BRIDGE Act

Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5312 the following:

In this section:

The term commuter rail shall have the meaning given the term by the Secretary for purposes of reporting to the national transit database under section 5335.

The term commuter rail bridge —

(A) means a bridge used in commuter rail operations; and

(B) includes a bridge described in subparagraph (A) that is also utilized for—

(i) intercity passenger railroad service;

(ii) other public transportation service; or

(iii) a roadway.

The term covered grant means a grant awarded under subsection (b).

The Secretary may make grants to operators of public transportation systems for capital costs of maintenance, replacement, or rehabilitation of a commuter rail bridge.

Except as otherwise provided in this section, a covered grant shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as a grant under section 5337.

Eligible costs for a project funded by a covered grant shall be limited to the net capital costs of the public transportation costs attributable to the project based on projected use of the commuter rail bridge.

Before executing a grant agreement with the Secretary under this section, an operator of a public transportation system seeking a covered grant for a commuter rail bridge that is not owned by the operator shall establish and maintain an agreement with the owner of the bridge that ensures bridge access by the operator.

The Secretary shall—

(1) not later than 30 days after the date on which amounts are made available for obligation under this section for a full fiscal year, solicit applications for covered grants on a competitive basis; and

(2) award a covered grant based on the solicitation under paragraph (1) not later than the earlier of—

(A) 75 days after the date on which the solicitation expires; or

(B) the last day of the fiscal year in which the Secretary solicits the applications for covered grants.

In awarding covered grants, the Secretary shall consider—

(1) the size of the commuter rail system of the applicant;

(2) the amount of funds available to the applicant under section 5337;

(3) the age and condition of the commuter rail bridge; and

(4) whether the applicant has identified replacement of the commuter rail bridge as a priority in the investment prioritization portion of the transit asset management plan developed by the applicant pursuant to part 625 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).

The table of sections for chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5312 the following:

Section 5338 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 5313 $1,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.