Bill Summary
The "Pedestrian Hazard, Awareness, and Safety Expansion Act of 2025" (PHASE Act of 2025) is a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing the safety of pedestrians and vulnerable road users (such as cyclists) from traffic incidents.
Key provisions of the Act include:
1. **Innovative Traffic Control Solutions**: The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is tasked with identifying and suggesting technologies to improve traffic control devices. These solutions must not distract vehicle operators and must comply with federal regulations.
2. **Study of Physical Alternatives**: The Secretary of Transportation is required to conduct a study to analyze urban areas with rising pedestrian fatalities and explore physical measures to reduce accidents. This includes assessing the effectiveness of safety systems like intelligent speed assistance and blind spot detection.
3. **Grant Program**: A grant program will be established to fund cities, Indian Tribes, and municipalities for infrastructure improvements that enhance pedestrian safety. This includes innovations in crosswalks, additional pedestrian facilities, traffic signal upgrades, and improved lighting.
4. **Funding**: The Act authorizes $5 million annually for the grant program to support these initiatives.
Overall, the PHASE Act aims to address the increasing risks faced by pedestrians and vulnerable road users by promoting research, technological advancements, and infrastructure improvements.
Possible Impacts
The "Pedestrian Hazard, Awareness, and Safety Expansion Act of 2025" (PHASE Act) could affect people in several significant ways:
1. **Increased Safety for Pedestrians and Vulnerable Road Users**: The legislation mandates a study and development of physical alternatives to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users. This could lead to the implementation of safer crosswalks, improved signage, and better roadway designs, potentially reducing pedestrian fatalities and injuries. Individuals who walk or bike in urban areas, especially those at risk of traffic incidents, would benefit from enhanced safety measures.
2. **Funding for Local Infrastructure Improvements**: The establishment of a grant program to provide funding to cities and municipalities can enable local governments to invest in pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. This could result in the construction of more accessible sidewalks, better lighting at crossings, and safer pedestrian facilities. Residents in communities receiving these grants could see direct improvements in their local infrastructure, leading to safer and more accessible environments for walking and cycling.
3. **Enhanced Traffic Control Technologies**: The act requires the exploration of innovative technologies to improve traffic control devices and systems. This could lead to the adoption of smart traffic signals, intelligent speed assistance, and blind spot detection systems that help drivers be more aware of pedestrians and cyclists. For drivers and road users, this could result in a more intuitive and safer driving experience, potentially reducing the likelihood of accidents involving vulnerable road users.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4904 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4904
To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology and the Secretary of Transportation to take certain actions
to develop physical alternatives to better protect pedestrians and
vulnerable road users against traffic incidents, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 5, 2025
Mrs. Torres of California (for herself and Ms. Bonamici) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology and the Secretary of Transportation to take certain actions
to develop physical alternatives to better protect pedestrians and
vulnerable road users against traffic incidents, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Pedestrian Hazard, Awareness, and
Safety Expansion Act of 2025'' or the ``PHASE Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. NIST INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE AND ENHANCE TRAFFIC
CONTROL DEVICES.
The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
shall transmit to the Secretary of Transportation potential solutions
using innovative technologies to improve and enhance traffic control
devices to better equip vehicle operators, including bicycles and
protect pedestrians and vulnerable road users. The Director shall
provide supporting evidence to ensure such potential solutions do not
overwhelm, overstimulate, or otherwise distract vehicle operators,
including bicyclists or pedestrians. Such potential solutions shall
comply with all applicable Federal regulations.
SEC. 3. PHYSICAL ALTERNATIVES TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS AND VULNERABLE
ROAD USERS.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation shall carry out a study
on developing physical alternatives to better protect pedestrians and
vulnerable road users from traffic incidents that--
(1) analyzes urban areas, as determined by the Bureau of
the Census, in which pedestrian fatalities have increased in
the data available as of the date of enactment of this Act to
study where crashes involving pedestrians occur most
frequently;
(2) examine physical alternatives to reduce vehicle crashes
with vulnerable road users and fatalities, including
pedestrians; and
(3) studies intelligent speed assistance and blind spot
detection safety systems' impact on the safety of vulnerable
road users including the ability of blind spot detection to
detect all road users in a timely manner.
(b) Briefing to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall brief the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations
of the House of Representative on the results of the study.
(c) Grant Program.--The Secretary shall establish a grant program
to provide grants to cities, Indian Tribes, and municipalities to
implement infrastructure that complies with all applicable Federal
regulations and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12131 et seq.) and improves pedestrian safety, including--
(1) innovative technology for crosswalks;
(2) additional pedestrian facilities both on and off the
road;
(3) expanded buffer zones;
(4) pedestrian crossings;
(5) increased pedestrian accommodation on bridges;
(6) upgraded highway traffic signals;
(7) accessible pedestrian signals;
(8) accessible sidewalks;
(9) increased signage;
(10) increased lighting at crossings;
(11) adaptive or intelligent roadway and pedestrian
lighting;
(12) accessible curb ramps; and
(13) marked crosswalks and grade-separated crossings.
(d) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (c), an applicant shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $5,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out the grant
program described under subsection (c).
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