The Modernizing Access to Public Roads Act (MAP Roads Act) would direct the Secretary of Transportation to create a pilot grant program that funds states to digitize county road records and build centralized, publicly accessible road datasets. The act defines eligibility criteria and prioritizes states that have significant digitization gaps, can administer subgrants to counties, and commit to a statewide data repository with common standards for geospatial data.
It also requires the state repositories to be publicly accessible, compatible with third‑party mapping platforms, and updated at least annually. The program would be funded at $20 million per year from 2026 through 2031, with up to 2 percent reserved for administration, and it would sunset unless renewed by Congress.
The MAP Roads Act specifies reporting obligations: within six months of program establishment and annually for three years, each state awarded a grant must report on subgrants, funding distributed to counties, miles of digitized roads, repository progress, and recommendations for program improvements. It also includes definitions for key terms (county, county road, digitization, geospatial data) and a savings clause clarifying that the bill neither expands county or state road ownership nor changes existing rights or jurisdiction.
The net effect is a federal push to modernize rural road data, improve navigation, and align county data with public mapping ecosystems.
At a Glance
What It Does
Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary shall establish a pilot grant program to fund digitization of county roads and creation of centralized, publicly accessible road datasets in participating states. States may use funds to digitize records, convert maps, and train personnel or hire contractors.
Who It Affects
State departments of transportation, counties, and third‑party mapping providers; rural communities that rely on accurate road data for commerce and safety.
Why It Matters
Creates standardized, publicly accessible geospatial road data that supports better navigation, safety, and planning while promoting federal–state coordination of road data ecosystems.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The MAP Roads Act sets up a federal grant program to help states digitize county road records and assemble statewide road datasets that are publicly accessible. States would apply with plans to subgrant funds to counties and to maintain a centralized repository that is compatible with common mapping platforms and updated regularly.
The intent is to improve rural commerce, public safety, and navigation by turning paper maps into modern geospatial data that communities and map providers can rely on.
Funds would flow through a pilot program administered by the Department of Transportation. Counties would receive subgrants to digitize local records, convert old maps into geospatial datasets, and hire staff or contractors as needed.
The participating state DOT would act as the repository for all county road data and would publish the data on a public website, clearly distinguishing public and private roads and aligning metadata with recognized standards. The data would be updated at least once per year, and DOTs would work to harmonize formats with federal and mapping authorities as part of the effort.States would report—within six months of launching the program and annually for three years—on which counties received funds, how much money was distributed, how many miles of roads were digitized, the status of the repository, and any recommendations for improvement.
The act also imposes definitions to avoid ambiguity, preserves existing legal rights over roads, and limits federal authority to the scope of the grant program. The bill envisions a growing, public geospatial dataset that can be used by citizens and businesses alike, while maintaining safeguards on sensitive information and jurisdictional questions.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill creates a pilot grant program to fund digitization of county roads and the creation of a statewide public road dataset.
States must apply with a plan to subgrant to counties and to host a statewide, public repository of road data.
The state repository must publish data publicly, distinguish public and private roads, be compatible with third‑party platforms, and be updated annually.
An annual funding authorization of $20 million (2026–2031) is provided, with up to 2% for administration, and grants sunset in 2031 unless reauthorized.
States must report periodically on subgrants, miles digitized, repository progress, and program improvements for three years.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Establishment of the pilot grant program
Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary shall establish a pilot grant program to provide grants to States to support rural commerce, increase public safety, and improve public access and navigation by funding the digitization of county roads and the creation of centralized, publicly accessible road datasets.
Application process and eligibility
To receive a grant, a State must submit an application to the Secretary detailing the proposed program. Applications should demonstrate capacity to manage subgrants to counties and to operate a statewide data repository for county road data.
Priority criteria
The Secretary shall give priority to applications that identify significant digitization deficiencies, show capacity to administer subgrants to counties, and commit to coordinating with counties to create shared geospatial data standards.
Use of funds
Funds distributed to counties may be used to digitize county road records, convert paper maps to standardized geospatial datasets, and train personnel or hire contractors. The State DOT shall serve as the centralized repository and ensure data are publicly accessible, clearly distinguishing between public and private roads, compatible with third‑party platforms, and updated annually.
Reporting requirements
Not later than six months after program establishment and annually for three years, each State awarded a grant must report to the Secretary on the counties receiving subgrants, amounts distributed, miles digitized, repository progress, and recommendations for program improvements.
Definitions
Key terms include: COUNTY (as defined in 23 U.S.C. § 101), COUNTY ROAD (public roads maintained by a county), DIGITIZATION (conversion of analog maps to electronic geospatial data), and GEOSPATIAL DATA (as defined in the Geospatial Data Act of 2018).
Savings clause
Nothing in this Act confers new jurisdiction over roads, alters the legal status of roads, or expands rights related to ownership or public access beyond existing law.
Rule of construction
No provision may be construed to require disclosure of sensitive geographic information about historic, paleontological, or archaeological resources beyond what is already protected by law.
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each fiscal year 2026 through 2031, to remain available until expended, with not more than 2 percent for administrative expenses.
Sunset
Grant authority under this Act terminates on September 30, 2031, unless reauthorized by Congress.
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Explore Infrastructure in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- State departments of transportation gain a centralized repository and the authority to distribute subgrants to counties.
- Counties receive funds and technical support to digitize local road records and feed data into a statewide repository.
- Public mapping platforms gain access to standardized, publicly accessible geospatial road data.
- Rural businesses and logistics providers benefit from improved route planning and data-backed infrastructure planning.
- Public safety and emergency response agencies can rely on up-to-date road data for navigation and response.
Who Bears the Cost
- State departments of transportation incur costs to administer grants, build and maintain the state repository, and ensure data quality.
- Counties incur costs to digitize records, convert formats, and participate in the broader data ecosystem.
- Federal government bears the financial cost of annual appropriations and oversight for the duration of the pilot.
- Local jurisdictions may face administrative burdens coordinating with the state and aligning with data standards.
- Private sector entities relying on data quality must adapt to standardized formats and ongoing updates.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is whether to push rapid digitization and public data availability through a federally funded, state-led program that could strain local budgets and coordination, or to slow the rollout to ensure uniform standards and robust governance, risking delayed benefits to rural communities and public safety.
The bill creates a framework that relies on state leadership and county participation to produce high-quality, publicly accessible road data. A key tension will be funding: the program relies on annual appropriations for six years, which could be vulnerable to budget shifts, potentially delaying digitization timelines or limiting total reach if funds lag.
Implementation risk also exists in aligning data standards across many counties with varying record-keeping practices, and in maintaining an up-to-date repository that stays compatible with evolving third‑party mapping platforms. Authorities must also balance openness with concerns about sensitive infrastructure information; while the act includes a data‑sensitive construction rule, agencies must ensure that public datasets do not inadvertently expose vulnerabilities.
Finally, the savings clause preserves existing ownership and jurisdictional rights, but it may complicate efforts to harmonize road data across jurisdictions where ownership or access boundaries are contested.
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