Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act
Key claim: The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act would expand the Highway Safety Improvement Program to fund bicyclist and pedestrian infrastructure connections and high-risk-area safety projects, with federal cost shares up to 100%.
Abstract
(S944 · 119th Congress) Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act This bill expands the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to include additional bicyclist and pedestrian safety measures and increases the federal cost share for certain safety projects. Specifically, the bill allows HSIP to fund projects (1) for the connection of two or more segments of existing bicyclist or pedestrian infrastructure, or (2) that are based on a state’s plan to improve the safety of vulnerable road users (e.g., bicyclists or pedestrians) in areas identified as high-risk. In addition, the bill allows an increased federal cost share of up to 100% for these projects. The bill also allows an increased federal cost share of up to 100% for transportation projects that meet certain criteria, including (1) the project includes a Federal Highway Administration Proven Safety Countermeasure for bicyclists or pedestrians (e.g., bicycle lanes, walkways, and crosswalk visibility enhancements), or (2) the relevant state strategic highway safety plan includes an emphasis area that is related to vulnerable road users. Latest action (2025-03-11): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Why this matters
The bill would broaden the Highway Safety Improvement Program — historically focused on roadway crash reduction — to explicitly cover active transportation infrastructure connections and vulnerable road user protections, with the unusually high option of 100% federal cost share. If enacted, it would lower the state/local funding barrier to building out bicyclist and pedestrian safety projects in high-risk corridors. Status remains early: referred to subcommittee with no further action.