hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
A tool to combine traffic data nationwide to fight congestion.
Senator Cornyn (R-TX) and Senator Alsobrooks (D-MD).
Introduced in Senate, referred to Environment and Public Works Committee.
This bill requires the Transportation Secretary to work with a university research institute to build a national tool that merges federal, state, local, and private traffic data. The tool would help identify where congestion happens, why it happens, and how to fix it. Senator Cornyn is from Texas, and Senator Alsobrooks from Maryland, both states that already have similar state tools mentioned in the bill. Being in committee means it hasn't had a vote yet.
Introduced Feb 24, 2026
This bill is under review by a committee. The committee holds hearings, gathers testimony from experts and stakeholders, and may propose amendments. If the committee votes to advance it, the bill moves to the full chamber for debate and a vote.
The tool is supposed to combine data from many sources, so it would help transportation agencies make smarter decisions about where to spend money on roads and traffic management. For example, if the tool shows a particular highway is always jammed because of bottlenecks, planners could prioritize widening that stretch. Also, by including truck parking data, the bill could help reduce the time trucks spend circling for parking, speeding up deliveries. The $50 million from the Highway Trust Fund would cover development and annual updates.
Supporters Say
Supporters say a national data tool will help cut commute times and make road spending more efficient.
Critics Say
Critics worry it creates another federal program that could duplicate existing state efforts and cost too much.
Supporters, including the bipartisan sponsors, argue that congestion costs time and money, and current data is fragmented. A single national tool would let all levels of government coordinate better. Critics may contend that states like Texas and Maryland already have effective tools, and adding a federal layer could be wasteful. The bill authorizes $50 million over 5 years, which critics might say is too much for a tool that relies on already-public data.