House, Senate Committees Release Water Resources Bills
Key committees within the House and Representatives and Senate approved their respective versions of the Water Resources Development Act or WRDA of 2026, which covers the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation system, flood and storm risk management needs, environmental concerns, and other aspects of U.S. water resources infrastructure.
[Above photo by AASHTO]
Any differences in the House and Senate versions must be reconciled in order to enact this biennial legislation, which Congress has been able to pass on time in recent years.
A key similarity between both the House and Senate versions of this bill is that they have approved policy changes to allow more flexibility for use of alternative project delivery methods and more latitude for non-federal entities to partner on dredging and other water resource activities. That participation by “non-federal entities” is viewed as a way to help reduce project costs and enable project participants to be both “more nimble and more efficient” as well. On July 14, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously passed its version of the WRDA bill – called H.R. 9497 – which gives a green light to 133 new feasibility studies for locally proposed water resources infrastructure projects, while providing a full go-ahead for 14 projects vetted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that are ready for Congressional construction authorization.
Additionally, the House version of the WRDA 2026 bill includes various policy changes to improve infrastructure project delivery, which includes strengthening and reauthorizing alternative project delivery programs, emphasizing the input of non-federal interests for project feasibility studies, and helping ensure non-federal interests can find the right USACE resources to get projects off the ground – accentuated by encouraging the USACE to use multi-year project contracts.
The bill also seeks to improve the partnership between the USACE and non-federal interests by establishing offices with expertise on inland navigation, alternative delivery, water supply, and technical assistance. Meanwhile, on July 15, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously passed a slightly different version of the WRDA 2026 bill – dubbed S. 4949 – which only authorizes 61 project feasibility studies, though it does approve 15 new or modified construction projects as opposed to the 14 in the House bill.
Notably, the Senate’s WRDA 2026 bill reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure programs, including State Revolving Funds or SRFs.
Specifically, the Senate’s bill provides $16.5 billion for the drinking water SRF and $14 billion for the clean water SRF, both between 2027 and 2030, along with $260 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act.
Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said that timely passage of the WRDA 2026 bill by the House T&I and Senate EPW committees represents “an important step” toward continuing the biennial WRDA cycle for addressing critical waterway issues and investments. He added that the committees’ support for improved processes for non-federal sponsors is critical as well – especially for the nation’s state departments of transportation.
“AASHTO looks forward to working closely with Congress on pushing this important bill forward towards enactment,” Tymon said.
Georgia DOT Begins Pursuing NEPA Review Authority
The Georgia Department of Transportation has formally initiated the process of seeking a full National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA assignment program to take on additional environmental review responsibilities from the Federal Highway Administration through the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program.
[Above photo by Georgia DOT]
Once the NEPA assignment program is approved, Georgia DOT would become responsible for carrying out the NEPA and other federal environmental compliance reviews and all other applicable federal environmental laws for Georgia DOT-administered highway projects.
[Editor’s note: At its 2026 Washington Briefing in Washington, D.C., AASHTO hosted a knowledge session that examined how states are working to assume more NEPA responsibilities from the federal government.]
While Georgia DOT currently has limited NEPA review authority, the department said it “has taken great strides” to create opportunities for collaboration amongst its environmentally focused federal and state partners. For example, in 2019, the department established the Interagency Office of Environmental Quality to strengthen coordination between agencies involved in environmental review and permitting, including partners responsible for wildlife, water resources, historic preservation, and environmental protection.
“The creation of the Interagency Office of Environmental Quality was a natural step toward pursuing NEPA assignment,” said Amber Phillips, Georgia’s state environmental administrator, in a statement.
“By strengthening coordination with our federal and state partners, developing transparent processes and fostering collaboration, we entered the application process with a strong foundation already in
place, helping us improve project delivery while handling transportation needs with the protection of Georgia’s environmental and cultural resources for the communities we serve,” she said.
Georgia DOT noted that there are currently nine states that have full NEPA assignment programs with FHWA – Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Maine, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and Utah – and the agency said those states have reported “significant benefits” from gaining broader NEPA authority, including faster project delivery and cost savings.
“We’re pursuing NEPA assignment to reduce project delays, improve communication and provide more reliable project schedules,” noted Phillips, adding that the agency also plans to use it as an “opportunity to learn from states that have already implemented the program through peer exchanges has been extremely beneficial in strengthening Georgia DOT’s application and preparing us for these additional responsibilities.”
Other state departments of transportation are also seeking to assume more NEPA-related duties. For example, the South Carolina Department of Transportation recently took its first step in pursuit of broader NEPA assignment duties, courtesy of the SCDOT Modernization Act passed by the state’s general assembly and signed by Governor Henry McMaster (R) – legislation that went into effect on July 1.
