Transportation (Rail)

HR 1478, the One Seat Ride Act, requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to study commuter rail service improvements that eliminate transfers for passengers (single-seat trips), focusing on economic, logistical, and quality-of-life factors. The study specifically analyzes the costs, benefits, and impacts of implementing such trips on the New Jersey Transit Raritan Valley line during peak hours and other New Jersey Transit lines. The Secretary must submit a report to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment, but the bill itself does not fund or implement any changes. This is a procedural study bill with no direct policy impact or affected constituencies.

This bill creates a 10% tax credit for businesses that modernize or replace freight railcars, directly affecting railcar owners and manufacturers. To qualify, railcars must meet an 8% improvement standard in capacity or fuel efficiency, be built or modernized after enactment, and replace two scrapped railcars. The credit is limited to 1,000 qualified railcars per business annually, with reporting requirements for the Treasury to track claimed credits, scrapped railcars, and new railcar production. The credit applies to railcars placed in service after December 2024, ending three years after enactment.

The Railroad Safety and Accountability Act establishes a new Railroad Safety Advisory Committee within the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to advise on safety regulations. The committee, composed of representatives from rail carriers, labor groups, local governments, and other stakeholders, will develop safety recommendations through collaborative processes. The FRA Administrator must meet with the committee quarterly to discuss regulatory priorities and receive input, and the committee will submit an annual report to Congress. This bill aims to improve railroad safety rulemaking by incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives into regulatory development.

HR 3728, the Language Access in Transit Act, requires transit agencies receiving federal funding to provide meaningful language access services to people with limited English proficiency (LEP). It directly affects public transportation providers (like bus and subway systems) that receive financial assistance under federal transit programs. The bill amends federal law to mandate that the Secretary of Transportation take "affirmative action" ensuring these agencies offer language assistance, such as interpreters or translated materials, for LEP individuals accessing transit services. This change updates existing provisions in Title 49 of the U.S. Code to explicitly include language access as a requirement for funded transit services.

S 2945, the Safe Transit Accountability Act, amends federal transit safety law to clarify decision-making authority for safety recommendations. It requires transit agencies to designate a single "accountable executive" who has ultimate responsibility for safety plans and asset management. This accountable executive must decide whether to implement safety committee recommendations and serves as the final decision-maker in any committee disputes. The bill directly affects large public transit agencies operating under federal safety planning requirements.

S 2758 creates a 10% federal tax credit for businesses that modernize or replace qualified freight railcars, directly affecting railroad operators and freight railcar owners. The credit covers expenses for new railcars meeting specific performance standards (8% capacity increase or AAR/HM-251 safety standards) or modernizing existing cars, with a limit of 1,000 qualifying railcars per taxpayer annually. To qualify, railcars must replace two scrapped cars from the previous 48 months and be built in approved facilities. The credit applies only to railcars placed in service after December 2024, expiring three years after enactment, and requires annual reporting on credit usage and railcar replacement impacts.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to DOT for the Office of the Secretary, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, the Maritime Administration, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the Office of Inspector General. The bill provides appropriations to HUD for Management and Administration, Public and Indian Housing, Community Planning and Development, Housing Programs, the Federal Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), Policy Development and Research, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, and the Office of Inspector General. The bill also provides appropriations to several related agencies, including the Access Board, the Federal Maritime Commission, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) Office of Inspector General, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation,  the Surface Transportation Board, and The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.  Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

HR 3055, the TRANSPORT Jobs Act, requires the Secretary of Transportation to create an action plan within 30 days of enactment to help transitioning military service members and veterans enter supply chain careers (like trucking, rail, and logistics). The plan must identify barriers veterans face in hiring, challenges employers encounter, and high-demand regions, while highlighting transferable skills and existing program gaps. It will recommend specific steps for the Transportation, Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Labor departments to improve recruitment, training, and retention of veterans in supply chain jobs. The bill directly affects veterans seeking these careers and supply chain employers needing qualified workers.

This bill requires states to include specific safety plans in their highway-rail grade crossing reports. It mandates that states collaborate with railroads, mental health agencies, and law enforcement to address pedestrian fatalities - including suicides - along railroad rights-of-way. States must now submit these updated safety plans every five years, replacing the previous reporting schedule. The bill directly affects state transportation agencies responsible for maintaining grade crossings and coordinating with rail operators. It focuses on concrete reporting changes rather than new funding or enforcement measures.

S 3284, the Streamline Transit Projects Act, allows large urban transit agencies (with populations over 200,000) that prove capacity to handle environmental reviews for certain transit projects. Eligible agencies would assume responsibility for determining which projects qualify as "categorical exclusions" (projects not requiring full environmental impact studies), replacing federal oversight for these specific activities. Agencies must follow public disclosure rules, sign agreements with the Transportation Secretary, and become legally liable for compliance, while the federal government monitors performance and can terminate agreements for poor execution. This bill directly affects major transit authorities in large cities, shifting a key federal review process to local agencies.