This bill allows federal Highway Trust Fund money to be used for building noise barriers along highways in certain circumstances where it was previously prohibited. Specifically, it permits funding for Type II noise barriers (typically earth berms or walls) near residential neighborhoods that are at least ten years old, as well as barriers along highways developed before 1995. The legislation also makes noise barriers eligible for federal surface transportation block grant funding and allows these barriers to serve multiple purposes, such as hosting solar panels, electrical infrastructure, or broadband cables to provide additional community benefits. States will have authority to approve these secondary uses on noise barriers, and project sponsors must consider aesthetic design in accordance with federal guidelines. The bill was introduced in February 2024 and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with no specific funding amounts or implementation timeline specified in the legislation itself.
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