H.R. 4420: Cool Corridors Act of 2025 (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, known as the Cool Corridors Act of 2025, aims to improve the resilience, accessibility, and safety of transportation corridors across the United States by enhancing tree canopy and shade infrastructure. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Purpose of the Bill

Address public health and infrastructure challenges related to extreme heat.
Promote the establishment of cooling infrastructure along transportation routes.
Improve the safety and usability of transportation systems for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users.
Enhance air quality and extend the life of infrastructure as a heat mitigation strategy.
Prioritize investments in communities that face significant heat and transportation access challenges.

Key Provisions

Reauthorization of Healthy Streets Program: The bill extends the authorization of the existing Healthy Streets program from 2026 to 2030.
Definition of Cool Corridors: Establishes what constitutes a cool corridor, which is a transportation route enhanced with greenery, such as tree canopies and other nature-based solutions designed to lower temperatures and improve climate resilience.
Heat Mitigation Strategies: Details various activities aimed at reducing heat in public spaces, including tree planting and development of shade structures.

Funding and Project Implementation

Encourages collaboration among state and local transit agencies, departments of transportation, educational institutions, and organizations focused on environmental stewardship and green infrastructure.
Grants will be available for projects that demonstrate innovation in addressing heat challenges, particularly in areas with low tree cover or high heat vulnerability.
Requires grantees to maintain and monitor the effectiveness of implemented projects, including temperature reduction and environmental performance metrics.

Community Engagement

The bill emphasizes the importance of community engagement in planning and implementing cooling infrastructure projects, including workforce development strategies related to urban forestry.

Annual Reporting and Evaluation

Recipients of funding will be required to submit annual reports detailing the project's impact on environmental and public health outcomes.
The Secretary of Transportation will evaluate the program's outcomes after five years and provide recommendations for its future integration into other transportation funding avenues.