The Investments in Rural Transit Act increases federal support for public transportation in rural areas and streamlines purchasing processes for transit agencies. The bill raises the federal funding share for rural transit operating costs from 50 percent to 80 percent, making it easier for rural communities to afford bus services and other transit operations. It expands cooperative purchasing opportunities so rural transit agencies can band together to buy vehicles and equipment more affordably, and it guarantees that at least 5 percent of federal transit funds go to Tribal transit agencies with the option of full federal cost coverage. The legislation also requires the Transportation Department to create a new position focused on Tribal transit assistance, streamline procurement rules for rural areas, and conduct a study on making it cheaper for rural transit systems to buy low-emission buses and infrastructure. The bill affects rural transit agencies, Tribal governments, and rural communities nationwide that depend on public transportation.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.