Complete Streets Act of 2025
Key claim: The Complete Streets Act of 2025 would require states to run competitive complete-streets grant programs with federal highway funds and direct DOT to set design standards and accessibility benchmarks so roads safely accommodate walkers, cyclists, transit users, freight, and people of all ages and abilities.
Abstract
(HR3712 · 119th Congress) Complete Streets Act of 2025 This bill supports the development of safe and accessible roads through complete streets design and construction grants, policies, and design standards. Under the bill, a complete street means a public road that provides safe and accessible travel options for multiple travel modes (e.g., walking, cycling, transit, mobility devices, automobiles, and freight) for people of all ages, abilities, and disabilities. In general, each state must establish a competitive grant program that provides a portion of its federal highway funds to eligible entities for complete streets grants and technical assistance. Eligible entities include local and tribal governments, local agencies, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and nonprofit organizations. An eligible entity must develop a complete streets policy and a prioritization plan. The state or an MPO must approve the policy and plan. The Department of Transportation (DOT) must develop complete streets benchmarks and guidance for states and eligible entities. In addition, DOT and the Department of Justice must update and adopt certain accessibility standards (e.g., by including provisions for cognitive ability and language access). Further, DOT must require each state and MPO to adopt and implement design standards for the safe and adequate accommodation of all surface transportation network users. DOT must also establish complete streets design standards for federal projects and phase in their adoption, with exemptions for certain roadways, facilities, and projects. The standards must include (1) dedicated, protected bike lanes; (2) requirements for sidewalks and crosswalks; and (3) guidelines for lighting and signalization to promote safety. Latest action (2025-06-05): Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Why this matters
Complete-streets design directly affects whether people with disabilities, older adults, and non-drivers can safely travel in their communities, translating civil rights guarantees like the ADA into on-the-ground infrastructure standards. By tying federal highway funds to state grant programs and DOT-set accessibility benchmarks, the bill would shift roadway design defaults away from car-only assumptions and toward multimodal access, though effects depend on rulemaking specifics and state uptake.