A letter sent to FHWA by Justin Powell, SCDOT secretary, began the process of certifying SCDOT to assume FHWA’s environmental review responsibilities – and the agency anticipates a 12-to-18-month process to complete NEPA assignment certification.
Environmental News Highlights – July 15, 2026
State DOTs Discuss Road Resilience Plans in Coastal States
In May, representatives from New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Maine Departments of Transportation presented their states’ current resilience planning and design practices at the Northeastern State Transportation Officials (NASTO) 2026 Emergency Management Peer Exchange in New Haven, CT.
[Above photo by AASHTO]
The session focused on current infrastructure “future proofing” initiatives along the U.S. east coast. Speakers at that session were Raquel Ocasio, transportation supervising planner from the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Office of Sustainability and Resiliency; Tobey Reynolds, director of project development from New Hampshire Department of Transportation; and Eric Ham, senior environmental manager from the Maine Department of Transportation.
[Editor’s note: The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials hosted a knowledge session on future proofing at its 2026 Spring Meeting in Savannah, GA, featuring speakers from state departments of transportation in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama.]
“The Connecticut DOT has adopted AASHTO’s and the Federal Highway Administration’s definition [of resilient transportation],” explained Ocasio, “which is the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions and withstand, respond, and recover rapidly from disruptions.”
Ocasio explained that several resilience initiatives across Connecticut, including Conneticut DOT’s Culvert Program Pilot Study, aim to prioritize key infrastructure across the state that
require improvements with fast, robust resolutions. Ocasio mentioned that the first phase of that Culvert Program Pilot Study should be completed in the next few months.
In New Hampshire, Reynolds said that many state and local agencies are looking at how to improve resilience alongside coastal roadways. He said New Hampshire DOT’s new Coastal Hydraulic and Hydrodynamic Supplement, which is nearly complete, provides guidance on resilience projects across the state. Reynolds also noted that the supplement is a continuation of research from New Hampshire’s Coastal Flood Risk Summary and the state’s Resilience Improvement Plan.
“It takes the science of [the Coastal Flood Risk Summary], and it gives guidance on how the DOT is going to apply that science to their projects,” he explained.
Reynolds also emphasized that the supplement was designed to apply to all New Hampshire government projects, at both the state and local levels.
“What we were finding was, we would do bridge projects or culvert projects along the coast and, depending on who was designing them, we would have different opinions to what sea level rise would be,” he said. “This document is going to help us apply that data consistently across projects.”
Maine DOT’s Ham also highlighted his state’s work in regulating coastal road erosion, including a recent project along North Deer Isle Road, which connects island communities like Stonington to the mainland, that consistently faces causeway overtopping.
Ham explained that, across Maine, many agencies are exploring nature-based infrastructure solutions that are less invasive, yet durable. In coastal areas, the issue of resilient, non-invasive, and affordable infrastructure becomes even more challenging.
“You can’t just build vertical walls everywhere and not touch anything,” Ham noted. “In these high-energy coastal environments, [the issue is] how you stabilize the roads and keep them resilient.”
NMDOT Hails First ‘Land of Enchantment Young Ambassadors’
The New Mexico Department of Transportation recently celebrated the first graduates of its “Land of Enchantment Young Ambassadors” program – an initiative designed to empower high school students from across New Mexico to lead local beautification efforts.
[Above photo by NMDOT]
The 2025–2026 cohort of the “Young Ambassadors” program, part of NMDOT’s “Que Linda” program and the governor’s youth-focused #KeepLitterOut campaign, is made up of 14 high school juniors and seniors from across the state, each committed to organizing beautification projects and long-term capstone initiatives addressing litter and graffiti prevention in their communities.
“New Mexico’s students are proving that leadership has no age limit. Our inaugural Land of Enchantment Young Ambassadors cohort has taken meaningful action to improve their communities while inspiring others to do the same,” said Governor Lujan Grisham (D) in a statement.
“Their efforts are truly impressive, helping build a culture of stewardship and civic pride that will benefit our state for generations to come. I look forward to watching this program, and our students, continue to grow and empower young leaders across our state,” she added.
Collectively, NMDOT said the 2025-2026 cohort of Young Ambassadors hosted 17 cleanup events and engaged with 338 volunteers, resulting in the collection of 15,240 pounds or 7.62 tons of trash across New Mexico. Beyond cleanup efforts, cohort members also amplified the message through two letters published in newspapers across the state, urging New Mexicans to join litter prevention and cleanup efforts.
Since launching in October 2024, the statewide “Breaking Bad Habits” and the youth-focused #KeepLitterOut campaigns have resulted in the collection of more than 5,473 tons of trash from across New Mexico through coordinated cleanup efforts and community partnerships. Organizers hope the program will continue to inspire students throughout the state to join this civic engagement effort, as well as participate in community beautification, sustainability, and other environmental leadership initiatives.
