DOT kicks off surface transportation reauthorization, announces MOU with Texas DOT and opens request for ideas

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday convened a national stakeholder meeting to launch development of the next surface transportation reauthorization. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced that the department will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Texas Department of Transportation intended to speed project delivery and said the department has opened a request for information inviting states, industry and citizens to submit ideas.

The meeting — led by Sean McMaster, the department's senior advisor for the secretary and the administration's nominee for administrator of the Federal Highway Administration — brought senior DOT leaders and members of Congress together to outline the administration's four pillars for reauthorization: enhance safety, accelerate project delivery, increase opportunity, and strengthen partnerships. "We are going to partner with Texas DOT," Duffy said, framing the MOU as part of a broader push to shorten permitting and construction timelines.

Why it matters: The administration signaled it will prioritize speed and state authority in the reauthorization process. Department officials said they plan to streamline grant terms and regulatory requirements to move projects faster, including changes related to environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The department also announced it will publish the request for information in the Federal Register to collect ideas from states, the construction industry, trade unions and the public.

What officials said: Duffy characterized current project timelines as too slow and costly and cited several high-profile examples of delayed delivery. "We have to do better, and we can do better," he said, pressing for reforms to make the department and partner agencies deliver projects more quickly. Deputy Secretary Steve Bradbury invited stakeholders to submit proposals and described the RFI as a "request for ideas" that will be used to shape the administration's position in Congress.

On grant terms and priorities: Department officials said they will remove prior administration requirements they identified as adding cost and delay to projects. "They didn't include requirements that we have DEI or green priorities," Duffy said, adding the department will focus on reducing conditions attached to federal funding so states can "build as fast as possible." The department also urged governors to consider assuming NEPA responsibilities under a national template; McMaster said a letter to governors will accompany the Texas MOU.

Congressional timeline and priorities: Representative Sam Graves, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told the audience the House aims to produce a largely member-driven, bipartisan surface reauthorization bill and to have it off the House floor by the end of the year. Graves listed core House priorities as formula funding, permitting reform and state flexibility and said the committee is sorting through roughly 11,000 stakeholder and member requests.

Next steps and logistics: McMaster said the MOU signing with the Texas Department of Transportation is planned as part of the event and that the RFI is posted on DOT's website and will appear in the Federal Register in the coming days. The department asked stakeholders to submit comments through the link displayed at the event.

The session closed with a call for continued engagement from states, industry and the public as DOT staff and congressional leaders refine proposals for the upcoming reauthorization bill.