NACo sends letter to USDOT urging support for county priorities in surface transportation reauthorization
Author
Ben Gilsdorf
Rachel Yeung
Upcoming Events
Related News
Key Takeaways
On July 21, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) published a Request for Information to gather recommendations from stakeholders across transportation sectors as the agency works to develop its priorities for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill. The current surface transportation law, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will expire on September 30, 2026.
As the owners of 44 percent of public road miles and 38 percent of bridges nationwide, counties are important stakeholders in our nation’s transportation system. Importantly, county-owned infrastructure and locally owned infrastructure more generally tends to be in worse condition than state-owned infrastructure. This means that efforts to improve the overall transportation system must prioritize investments in counties and county-owned infrastructure.
NACo’s submission outlined several high-level county priorities for the upcoming bill, including improving county access to federal formula funding, improving the grant process, supporting locally led safety work, strengthening rail safety and streamlining permitting while protecting local consultation requirements. NACo’s letter is organized according to the four broad priorities that USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy laid out in July: enhancing transportation safety, accelerating project delivery, increasing opportunities and strengthening partnerships.
In addition to this letter, NACo also submitted a letter with its peers in the Local Officials in Transportation (LOT) Coalition, which includes the National League of Cities, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Association of Regional Councils, National Association of Development Organizations and the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations. This letter outlined how Congress could better enable local and regional government groups to implement federal transportation funds and advance national objectives locally.
Read LOT Coalition’s Letter Submission
Take action!
County leaders can submit their own letters to USDOT’s Request for Information by September 8, 2025, electronically. Share your support for county priorities in the next surface transportation reauthorization by filling out and submitting NACo’s template letter.
Related News
Research Reveals National Road Funding Crisis as County Leaders Urge Congressional Action
Research released today by the National Association of Counties (NACo) underscores a national road funding crisis and the large role counties play in the U.S. transportation network, as infrastructure investment needs outpace available revenue due to aging infrastructure, rising construction costs and weakened purchasing power. The American Society of Civil Engineers projects a $684 billion national funding shortfall for roads over the next decade, of which counties own a significant share.
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee releases bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill
On May 17, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) introduced the Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th Act (BUILD America 250 Act), a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize surface transportation programs through the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for five years. After continuous advocacy from NACo, county leaders and coalition partners, the BUILD America 250 Act contains a number of key county priorities.
NACo endorses bill to support, finance transit-oriented development projects
On April 20, NACo endorsed the Build Housing, Unlock Benefits and Services (Build HUBS) Act (H.R. 7062/S. 3636).
Advocacy
Local government leaders meet with USDOT on surface transportation reauthorization
On August 15, NACo and the National Association of County Engineers (NACE), met with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to discuss county transportation and infrastructure priorities.
