# What the Interactive Federal Review Act Does

This bill is about making it faster and easier to review highway projects by using new technology. Right now, when the government approves a major highway project, it has to go through an environmental review process that can take years. This bill encourages the use of interactive digital platforms and 3D computer models (called "digital twins") to speed things up and help the public understand what's being proposed.

Think of it like this: instead of just reading dense reports about how a new highway will affect the environment, communities could see a detailed 3D model showing exactly where the road will go, what it will look like, and how it might impact neighborhoods, wildlife, and water. These digital models would be available online where anyone can view them and provide feedback. The bill asks the Transportation Department to create guidelines for how to use this technology and to test it on at least 10 major highway projects that received federal funding. When applying for federal highway grants in the future, projects that plan to use these digital tools will get priority consideration.

The bill also requires the Transportation Department to report back to Congress within six months about whether this approach actually works—does it speed up reviews, does it help the public understand projects better, and do federal agencies work more efficiently? Within a year, they also have to publish examples of these digital reviews on their website so other projects can learn from them. Importantly, the bill doesn't change any environmental laws or take away any state authority—it's purely about using better technology to communicate what's already required by law.

Interactive Federal Review Act

Johnson, Dusty

Interactive Federal Review ActThis bill revises the environmental review process for federal-aid highway projects to encourage the use of certain digital platforms and models.Specifically,&nbsp;the Department of Transportation (DOT) must encourage recipients of federal highway funding who are carrying out environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to utilize&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms;&nbsp;and (2)&nbsp;high fidelity, three-dimensional digital models of infrastructure project elements, such as digital twins.&nbsp;DOT must also&nbsp;select at least 10 federal-aid highway projects to demonstrate the use of&nbsp;these platforms and&nbsp;models&nbsp;in carrying out the environmental impact analysis and community engagement processes required under&nbsp;NEPA.Further, DOT must publish technology-neutral best practice guidance to encourage sponsors of projects that receive federal funds from DOT to use these platforms and&nbsp;models&nbsp;in carrying out the environmental impact analysis and community engagement processes required under NEPA.