Federal agencies can now skip environmental reviews for some infrastructure projects

Three US transportation agencies just changed their rules for environmental reviews. They can now fast-track some infrastructure projects by skipping detailed environmental assessments.

For decades, major infrastructure projects had to go through a lengthy environmental review process. This often meant years of studies and public comments, which added significant time and cost. This rule change means some projects can now bypass those steps entirely, speeding up construction for roads, railways, and public transit.