The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that USD 20.5 billion in federal funding, part of the largest investment in public transit in U.S. history, is available to support public transport in communities throughout the country.
By allowing transit providers to move forward with applications for Fiscal Year 2024 federal support, the funding will help communities to expand, modernise, maintain, and operate public transport systems, upgrade stations, tracks, and maintenance facilities, plan and design new transit corridors and provide access for seniors and riders with disabilities.
“As part of President Biden’s infrastructure plan, we’re making history’s biggest-ever federal investment in transit – trains, buses, ferries, and more – so people can reliably and affordably get to wherever they need to be. This USD 20.5 billion investment in public transport will support the daily lives of millions of Americans across the country and help communities expand access to economic opportunity,” the U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
This year, based on population changes from the 2020 Census, some areas will see changes to funding amounts due to factors such as new urbanized area boundaries. Specifically, some population fluctuations result in regions exceeding or falling below the 50,000-population threshold for urbanized areas. Other thresholds within the urban programs determine whether funds are apportioned to the states or directly to urbanized areas. In addition, the formulas use transit agencies’ ridership data from 2022, which reflects post-pandemic changes in travel patterns.
“We are pleased to provide billions of dollars in federal support to communities thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Transit funds reach communities large and small, which depend on this funding to start new projects, fix old infrastructure, and ensure fast, safe, convenient service,” FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool said.
This investment in public transit is delivered through the Investing in America agenda that supports infrastructure as well as clean energy projects among others. This is the latest round of funding made possible thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to investing in the U.S. transit systems in communities of all sizes, improving transport for all citizens.
In February 2024, FTA released USD 9.9 billion in federal formula funding to support transit agencies and their projects to be implemented. In addition. The USDOT announced in March a USD 4 billion investment for transit projects, of which USD 3 billion will be provided to the rail projects under the 2025 budget.
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