Executing the Vision
FRAME is not just a name; it is a strategy. To truly Rebuild America's Mobility Economy, 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.
FRAME for Safety
Ending the era of "Safety as a Suggestion."- A National Safe System Mandate: Codifying the Safe System Approach as national policy in Section 101, supported by Capacity Building Grants.
- Safety Performance Accountability: States that fail to reduce fatalities for 3 consecutive years will have 1% of funding reprogrammed.
- Vision Zero Funding: Explicitly authorizing Block Grant funds for safety action plans and corridor redesigns.
FRAME for Streets
Breaking down the silos.- Flexible Community Mobility Block Grant: Consolidating legacy programs into a single, flexible $23 billion annual grant [Title II].
- Active Transportation as Infrastructure: Construction of walking and biking infrastructure is now a primary eligible use of formula funds.
- Reconnecting Communities: Fixing dividing infrastructure is now a core use of formula funds.
FRAME for Transit
Ending the "Capital Bias."- Federal Funds for Operations: Explicitly listing "operating cost" as eligible, with a strict federally capped percentage.
- Predictable Urban Suballocation: Mandating States suballocate funds to urbanized areas at historic baseline levels.
- Ridership Growth Bonus: A 5% bonus pool rewarding agencies specifically for increasing ridership.
FRAME for Repair
Flipping the financial script.- The 90% Federal Share for Maintenance: Establishing a 90% federal share for repair vs. 50% for new capacity.
- Asset Management with Teeth: Funding is strictly tied to a risk-based Transportation Asset Management Plan.
- Dedicated Resiliency Funding: A permanent ($42B/year) dedicated revenue stream for retrofitting assets.
FRAME for Congestion
Respecting your time.- Paying for Time Saved: States earn a 5% bonus when they demonstrate measurable success in reducing delays.
- Data-Informed Project Selection: The Carbon & VMT Scorecard ensures planners account for long-term traffic flow.
- Voluntary Tools for Reliable Travel: Testing market-based tools like variable pricing for peak hours.
FRAME for Funding
Living within our means.- A "Fix-It-First" Hierarchy: Capping federal share for new capacity at 50% and boosting maintenance to 90%.
- A "Maintenance of Effort" Budget: A disciplined 0.9% real-dollar increase to stop the boom-bust cycle.
- Funding Tied to Performance: Funding levels are linked to delivering measurable outcomes.
FRAME for Innovation
Modernizing the checkbook.- Digital Infrastructure Definition: Codifying "software, data systems, and digital twins" as capital projects.
- National Transportation Data Standard: Mandating uniform, machine-readable data formats across all 50 states.
- AV-Ready Infrastructure: Establishing voluntary national standards for pavement markings and digital signs.
FRAME for Delivery
Cutting "Red Tape" without cutting standards.- Permanent State NEPA Authority: Converting NEPA assignment into a permanent program.
- 120-Day Buy America Deadline: Imposing a statutory 120-day deadline for waiver rulings.
- Capacity Building Grants: Dedicated funding for legal and technical staff for smaller DOTs.
FRAME for Commerce
Giving freight a seat at the table.- National Commerce & Freight Block Grant: Consolidating orphan programs into a single $28B annual block grant.
- Port Connectivity: Funds are explicitly eligible for connecting public ports to the surface network.
- Freight Technology: Funding for ITS and technology to improve supply chain efficiency.