This bill establishes a new funding mechanism to support affordable housing and small businesses near public transit stations by creating special accounts within Community Development Financial Institutions. It allows these institutions to receive secured federal loans, which must then be used to fund affordable projects in low-income areas within a half-mile of transit facilities. The legislation sets specific rules for these accounts, including loan limits of up to 80 percent of project costs and a requirement that repayments be reinvested to create a revolving fund for future projects. Additionally, the bill adjusts existing federal credit programs to accommodate these new accounts and requires coordination with the Treasury Department to manage credit assessments.
The Shared Autonomous Mobility Act of 2026 establishes a new federal grant program to help transit agencies and private partners deploy buses equipped with advanced automated driving systems. This legislation defines these vehicles as those with Level 3, 4, or 5 automation capabilities and authorizes $100 million in funding over two years, with a requirement that at least 15% of the money supports projects in rural areas. The bill also mandates the creation of dedicated testing facilities specifically for these autonomous buses and allows various federal transportation grants to be used for purchasing the necessary software and system updates. Additionally, it updates existing definitions to ensure that funding can cover the acquisition and licensing of automated driving software alongside traditional vehicle equipment.
The STAR Act (HR 8399) aims to remove certain restrictions on how federal transit funds can be used. Specifically, it amends sections of title 49, United States Code, related to federal transit programs. The bill strikes provisions that currently prohibit the use of federal funds for acquiring transit rolling stock manufactured outside the United States and for constructing bus revenue vehicles by manufacturers not established in the U
The Modal Parity in Permitting Act aims to streamline the acquisition of land for federally funded transit and passenger rail projects, directly affecting transit agencies and rail entities. It updates existing law by broadening the term "right-of-way" to "real property interests" for what federal transit funds can acquire. For passenger rail projects, the bill specifically allows recipients of federal aid to acquire or secure real property interests before or during environmental reviews. However, it explicitly prohibits any physical development or improvement on these properties until all required environmental reviews for the project are completed. The Federal Transit Administration is also directed to update its guidelines to reflect these changes.
The "Same-Day Paratransit Innovation Act" aims to expand and modernize paratransit services for individuals with disabilities. It directly affects public transit agencies by increasing the federal share of funding available for both capital projects and operating costs related to providing same-day paratransit services. Specifically, federal grants for capital costs would increase to 90%, and operating assistance could go up to 70% or 80%, depending on compliance with new standards and staffing models.
The bill also mandates the Federal Transit Administration to establish minimum standards for paratransit software and technology within one year, covering areas like accessibility, cybersecurity, and the integration of multiple transportation providers. After these standards are published, transit agencies using federal funds will be required to procure software that meets these new requirements, ensuring improved service and technological capabilities for riders.
The Transit Workforce Development Act expands how federal grants for buses and bus facilities can be used for workforce training. It increases the portion of these grants that transit agencies can dedicate to workforce development from 5% to 10% of the allocated funds. Additionally, the bill broadens the types of training eligible for these funds, allowing them to cover all buses, related equipment, and facility construction,
This bill creates a Transit Workforce Center to help improve training and support for frontline public transportation workers across the United States. The Federal Transit Administration would establish this center by awarding grants to a qualified nonprofit organization that operates nationally and has experience in workforce development. The center would develop training programs, provide technical assistance, share educational resources, and analyze workforce data to help transit agencies recruit, hire, train, and retain skilled workers. It would also focus on emerging technology areas and work in partnership with labor groups, industry associations, and transit providers to address workforce needs in urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal areas.
This bill establishes a Transit Workforce Center to support the recruitment, training, and retention of skilled frontline public transportation workers. The center would be run by a qualified nonprofit organization selected through federal grants and tasked with developing training programs, educational resources, and technical assistance for transit providers across urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal areas. Key duties include conducting data analytics on workforce trends, facilitating industry dialogues, and promoting outreach to improve job readiness for workers using new technologies. The legislation requires the center to collaborate with the Federal Transit Administration, transit providers, and employee representatives while considering feedback from providers when creating training initiatives.
This bill, titled the Investments in Rural Transit Act, aims to improve funding and administrative support for public transportation in rural areas and on Tribal lands. It increases the Federal operating share for rural transit from 50 percent to 80 percent and allows Tribal transit agencies to receive up to 100 percent Federal funding for eligible projects. The legislation also streamlines how rural and Tribal agencies can purchase vehicles and equipment through cooperative purchasing arrangements and requires the creation of a new Associate Administrator position focused on Tribal transit support. Additionally, the bill mandates a joint report from the Departments of Transportation and Energy on improving the procurement of low-emission vehicles in rural communities.
This bill, titled the Parks to People Active Transportation Act, directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to create a competitive grant program for building and improving greenway paths that connect communities. Eligible organizations such as state and local governments, regional planning councils, and Indian Tribes can apply for funding to construct hard-surfaced walkways, bikeways, or shared-use paths that cross jurisdictional lines and link to public transit. The program prioritizes projects that reduce vehicle congestion, improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and address disparities in access to jobs, schools, and recreational opportunities for low-income and minority communities. Grants may cover up to 80 percent of project costs, with higher funding levels available for rural areas and communities with high poverty rates, and the legislation authorizes $300 million annually from 2027 through 2031 to support these initiatives.
