FTA Details IIJA Funding

Funding being provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will help public transit agencies reduce their backlog of maintenance projects by 15 percent and replace more than 500 older subway, light-rail and commuter-rail cars, the Federal Transit Administration said.

The IIJA authorizes up to $108 billion for public transit funding, including $91 billion in guaranteed funding, which FTA termed the most significant federal investment in transit in the nation’s history.

Among the key provisions of the IIJA affecting public transit are $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.

Four new competitive grant programs were created that include:

• $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.

Tags: Federal Transit Administration, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public transit, public transit funding