Executing the Vision:
Turning the Framework into Reality
FRAME is not just a name; it is a strategy. To truly Rebuild America's Mobility Economy, we had to do more than spend money; we had to change the underlying code of the system. We replaced "Highways" with Mobility. We replaced "Spending" with Investment. And we replaced "Bureaucracy" with a Framework for results.
Download the FRAME Act

FRAME for Safety

The Resolution: Ending the era of "Safety as a Suggestion."
A National Safe System Mandate: We are resolving this by codifying the Safe System Approach as national policy in Section 101, supported by Capacity Building Grants [Section 502] that give states the technical assistance they need to design forgiving infrastructure.
Safety Performance Accountability: We are answering the complaint that "we fund failure." Under Section 403, states that fail to reduce fatalities for three consecutive years will have 1% of their funding reprogrammed to high-impact local safety countermeasures.
Vision Zero Funding: We explicitly authorize the use of Community Mobility Block Grant [Title II] funds for comprehensive local safety action plans and the redesign of dangerous corridors.

FRAME for Streets

The Resolution: Breaking down the silos.
Flexible Community Mobility Block Grant: We resolved the complaint that federal funds are too restrictive by consolidating legacy programs into a single $23 billion annual grant [Title II]. This allows leaders to fund their priorities—whether it’s a bike lane or a paved road—without navigating a maze of sub-programs.
Active Transportation as Core Infrastructure: We are ending the treatment of walking and biking as "amenities." Construction of infrastructure to support active transportation is now a primary eligible use of formula funds.
Reconnecting Communities: The reconstruction of infrastructure that divides neighborhoods is now a core use of formula funds under Title II, allowing cities to heal urban scars as routine maintenance.

FRAME for Transit

The Resolution: Ending the "Capital Bias."
Federal Funds for Operations: Section 211(c)(1) explicitly lists "operating cost" as a core eligible activity. We are giving agencies the flexibility to run essential service while maintaining a federally capped percentage to ensure local commitment.
Predictable Urban Suballocation: Section 105(c) legally mandates that States must suballocate funds to urbanized areas at historic baseline levels, guaranteeing that major metros control their own financial destiny.
The Ridership Growth Bonus: Section 105(f) creates a 5% bonus pool that rewards agencies specifically for increasing ridership, moving from paying for "coverage" to paying for "results."

FRAME for State of Good Repair

The Resolution: Flipping the financial script.
The 90% Federal Share for Maintenance: We are solving the "Ponzi Scheme" of expansion. Section 106 establishes a 90% federal share for repair projects (vs. 50% for new capacity), creating a fiscal preference for stewardship.
Asset Management with Teeth: Funding is now strictly tied to a risk-based Transportation Asset Management Plan [Section 119], ensuring dollars flow to the assets with the highest risk of failure.
Dedicated Resiliency Funding: The State of Good Repair & Resiliency Block Grant [Title II] creates a permanent ($42 billion/year) dedicated revenue stream for retrofitting assets against extreme weather.

FRAME for Congestion

The Resolution: Respecting your time.
Paying for Time Saved: We are ensuring that federal investments actually improve your drive. States earn a 5% funding bonus when they demonstrate measurable success in reducing congestion delays.
Data-Informed Project Selection: The Carbon & VMT Scorecard [Section 408] ensures that planners account for the long-term impact on traffic flow, ensuring we build solutions that solve gridlock for the long haul.
Voluntary Tools for Reliable Travel: Section 708 tests market-based tools—like variable pricing for peak hours—that give drivers the choice to bypass traffic.

FRAME for Funding

The Resolution: Living within our means.
A "Fix-It-First" Hierarchy: By capping the federal share for new capacity at 50% and boosting maintenance to 90% [Section 106], we enforce a strict investment hierarchy: Maintenance and Optimization come before Expansion.
A "Maintenance of Effort" Budget: The bill’s funding represents a disciplined 0.9% real-dollar increase [Title I Authorization], providing the stability agencies need to plan without volatility.
Funding Tied to Performance: We are resolving the "black box" of formula funds. Through Pay for Performance [Section 105], funding levels are linked to delivering measurable outcomes.

FRAME for Innovation

The Resolution: Modernizing the checkbook.
Digital Infrastructure Definition: Section 107 codifies "software, data systems, and digital twins" as capital projects. This allows agencies to use core formula funds to buy modern tools rather than just pouring concrete.
National Transportation Data Standard: Section 409 mandates uniform, machine-readable data formats across all 50 states through a phased, collaborative approach.
AV-Ready Infrastructure: Section 607 establishes voluntary national standards for pavement markings and digital signs, preparing the roadbed for automation.

FRAME for Delivery

The Resolution: Cutting the "Red Tape."
Permanent State NEPA Authority: Section 501 converts NEPA assignment into a permanent program. This resolves uncertainty while maintaining the federal requirement for public notice.
120-Day Buy America Deadline: Section 506 imposes a statutory 120-day deadline for waiver rulings, resolving the paralysis of indefinite waits.
Capacity Building Grants: Section 502 provides dedicated funding for legal and technical staff, resolving the capacity gap for smaller DOTs.

FRAME for Commerce

The Resolution: Giving freight a seat at the table.
National Commerce & Freight Block Grant: We consolidated orphan programs into a single $28 billion annual block grant [Title II], giving states dedicated funds for supply chains.
Port Connectivity: Funds are explicitly eligible for connecting public ports to the surface network, fixing the "Last Mile" disconnect.
Freight Technology: Formula funds can be used for ITS and technology to improve the operational efficiency of freight corridors [Title II].