On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced $17.6 million in grants for developing housing near transit corridors.
Part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning grants were awarded to 20 communities in 16 states to support equitable transit-oriented development. The grants can be used to develop local plans to encourage transit use by developing housing and businesses near transit corridors. Each of the selected projects has an affordable housing component and will require a local matching fund.
“We are proud to help another 20 communities develop plans to add affordable housing near public transit,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “This is an important part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to increase access to opportunity and bring down costs for families.”
The awards include $2 million for the Regional Transportation District in Denver, CO to develop a plan for he proposed 20-mile Federal Boulevard bus rapid transit corridor, with a special focus on affordable housing needs. Another $1.25 million will go the Miami-Dade Department of Transportation & Public Works in Miami, Florida for a station area and mobility plan to encourage transit-oriented growth around the Little Haiti Station. And, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority in Buffalo, N.Y. will received $960,000 for transit-oriented development along the proposed 7.5-mile Bailey Avenue bus rapid transit line to study the potential for TOD around the line.
“Transportation and housing are the two biggest costs for most Americans,” FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool said. “Today, we are delivering funding that will help create affordable places to live, while bringing down the costs of transportation for the people who live there. For communities all over the country that struggle to find extra funds for federal grants, this should be a message: if you are building good projects well, you will have the support of this Administration.”