FTA unveils transit infrastructure funding priorities

New funding provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Biden signed yesterday will help transit agencies reduce the current maintenance backlog by 15% and replace more than 500 aging subway, light-rail and commuter-rail cars, according to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

After Biden signed the legislation, the FTA announced key priorities and historic funding amounts for public transportation. The law authorizes up to $108 billion, including $91 billion in guaranteed funding for public transportation — the most significant federal investment in transit in the nation’s history.

"As the transit industry renews ridership, this historic support will help us transform the way we plan and use public transportation in the United States,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez in a press release. "Long-overdue investments in transit infrastructure will deliver new and expanded public transit services, especially in communities that have suffered from historical funding inequities."

Key funding levels and programmatic changes for public transportation in the law over a five-year period (fiscal years 2022 to 2026) include:

• increased funding for FTA formula and competitive grant programs, such as $23.1 billion for the State of Good Repair program to assist in financing capital projects to maintain public transit systems;
• $966.4 million to support metropolitan and statewide planning programs; and
• up to $23 billion for the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program, with $8 billion guaranteed to invest in new high-capacity transit projects.

In addition, the law creates four new competitive grant programs, including a guaranteed:

• $1.75 billion for an All Stations Accessibility Program to reduce the number of legacy transit-rail stations that remain inaccessible to individuals with disabilities;
• $1.5 billion for Rail Vehicle Replacement Grants to replace rail cars that are past their useful life and improve reliability, safety and accessibility for transit passengers;
• $1 billion for ferry service for rural communities to improve access and mobility in areas where ferry service is a critical link for communities; and
• $250 million for an electric or low-emitting ferry pilot program to support the transition of passenger ferries to low- or zero-emission technologies.