H.R. 6889 — BRIDGE Act

This section establishes a commuter rail bridge grant program (new section 5313) authorizing the Secretary of Transportation to award competitive grants to public transportation system operators for capital costs to maintain, replace, or rehabilitate commuter rail bridges (i.e., bridges used in commuter rail operations, including those shared with intercity passenger rail, other public transportation, or roadways). Grants are subject to section 5337 terms and conditions; eligible costs are limited to the net capital costs attributable to public transportation based on projected bridge use; and recipients must secure and maintain bridge access agreements if they do not own the bridge. The Secretary must solicit applications within 30 days after funds are available for a full fiscal year and award grants no later than 75 days after the solicitation expires or by fiscal year-end, whichever is earlier, considering the applicant's commuter rail system size, available section 5337 funds, bridge age and condition, and whether the bridge is prioritized in the applicant's transit asset management plan. This section authorizes $1,500,000,000 for the program for each of FY2027 through FY2031.