The legislation would replace the current federal surface transportation authorization, which expires on September 30, 2026, providing long-term funding for infrastructure projects nationwide. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the bill by a bipartisan vote of 62-2 in May. As of this publication, the legislation is awaiting consideration by the full House, after which the Senate will consider its own version before any final bill can be sent to the President.

For New York’s Hudson Valley, the legislation could provide continued investment in roads, bridges, transit systems, freight corridors, and passenger rail infrastructure. Communities throughout Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, Ulster, and Sullivan counties could benefit from funding for transportation improvements that enhance mobility, strengthen regional commerce, and improve public safety.

One of the most noteworthy provisions is the creation of a new Surface Transportation Accelerator Grant (STAG) program, designed to help local and regional governments compete for federal funding for transportation projects. The bill also includes the largest federal investment in bridge infrastructure to date, continues funding for passenger rail and transit, and streamlines project delivery to help move critical infrastructure projects from planning to construction more efficiently.

For the construction industry, the BUILD America 250 Act could translate into a stronger pipeline of work for contractors, engineers, suppliers, and the skilled union workforce. Long-term federal authorization provides state and local agencies with greater confidence to plan and bid major projects, while helping employers recruit and train the next generation of skilled craftspeople through apprenticeship and workforce development programs.

“The Hudson Valley continues to grow because of strategic investments in transportation infrastructure,” said John Cooney Jr., executive director of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley. “A long-term federal commitment to roads, bridges, transit, and rail not only improves how people and goods move throughout our region but also creates thousands of construction careers and strengthens our local economy. Investments like these reinforce the importance of apprenticeship programs that prepare the skilled workforce needed to build tomorrow’s infrastructure.”

CIC members are encouraged to follow the legislation as Congress works toward reauthorizing federal transportation programs before the current authorization expires this fall. Should the BUILD America 250 Act become law, it has the potential to generate new opportunities for contractors, consultants, organized labor, and the many businesses that support the construction industry throughout the Hudson Valley.

“The Construction Industry Council has spent nearly 50 years bringing together labor, management, educators, and public officials to strengthen our region’s construction industry,” said John Cooney Jr. “Investments in transportation infrastructure create more than roads and bridges. They create careers, support local businesses, and strengthen our communities. As our region prepares for future growth, we must continue investing in apprenticeship and workforce development, so the Hudson Valley has the skilled professionals needed to build and maintain tomorrow’s infrastructure.”

For additional information, including the bill text, section-by-section summary, and legislative updates, visit the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Surface Transportation Reauthorization page: https://transportation.house.gov/surface-transportation-reauthorization.