President Joe Biden and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced Wednesday that the federal government would invest more than $20 billion into American transit under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The funding represents a 58 percent increase over 2021 and will enable transit agencies in communities of all sizes to modernize and expand their services, the USDOT said.
“Every day, transit connects millions of Americans to jobs, schools, groceries, hospitals, resources, and countless other opportunities – all while helping to reduce pollution, congestion, and traffic,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Now, thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are making the largest investment in public transit in our nation’s history.”
The funding includes $6.9 billion for the Urbanized Area Formula Program supporting transit agencies in large cities and suburbs; $4.1 billion for the State of Good Repair Formula Program; $893 million for the Rural Area Formula grants supporting transit programs in rural areas, and $422 million for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program.
“This funding will open more doors to Americans than ever before,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “Every time a door opens on a bus, a streetcar, a train, or a ferry, it’s another chance to connect with our communities. With this announcement, we are also helping fulfill key Biden-Harris Administration priorities by addressing equity, workforce, and climate concerns and moving toward a clean, American-made transportation future.”
The agency said the funding would allow thousands of transit agencies to buy new buses and railcars, address repair backlogs, modernize their fleets, and transition to new technologies addressing climate change. The investments will also support U.S. manufacturing due to the Buy American requirements for steel, iron, and other materials used in public transportation, the agency said.