding a crosswalk with flashing lights near a park entrance. The goal is to create safer, more complete networks for people not in cars.

Show Me the Money: Making Safety Projects More Affordable

Getting safety upgrades built often comes down to cost. This bill tackles that by allowing the federal government to cover up to 100% of the price tag for these specific types of bike and pedestrian safety projects. Normally, states and local governments have to chip in a portion (the non-federal share). This change could make it much easier for communities, especially those with tighter budgets, to move forward on projects like adding sidewalks, improving crossings, or building separated bike lanes. The bill also offers flexibility, allowing the local share to be calculated across multiple projects or a whole program, not just one-by-one.

Planning Gets a Boost

Good projects often start with good plans. The bill acknowledges this by broadening the types of local safety plans that can help qualify a project for funding. If a state or local group has put together a pedestrian or bicyclist safety plan, a "Complete Streets" plan (designing roads for everyone), a "Vision Zero" plan (aiming for zero traffic deaths), or similar strategies, those plans can strengthen the case for federal funding. It also allows highway safety funds to count towards the local matching requirement if the project includes bike/ped safety measures and aligns with one of these approved safety plans, making it easier for planned safety improvements to become reality.