Federal restrictions are a key driver in inflating the cost of federally funded transportation projects. Transportation projects receiving federal aid must comply with 94 distinct federal restrictions, including those touching on climate and the environment, procurement, labor, equity, performance, and engineering. On a project level, these obligations require extensive operational and reporting requirements, which drive up costs and delays for the state or local government responsible for delivering the project.
Skeptical? Take a look at the 94 federal restrictions applied to FHWA’s 2023 RAISE grant agreements
