US highway safety rules will not be updated after all
What happened
The Federal Highway Administration has decided not to finalize a proposed rule that would have incorporated safety into federal-aid programs. This means state and local transportation agencies will not face new requirements to prioritize safety in their projects.
Why it matters
The US Department of Transportation had proposed new rules to make sure federal money for roads also paid for safety improvements. This decision means that federal highway funding will continue to flow without these specific safety mandates. State and local agencies will not have to change how they plan or build projects to meet new federal safety goals.
The signal
Watch for any new proposals from the Federal Highway Administration that address safety through different mechanisms, or if states begin to adopt similar safety requirements on their own.