HR4576-119

What This Bill Does

The Build More Housing Near Transit Act amends the Federal Transit Administration capital investment grant statute. It defines pro-housing policy as state or local action that removes regulatory barriers to constructing or preserving housing, including affordable housing. Examples include reducing parking minimums, creating objective by-right multifamily approval, reducing minimum lot sizes, committing public land to low-income housing, eliminating or raising height limits, increasing by-right density, and other policies determined by the Transportation Secretary in consultation with HUD. When FTA evaluates a project as a whole for project justification under section 5309, the Secretary may increase the rating by one point on the five-point scale if the applicant provides documented evidence of pro-housing policies in areas within walking distance of and accessible to transit facilities along the project route. The incentive is a grant-rating bonus, not a direct zoning mandate.

Who Benefits and How

Transit project sponsors benefit from a possible one-step capital investment grant rating increase. Local governments adopting pro-housing policies benefit from stronger competitiveness for federal transit funding. Affordable housing developers benefit if transit-adjacent jurisdictions remove parking, lot-size, height, or approval barriers. Transit riders benefit if housing supply grows near stations and project routes.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal Transit Administration reviewers must evaluate documented pro-housing policies as part of project justification. Transit applicants must collect and submit evidence of qualifying local or state housing reforms. Local zoning authorities face pressure to change land-use rules near transit routes. Jurisdictions that do not adopt pro-housing policies may lose a rating advantage in capital investment grant competition.

Key Provisions

• Defines pro-housing policy for Federal Transit Administration capital investment grants.
• Includes parking-minimum reductions, by-right multifamily approval, lower lot sizes, public land commitments, and higher density as qualifying reforms.
• Authorizes a one-point increase on the five-point project-justification scale.
• Requires documented evidence of pro-housing policies within walking distance of accessible transit facilities.
• Directs Transportation to consult HUD on additional qualifying policies.