Senator Lummis Helps Drag Federal Permitting Into the 21st Century
If you have ever wondered why it takes roughly the same amount of time to permit a new bridge as it took to build the actual Hoover Dam, you are not alone. Wyoming’s own Senator Cynthia Lummis is also tired of the federal government approving infrastructure projects with the speed and precision of a dial-up modem.
So this week, she teamed up with Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona to introduce the SMART Infrastructure Act of 2025, which, brace yourself, attempts to modernize federal permitting by using… digital technology. Radical, we know.
The bill’s full name is Streamlining Modeling for Advanced, Rapid Transportation (SMART), but the real translation is simple: “Hey Washington, please stop using paperwork that predates color TV.”
What Lummis Says the SMART Act Will Actually Do
(Other than forcing federal agencies to finally stop faxing things)
Senator Lummis put it bluntly: Our infrastructure projects are stuck in bureaucratic limbo because the federal permitting process is slower than a moose crossing Cache Creek. And she’s not wrong.
Here’s what the bill promises:
Digital Twin Technology
Within 18 months, the Department of Transportation must develop guidelines for using advanced 3D digital models, aka “digital twins.”
Think SimCity (yes, I am dating myself here), but instead of accidentally deleting your town, the government uses real data to avoid lawsuits, delays, and endless “impact speculation.” A true Christmas miracle.
Pilot Program (AKA “Show, Don’t Tell”)
Within 120 days, at least 10 real-world projects will start using this modern tech to prove it’s better, faster, and cheaper.
If successful, these pilot projects may officially surpass “watching grass grow” as the slowest U.S. government activity.
A One-Stop National e-NEPA Portal
Within two years, DOT must launch a centralized digital platform for submitting and reviewing NEPA documents.
This replaces the current “system,” which can best be described as a scavenger hunt across 14 agencies, three incompatible databases, and one guy named Carl who always forgets his password.
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Permitting Time Reduced by 25%
Yes, you read that correctly. Projects using these tools must see at least a quarter of their review time slashed.
Expectations:
• Roads get built faster.
• Construction jobs start sooner.
• Your favorite highway project might actually finish before your kids graduate high school.
Praise From Industry
Engineers, software groups, and just about anyone who’s ever battled federal paperwork are lining up to cheer this thing on.
The American Council of Engineering Companies says it will “improve efficiency and sustainability” and help agencies actually coordinate with one another. Revolutionary.
The Business Software Alliance loves that the bill nudges government agencies toward AI adoption, hopefully without the usual “we accidentally broke everything” phase.
Why This Matters for Wyoming
For a state that desperately needs modern highways, reliable rural transportation projects, and infrastructure that doesn’t sit waiting for federal approval longer than most Wyoming marriages last (kidding… sort of), this bill is a big deal.
And it once again positions Senator Lummis as the person in Washington standing in the corner yelling:
“For the love of all things holy, just use modern tools!”
The SMART Infrastructure Act may not fix every permitting bottleneck overnight, but it’s a rare bipartisan attempt to make the federal government act slightly less like it’s running Windows 95.
In 2025, we’ll take the win.
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
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Good.