The BASICS Act is a transportation funding bill that creates new federal programs to help states fix bridges and improve rural transportation planning. The bill establishes a $5.5 billion annual bridge repair program from 2027 to 2031, with money distributed to states based on how many bridges in poor condition they have. It also creates a $150 million annual rural transportation planning program to help smaller communities and regions that don't have formal planning organizations work with their states on transportation projects. The bill makes several changes to how transportation money flows to local areas. It requires states to set aside 25% of certain safety and bridge funding for smaller cities and rural areas, making sure these communities get a fair share based on their population. It also allows metropolitan planning organizations (the groups that plan transportation in cities) to become direct recipients of federal funds instead of going through state governments, giving them more control over their own transportation money. Additionally, the bill eliminates the local cost-sharing requirement for metropolitan planning activities, meaning cities and regions no longer have to match federal planning dollars with their own money.