Washington, D.C., September 27, 2025
News Summary
The National Institute of Building Sciences, in collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration and industry partners, released a landmark roadmap to create a Central Building Information Modeling (BIM) Transportation Library. The CBTL framework aims to establish national, interoperable BIM standards for highways, bridges and transit, unifying fragmented digital practices to modernize design, construction and asset management. Officials say the approach will reduce lifecycle costs, streamline project delivery and strengthen resilience to natural and man-made threats. The report was developed with federal, state and research partners to guide consistent digital workflows across projects.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2025 — National institute releases roadmap for a unified transportation BIM library
Release time: 15:00 ET. The National Institute of Building Sciences announced the publication of a new report titled the Report for a Central Building Information Modeling (BIM) Transportation Library (CBTL). The Federal Highway Administration worked in conjunction with the institute on the announcement. The document is presented as a landmark roadmap aimed at creating national, interoperable BIM standards for highways, bridges, and transit.
Key takeaway
The CBTL report sets out a framework to modernize the design, construction, and management of transportation assets across the nation. It was developed through collaboration with industry leaders, federal agencies, state agencies, and research partners. The report is designed to unify fragmented digital practices into a single, authoritative resource and to deliver measurable benefits such as reduced lifecycle costs, streamlined project delivery, and strengthened resilience against both natural and man-made threats.
What the report covers
The report focuses on establishing national, interoperable BIM standards for the planning, delivery, and upkeep of transportation infrastructure with specific attention on highways, bridges, and transit. It lays out technical and governance approaches that agencies and private partners can follow to achieve consistent data exchange, model interoperability, and clearer asset-management workflows.
Collaboration and development
The CBTL was developed through collaboration with industry leaders, federal agencies, state agencies, and research partners. That joint development is intended to ensure the guidance reflects practical needs and current technical capabilities while enabling broader alignment across public and private stakeholders.
Intended benefits
- Reduce lifecycle costs by improving data consistency and reducing rework across project phases.
- Streamline project delivery by enabling clearer exchange of BIM data and standardized workflows.
- Strengthen resilience against natural threats through better-informed design and risk analysis.
- Strengthen resilience against man-made threats by improving asset management and response planning.
Leadership and mission context
George Guszcza, President and CEO of NIBS, highlighted the importance of a transportation system that is prepared for the future and framed the report as a tool to harness digital innovation to deliver safer, smarter, and stronger infrastructure for communities. The institute was chartered by Congress and is described as uniquely positioned to convene government, industry, and the public to shape standards that safeguard American lives, strengthen competitiveness, and help ensure taxpayer investments achieve maximum value.
Related work and resources
The release notes that: The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) announced it has formally assumed management and development of the Sustainable Facilities Tool… For more information on this report, please click here.
About the institute
The institute was created by an act of Congress in 1974 and is described as the nation’s authoritative source of findings and recommendations on the impact and improvement of the built environment for the American people. Its mission is stated as creating a safer, more resilient, and technologically advanced infrastructure that serves American communities and strengthens the nation’s future. The institute connects research, policy, and practical application to advance innovation in the built environment, shapes industry standards, guides digital transformation, and empowers building professionals, policymakers, and owners to make informed decisions that enhance sustainability, efficiency, and resilience. Building American Innovation is provided as a tagline and commitment. Additional resources and updates are available at nibs.org and via the handle @bldgsciences on social platforms.
How this could affect transportation projects
Adoption of the CBTL recommendations would encourage standardized data practices across project teams, reduce redundant modeling work, and create clearer handoffs between design, construction, and operations. Agencies and contractors that align with the guidance could expect improved coordination on complex multimodal projects and a more consistent basis for long-term asset management.
FAQ
What is the title of the released document?
The released document is titled the Report for a Central Building Information Modeling (BIM) Transportation Library (CBTL).
When and where was the release datelined?
The release is datelined WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2025. The release time shown is 15:00 ET on Sept. 26, 2025.
Who announced the report?
The National Institute of Building Sciences announced the release. The Federal Highway Administration is identified as working in conjunction with NIBS on the announcement.
What is the goal of the CBTL report?
The CBTL report aims to create national, interoperable BIM standards. The interoperable BIM standards are intended to cover highways, bridges, and transit infrastructure.
Who collaborated on the report?
The report was developed through collaboration with industry leaders, federal agencies, state agencies, and research partners.
What other announcement appears in the release?
The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) announced it has formally assumed management and development of the Sustainable Facilities Tool…
{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “FAQPage”,
“mainEntity”: [
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is the title of the released document?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The released document is titled the Report for a Central Building Information Modeling (BIM) Transportation Library (CBTL).”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “When and where was the release datelined?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The release is datelined WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2025. The release time shown is 15:00 ET on Sept. 26, 2025.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Who announced the report?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The National Institute of Building Sciences announced the release. The Federal Highway Administration is identified as working in conjunction with NIBS on the announcement.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is the goal of the CBTL report?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The CBTL report aims to create national, interoperable BIM standards. The interoperable BIM standards are intended to cover highways, bridges, and transit infrastructure.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Who collaborated on the report?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The report was developed through collaboration with industry leaders, federal agencies, state agencies, and research partners.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What other announcement appears in the release?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) announced it has formally assumed management and development of the Sustainable Facilities Tool…”
}
}
]
}
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Document title | Report for a Central Building Information Modeling (BIM) Transportation Library (CBTL) |
| Purpose | Create national, interoperable BIM standards for highways, bridges, and transit |
| Development partners | Industry leaders, federal agencies, state agencies, research partners |
| Primary outcomes | Unify fragmented digital practices; reduce lifecycle costs; streamline project delivery; strengthen resilience against natural and man-made threats |
| Leadership | Announced by the National Institute of Building Sciences in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration; George Guszcza, President and CEO of NIBS, provided leadership perspective |
| More information | For more information on this report, please click here. Visit nibs.org or follow @bldgsciences on social platforms for updates |
Report distributed on Sept. 26, 2025. For more technical or procurement questions, agencies and firms are advised to consult the full CBTL report and associated implementation guidance available from the institute’s public resources.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- PR Newswire: NIBS releases the Report for a Central Building Information Modeling (BIM) Transportation Library (CBTL)
- Wikipedia: Building information modeling
- NIBS — National Institute of Building Sciences
- Google Search: National Institute of Building Sciences CBTL
- Sustainable Facilities Tool (SFTool)
- Google Scholar: Sustainable Facilities Tool BIM transportation
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
- Encyclopedia Britannica: transportation infrastructure
- X (Twitter) profile: @bldgsciences
- Google News: NIBS BIM CBTL