WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) on Friday introduced a bill that would provide $20 billion annually for the next four years to bolster public transit operating budgets.
The Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act would create a grant program for projects that make “substantial improvements to transit service” by increasing routes and frequencies of buses and trains. It would also clearly define funding for “areas of persistent poverty” and “underserved communities.”
It is the third time Johnson has introduced a version of the bill. Legislation introduced in 2021 and 2024 died in committee.
The latest version, available here, would set the federal funding share for a project at no more than 50%. That would rise ot up to 80% for areas of persistent poverty and underserved communities, or 100% for programs for Indian tribes.
“This kind of funding is a game-changer for Atlanta and communities across the nation,” Johnson said in a press release. “Simply put, people could get to more places in less time using transit. Jobs, schools, and other daily destinations that previously took too long to reach would become more accessible. People would feel less strain on household budgets as their transportation costs shrink. They would have more time to spend with their families as time spent commuting falls.”
The Transport Workers Union and Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO are among organizations supporting the bill.
“The federal government inexplicably funds transit capital investments without providing the operations funding to ensure that buses and trains can run safely, on time, and frequently enough to benefit working families,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said in the press release. “This bill would end a transit funding practice that doesn’t make sense and ensure that federal dollars can go toward transit operating expenses that improve service and ridership.” TTD President Greg Regan said that with the funding, “transit agencies would have the opportunity to increase service frequency, expand service areas, extend operating hours and overall improve the passenger experience.”
$37 trillion debt? Yet they want tax cuts for corp & wealthy, eliminate SS tax for those with high incomes & increase the Defense budget to $Trillion dollars. Not a good start. Socialism.. LMAO! In comparison to this pathway to plutocracy!!
There is no way this should be happening! Federal funds should not be annually subsidizing the salaries of workers other then federal employees which includes the military. Once established, it normally continues on forever. Plus the municipalities then have no incentive to resist union demands.
The advantage of project grants is there is always an end game (CA HS rail being a possible exception) and the amounts supplied by the Feds have fixed termination dates.
If you think about it, what this bill proposes is just one more example of having so many people dependent on the government that no one ever votes for another political party. In other words, a pathway to Socialism.
We are around $37 trillion in debt. We’re living in a house of cards built on a foundation of debt. Endure the painful cuts now or suffer the devastation of total collapse later.
Charles, your solution would impact all the low tax/no tax red (necked) states that suck the most out of the Federal Govt & the progressive blue states. Perhaps the states should decide if they want to keep donating to the Federal Govt if they’re not going to get any of it back, its would be like subscribing to Trains Magazine but never being sent a copy. As for your comment about reducing salaries & benefits, try being a transit driver & have to deal with all different good and bad passengers through the day in addition to being in literally stuck in traffic for 8 hrs, not to mention in areas that suffer extreme weather conditions you are expected to be there whether there’s a blizzard or an ice storm. This is no school bus driver who works 4 hrs a day, is off when school is cancelled and all summer. As for your 10th Amend excuse that would also include your beloved joy of flying!
Yes I do enjoy flying. As of Good Friday this year, 199 takeoffs on my log, starting in 1966. Fortunately the same number of landings.
I am also a supporter of subsidized Amtrak and subsidized urban transit (and a regular rider of all of the above, lifetime). I just don’t think the federals should pay for local services.
Blue-controlled cities in the Red states are much of the cause for the government “sucking” you often talk about.
Funds for local transit also provide some help all the people of the US and even out of country persons. This balkanization calls by some are petty and counterproductive.
Read the 10th Amendment to the Constitution.
And justify running the country on borrowed money.
You may disagree with my remarks, but you shouldn’t call them “petty”.
Baloney. It mainly helps those urban areas that don’t have fiscally responsible elected leaders that are willing to bite the bullet and pass local higher taxes plus some cutting of costs to help stabilize their public transit.
I have no idea what you mean by “out of country persons”.
Steve I believe he’s talking about foreign tourists and I believe Alan is correct.
GOP=DOA
This bill doesn’t have a snowballs chance this day in time.
Maybe there needs to be an orderly phase-out of federal dollars for local needs.
There’s a very simple reason for federal aid for local needs. States and localities are required to “balance” their budgets. Feds are not. Feds can (and do) print money ad infinitum. In “balancing” a state or local budget, federal money, which is borrowed, counts as “revenue” to the states and locals. This is accounting fraud. It needs to stop.
Would my policy injure local transit? Yes it would be devastating. Many or most systems would go BK, which is one way to reduce salaries and benefits, and also to reduce pension payments to existing retirees. Bad news. But it needs to happen.
“Would my policy injure local transit? Yes it would be devastating. Many or most systems would go BK, which is one way to reduce salaries and benefits, and also to reduce pension payments to existing retirees. Bad news. But it needs to happen.”
Charles when you say things like the above you come of like a heartless individual. It seems you really have a problem with working folks being paid a fair wage and having decent benefits. Why is that? Does it do you personal harm? Does it get into your pocket as much as say the orange one skipping across the middle east working up deals for his companies? Or accepting a gift airplane that will cost billions in taxpayer dollars to retrofit and then be given to trump at the hypothetical end to his term. But just hold on ole boy because the guy you helped elect as king will get in your pocket soon if he hasn’t already, I’ll guarantee it. And when it happens maybe you’ll start having a little empathy for others.
CHRIS — You haven’t made a case for local transit being federally funded.
I’m as pro-transit as anyone. I have been a regular customer of some tax-subsidized systems and an occasional customer of many others. Including the Denver A-Train in the photo, most recently on Good Friday of this year. I cannot make a case for local transit systems being endlessly backstopped by federal money which is borrowed, not real revenue.
I have never argued against tax subsidy for transit. What I have said is that it should be local or state taxes subsidizing transit, not federally fiat money.
How does that make me heartless? What is your solution.
PS When have I ever said that working people shouldn’t be decently paid?
And why is it that liberals can never make an argument that is not straw-man rhetoric? You accuse me of saying things I’ve never said.
Charles every city and town in this country has the right to apply for federal monies to build and operate their own local transit system. If they make the case and are awarded the funds then more power to them. It’s at least better than pouring endless cash in into constantly widening the roads we already have only to fill them up again with more traffic. Unfortunately mass transit has gotten a bad name in this country. Over the years the rhetoric has been that public transportation other than highways and airlines is akin to socialism. And guess what party has pushed that agenda. My argument is given the right federal, state and local funding just as in other developed countries, some of which I have visited, local transit is a good investment.