The U.S House of Representatives passed Thursday the INVEST in America Act, a surface transportation bill, by a 221-201 vote.
The bill provides $109 billion for public transportation and addresses the $105 billion state-of-good-repair backlog. It also provides $100 billion for passenger and freight rail, which includes $32 billion for Amtrak, $30 billion for a next-generation passenger rail grant program to upgrade and grow service, and $25 billion dedicated for bridges, stations, and tunnels.
The INVEST in America Act also includes an amendment by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) that increases the PRIME grant program to $30 billion over five years.
Several transportation associations applaud the passage of the bill.
“We thank the House members who voted to approve this historic piece of legislation — especially the leadership shown by Chairman DeFazio [U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure chairman], who worked with passengers and communities all across the U.S. to develop legislation that meets their economic and mobility needs,” Rail Passengers Association President and CEO Jim Mathews said. “The INVEST in America Act will benefit Americans everywhere, in towns big and small. This legislation has the ambition to expand rail service in the nation’s most congested urban corridors while simultaneously ensuring that rural and small towns have access to reliable, quality trains, even creating transit set asides for tribal lands and rural communities.”
The Rail Passengers Association represents more than 40 million rail passengers in the United States.
“America’s passengers owe a special thanks to Rep. Moulton for his leadership in securing additional funding for this innovative new program dedicated to passenger rail,” Sean Jeans-Gail, Rail Passengers Association vice president of government affairs, said. “PRIME will be key to modernizing and expanding our rail system by prioritizing projects that provide economic and environmental benefits to the communities they serve.”
Paul Skoutelas, president and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association, said that the legislation is a “vital and necessary step” in providing the infrastructure investments the United States needs.
“The American Public Transportation Association, on behalf of the entire public transportation industry, commends the U.S. House of Representatives for passage of H.R. 3684, the ‘INVEST in America Act,’ a landmark piece of legislation. This bill will transform America’s public transportation infrastructure.” Paul Skoutelas, the organization’s president and CEO, said. “The INVEST in America Act also addresses the environmental and sustainability challenges facing our communities, nation, and the world.”
The American Public Transportation Association represents 1,500 public- and private-sector organizations.
“AASHTO congratulates the House of Representatives on the passage of the five-year INVEST in America Act, which is a major step toward reauthorization of the federal surface transportation program,” Jim Tymon, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) executive director, said. “With infrastructure investment being the top national priority, AASHTO continues to call for a bipartisan bill that strengthens and builds upon formula-based funding to states while maintaining the flexibility necessary to allow states to deliver national transportation priorities including equity; resiliency; carbon reduction; safety for all roadway users; improving project delivery; and, maintaining and improving their transportation assets.”
AASHTO represents highway and transportation departments in the states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.