A Biden-era program created to repair damage done by the post-World War II freeway boom is on the chopping block as Republicans in Congress move toward passing a sweeping budget bill.
Communities across the U.S. would lose more than $2 billion for projects to convert highways into riverfront developments, bike paths and other streetscapes under the fiscal 2026 budget bill that the House has approved.
The money would come from the Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program, which the Democratic-led Congress created in 2023 to boost local efforts to pull out old freeways, many of them built through Black neighborhoods, and replace them with walkable areas.
A budget reconciliation bill that aims to implement President Donald Trump’s policy goals in a single piece of legislation would end the program and cancel about $2.4 billion that has not been spent, according to the nonprofit Transportation for America. Congress had approved $3.2 billion.
