Investments in Rural Transit Act

This bill would raise the federal share of operating costs for rural public transit under 49 U.S.C. 5311 from 50 percent to 80 percent. It would let local governments and eligible nonprofit groups join cooperative purchasing contracts for transit vehicles and other eligible equipment, such as fare systems. It would also require yearly reports to Congress on ways to streamline transit purchasing. It would set aside at least 5 percent of federal bus and bus facility grant funds (49 U.S.C. 5339(b)) for Tribal transit agencies, allow the federal share of eligible projects under that grant program to reach 100 percent, and create a Federal Transit Administration official focused on Tribal transit. It would also require a joint report from the Transportation and Energy Departments on ways rural transit agencies could buy low- and no-emission infrastructure more efficiently.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Tina Smith Democrat sponsor
• 2 cosponsors