January 13, 2026
Ms. Alsobrooks (for herself and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
To amend title 23, United States Code, to require States to make publicly available information on the selection of certain projects, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Transportation Project Accountability Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Transportation accountability
(a) In general
Section 135 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
(n) Transportation accountability
(1) Definition of covered project
In this subsection, the term covered project means a project that—
(A)
is included in the statewide transportation improvement program under subsection (g);
(B)
will enhance or expand the transportation system; and
(C)
has an estimated cost of greater than $10,000,000.
(2) Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Transportation Project Accountability Act of 2026 and every year thereafter, each State shall publish and make publicly available, via an online platform, a report that—
(A)
identifies each covered project selected to be carried out during the previous year;
(B)
for each covered project identified under subparagraph (A)—
(i)
includes a score based on the extent to which the covered project contributes to performance measures and targets described in the long-range statewide transportation plan of the State under subsection (f) and national goals described in section 150(b);
(ii)
includes anticipated, estimated benefits to the covered project that address national goals described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 150(b);
(iii)
identifies the year during which the covered project was first included in the statewide transportation improvement program under subsection (g); and
(iv)
includes a brief description that explains the reasons for selecting the covered project, including projected or anticipated performance benefits and the approximate geographic coordinates of the covered project; and
(C)
includes a brief summary and justification of the metrics used to calculate scores for covered projects under subparagraph (B)(i).
(3) Accountability for performance
Beginning after the date of publication of the first report of the State under paragraph (2), the State shall incorporate into the statewide transportation improvement program under subsection (g) and the long-range statewide transportation plan of the State under subsection (f) a review of—
(A)
the progress toward achieving projected benefits and cost-effectiveness of selected covered projects; and
(B)
the ability of those covered projects to contribute to achievement of targets described in the long-range statewide transportation plan of the State under subsection (g) and the national goals described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 150(b).
(b) Conforming amendment
Section 135(g)(5)(B) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
(iii) Transportation accountability report
A report under subsection (n) may be considered to satisfy the requirements of this subparagraph.