S. 3701 — BRIDGE Act

This section establishes a commuter rail bridge grant program under new section 5313 of title 49, United States Code, authorizing the Secretary of Transportation to make competitive grants to public transportation operators for capital costs of maintenance, replacement, or rehabilitation of commuter rail bridges (i.e., bridges used in commuter rail operations, including those shared with intercity passenger rail, other public transportation, or roadways), subject to section 5337 terms and conditions and limited to the net public transportation share of project costs based on projected use. Grants require bridge access agreements for non-owner applicants and must be solicited within 30 days of annual funding availability and awarded within 75 days of solicitation expiration or fiscal year-end, whichever is earlier, with consideration of applicant system size, available section 5337 funds, bridge age and condition, and transit asset management plan priorities. This section authorizes $1,500,000,000 for each of FY2027 through FY2031.