Local Officials Endorse Bipartisan Transportation BASICS Act to Invest in Priority Infrastructure Projects Across America

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The nation's leading local and regional governments organizations-representing individual counties, cities, towns, planning agencies, and regional economic development organizations across the United States-announced their support for the BASICS Act as introduced today by Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) and Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI).

The bipartisan legislation renews and updates provisions of the federal surface transportation law to focus on local bridges, road safety, and community selected priority transportation projects that are part of adopted regional transportation plans. The current law expires after September 30, 2026, and key Congressional committees are now developing legislative proposals to renew the law.

The national organizations supporting the BASICS Act include: The United States Conference of Mayors, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, National Association of Development Organizations, and National Association of Regional Councils.

The BASICS Act seeks to make federal highway program funding more responsive to the priority needs of local officials and their areas throughout the U.S. The bill proposes to -

• Target bridge funding based on condition and ownership.
• Strengthen flexible formula programs for local and regional project delivery.
• Direct safety dollars to high-risk roads.
• Support both metropolitan and rural transportation planning capacity.
• Reinforce accountability and locally driven project selection

Key local and regional leaders remarked on the significance of the legislation:

James Hovland, Mayor of Edina, MN, and Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Transportation Standing Committee

"This bipartisan legislation, rightly, further empowers local decision-makers and local areas in the next renewal law, and embodies reforms which are certain to make our surface transportation infrastructure safer and more responsive to our ever-changing economy and mobility needs. All of us have witnessed, firsthand, how e-commerce, remote work and new technologies have created new demands and stresses on our municipal and county owned infrastructure, especially our local streets, roads and bridges, which are now foundational elements for making our new economy prosper. Thankfully, our sponsors understand how strengthening local level engagement and investment will pay significant and important future dividends for our communities, our regional economies and the nation itself."

Matt Chase, Executive Director, National Association of Counties

"The BASICS Act would be a monumental step in ensuring that counties have access to federal funding for transportation infrastructure. This bill would ensure that more counties-especially rural counties-can utilize federal funding for important road, bridge and safety projects in our communities. As committee leaders work to develop the next five-year federal surface transportation reauthorization bill, counties urge them to include the BASICS Act as a core part of that legislation."

Kevin Kramer, Councilmember, Louisville, KY, and National League of Cities President

"Local governments strongly support the BASICS Act because it streamlines federal investment into regional priorities so we can rebuild local bridges and roads that Americans use every day. We are stronger as a nation when Congress partners with local governments, that helps cities, towns and villages deliver what communities need to keep them moving."

Pragati Srivastava, President, Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations

"MPOs are where local leaders, state DOTs, and transit providers come together to set priorities based on local needs and data, and to deliver projects that reflect how people actually travel and how goods move. The BASICS Act strengthens that work by reinforcing local and regional decision-making and improving access to the core formula funds that regions rely on. It also keeps the focus on the fundamentals: safety, accountability, transparency, and performance."

Joe McKinney, Executive Director, National Association of Development Organizations

"The BASICS Act is a critically important piece of legislation that will ensure that local and rural transportation stakeholders have sufficient resources to guide transportation planning and project implementation within their communities. This bill will strengthen the voice of rural transportation stakeholders, allowing them to have a more meaningful role in recommending enhancements to rural road safety, along with overseeing other rural transportation and infrastructure projects within their communities."

Justin Kiel, Council Member, La Porte County, IN; Commissioner, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission; President, National Association of Regional Councils:

"The BASICS Act strengthens the vital work of regional councils, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) to plan and deliver transportation projects that boost mobility, economic vitality, and quality of life. By directing more resources to local and regional partners, the bill supports infrastructure investments that reflect community priorities and local expertise. I applaud Representatives McDonald Rivet and Bresnahan for championing legislation that supports regional planning organizations, invests in locally-driven infrastructure, and helps regions build a stronger, more connected future."

Learn more about the BASICS Act here.