Your Transportation: Roads, Rails and Rescue Teams
Policy changes under the Trump Administration at the Department of Transportation roll back decades of progress on pollution, stronger roads and bridges, and simply making our communities more livable.
Have you thought about…
What if the road I drive on every day is starting to crumble? When was the last time someone checked to see how this bridge was holding up? Why does it seem like the roads are flooded every time it just rains a few drops? What is this new pavement made of? Are they ever going to finish the sidewalks in my neighborhood? How will our town pay to maintain the roads going in and out of town? What if nobody’s researching safer roads, better traffic flow, or stronger materials anymore? What if my bus line stops running? Or the cost of my ticket goes way up? What if my commuter rail line is crumbling? Or, just too crowded to ever get a seat during peak hours? What if that new rail tunnel never opens? Are we ever going to get more high-speed rail lines? What if my airport gets less funding – will it still be maintained? Will it be safe? What if my airport is suddenly closed – will I get reimbursed for my flight? How will I even get where I need to go? What if our small airport loses funding? What will happen to tourism in our town? How will we connect to major hubs? Will our mail still be delivered on time? What if TSA is privatized or there are fewer agents – will flying be safe? What if fewer people can travel to my town—what happens to our local economy? What if there’s a busy highway through my neighborhood, will our air quality get worse? Would it make a difference if my neighborhood had more parks and green spaces? What if my neighborhood becomes more industrialized, would it even be safe for my kids to live here in the future? I own an elec- tric car, how am I going to charge it if there are fewer charging stations?
What if my flight gets cancelled? Will I be compensated?
There’s a push by the Administration and the DOT to cease enforcement of rules that require compensation when flights are delayed by three or more hours and the delay is the fault of the airline. This means that if your flight is significantly delayed or canceled, you may not receive any compensation even if you are then forced to find accommodation or make alternative travel arrangement.
In 2025, the Department of Transportation withdrew the proposed rule that airlines should compensate passengers for delays.
Will there ever be reliable infrastructure for charging electric vehicles?
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI), was part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and it’s purpose was to create a nation-wide electric vehicle charging network. This would have made it more practicable for electric vehicle owners to use their vehicles on long trips and could have also supported an evolution of cleaner transit for various goods across the country.
Though a Judge has ordered the Administration to unfreeze the $5 billion allocated for NEVI, the 2027 budget once again seeks to cut funding for renewable energy.
What if nobody is trying to rebuild with better longer lasting materials?
This would have long-term negative consequences for our entire transportation system. The FHWA has historically funded research into these critical areas. A lack of ongoing research means we will be slower to adopt innovative solutions that can save lives, reduce congestion, and build a more resilient infrastructure. This stagnation would not only impact safety but also our economic competitiveness.
Despite having released frozen BRIC – Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities – grant funds after a judge’s order in March of 2026, the 2027 budget request once again seeks to slash funding for the program.
What if fewer people can travel to our town?
Lack of highway and road maintenance, and the defunding of smaller airports, could mean that towns in rural areas, near national parks, or anywhere that relies on tourism revenue, could receive fewer visitors. This will not only directly impact jobs, businesses and local economies, it will make it more difficult to access healthcare and emergency services, and also create challenges for rural farmers whose products are transported via our highway system.
Rural states and towns are much more reliant on Federal funds for transportation infrastructure as they have smaller tax bases and take in less in tolls.
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