Environmental News Highlights – July 8, 2026
SCDOT Pushes Forward with NEPA Assignment Effort
The South Carolina Department of Transportation recently took its first step in pursuit of National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA assignment duties, courtesy of the SCDOT Modernization Act passed by the state’s general assembly and signed by Governor Henry McMaster (R) – legislation that went into effect on July 1.
[Above photo by SCDOT]
SCDOT noted that federal law allows states to assume environmental review responsibilities from the Federal Highway Administration via NEPA assignment – and the SCDOT Modernization Act specifically gave the agency the authority to pursue NEPA assignment as a means to accelerate project delivery.
A letter sent to FHWA by Justin Powell, SCDOT secretary, began the process of certifying SCDOT to assume FHWA’s environmental review responsibilities – and the agency anticipates a 12-to-18-month process to complete NEPA assignment certification.
Once the process is complete, South Carolina will be among several other states participating in the NEPA assignment program, including Florida, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Ohio, Nebraska, Maine, and Alaska.
“The [South Carolina] general assembly’s leadership will pay dividends for years to come,” said Powell, who also serves as the treasurer of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, in a statement.
[Editor’s note: At its 2026 Washington Briefing in Washington, D.C., AASHTO hosted a knowledge session that examined how states are working to assume more NEPA responsibilities from the federal government.]
“The SCDOT Modernization Act positions South Carolina to take greater control of delivering critical infrastructure projects more efficiently, while also allowing South Carolinians to consider protecting what makes South Carolina so special and unique,” he added.
The agency also noted that it is requesting authority to assume FHWA’s responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act and the Federal Endangered Species Act. By eliminating the need for FHWA approval at each step of project development, SCDOT said it will significantly reduce review times, reduce costs, and move projects from planning to construction faster. At the same time, decisions are still held to the same environmental standards and requirements, stressed Powell.
“When I’ve talked with my colleagues in other states, they have seen projects speed up by months and years because the state can control its destiny instead of waiting for somebody in Washington to make a decision,” he noted.
To maintain accountability and transparency, SCDOT said it will publish a comprehensive “NEPA Manual” within one year of joining the program and issue regular reports to the public showing the program’s effectiveness, time savings, and financial impacts.
Florida DOT Project Beefs Up Ped/Bike Protections for U.S. 41
The Florida Department of Transportation is investing $4.6 million in safety improvements for a southwest suburban highway corridor to better accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists who travel along or cross the busy roadway.
[Above photo by Florida DOT]
The project site along U.S. 41 in Bradenton – about 45 miles south of Tampa – is home to shopping centers, restaurants, gas stations, and retail shops. FDOT traffic data show the six-lane highway has an average daily traffic count of about 45,000 vehicles.
“As part of the Florida DOT Safety Office constant review, this corridor was identified due to the number of fatal and serious injury crashes,” noted Patricia Pichette, a communications specialist with the agency. “Specifically, this project is intended to address the bicycle and pedestrian crashes along the corridor.”
Florida DOT noted that two-thirds of the 34 fatal crashes in the area from 2018 through 2024 involved a pedestrian or cyclist.
To make active transportation safer along a key 1.27-mile section of U.S. 41, the agency is installing seven mid-block crosswalks with pedestrian hybrid beacons; vehicle detection systems; signage and pavement markings; raised medians; new curbs and gutters; new ramps; sidewalks; signalization; and improved lighting.
The high-visibility crosswalks will also have patterns that are visible to drivers and pedestrians from farther away compared to traditional crosswalks, the agency said – mid-block crosswalks that will be installed on the roadway below the pedestrian hybrid beacons.
The overhead beacons have two red lenses above a single yellow lens, Florida DOT noted, which remain dark until a pedestrian or bicyclist pushes the call button to activate the beacon. When activates, the beacon goes from yellow-to-red flashing and steady-light sequence that directs traffic to slow or stop.
Nearly 74 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur at non-intersection locations, and vehicle speeds are often a major contributing factor, according to a Federal Highway Administration report on pedestrian hybrid beacons. The beacon is “an intermediate option between a flashing beacon and a full pedestrian signal because it assigns right of way and provides a positive stop control,” that FHWA report found.
The vehicle detection systems will include cameras and roadway-embedded loops to help with signals and traffic flow, Florida DOT’s Pichette said.
Though project construction is scheduled to wrap up at the end of the year, Florida DOT will “continue to seek funding to install other proven safety counter measures,” she stressed.
“Pedestrian and bicyclist infrastructure matters to the Florida DOT because protecting people who walk and bike is essential to reducing serious injuries and deaths on Florida’s roads,” Pichette noted. “Florida DOT recognizes that these travelers are the most vulnerable users in the transportation system, so improving safety supports the state’s broader goals of building connected, healthy and accessible communities.”