The majority of federal infrastructure funding is not tied to federal requirements, letting states set their own targets for road safety and improvements.

"The lengths the U.S. Transportation Department can go in shaping how states spend money has emerged as a flash point in the implementation of the [federal] infrastructure package," writes Ian Duncan in The Washington Post.
When the highway administration conducted its most recent performance reviews, covering 2019 and 2020, it often graded states as having made progress even when they performed worse than in previous years. The most recent disclosures show that four states hit all 11 of their targets, yet no state made actual improvements across the board. In reality, 34 states slid backward on at least half of the measures that federal officials track.
"The law does not require that money go to repairing aging or dangerous infrastructure, leaving those spending decisions to state transportation leaders." According to the article, "The federal government has little direct control over what states build, handing over money in the form of huge grants."
While some programs have stricter requirements (for example, "states where cyclists and pedestrians account for more than 15 percent of road deaths will be required to dedicate funding to their safety"), the bulk of federal funding is not attached to specific targets.
While the Federal Highway Administration has defended the system, "The U.S. Transportation Department, however, recently indicated it intends to revisit the approach. A road safety plan that Buttigieg released early this year says the department will consider revising its rules to 'ensure that State safety performance targets demonstrate constant or improved performance for each safety performance measure.'"
FULL STORY: Under federal rules, ‘significant progress’ on infrastructure can mean more road deaths and decrepit bridges

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems
SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope
Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects
The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.
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