HR7298-119

What This Bill Does

The Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act expands the Federal Public Transportation Act transit-oriented development planning program. It changes the pilot program into a grant program, expands eligible projects to include fixed guideway bus rapid transit and corridor-based capital investments in existing fixed guideway systems, and defines predevelopment activities to include planning, site evaluation, engineering, architectural design, community engagement, feasibility studies, utility coordination, accessibility assessments, and other site-preparation work. The bill adds support for predevelopment and access improvements for people with disabilities, seniors, veterans, and other transit-dependent populations, including paratransit connectivity and bicycle infrastructure. It authorizes $75 million per year from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and moves the program into 49 U.S.C. 5303.

Who Benefits and How

Transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, and transit-oriented development planners benefit because more project types and predevelopment work can receive federal support. People with disabilities, seniors, veterans, and other transit-dependent riders benefit because access to transit stations and development sites becomes an explicit grant purpose. Developers and communities near fixed guideway and bus rapid transit corridors benefit when feasibility, utility, design, and community engagement work is funded before construction. Bicycle and paratransit users benefit from eligible access improvements.

Who Bears the Burden and How

FTA and DOT grant staff must administer a larger permanent grant program, update eligibility guidance, and manage the $75 million annual authorization. Grant recipients must document predevelopment activities, accessibility assessments, utility coordination, and access improvements. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of the new authorization. Local project sponsors must coordinate transit-oriented development planning with paratransit, bicycle, disability-access, senior, veteran, and transit-dependent user needs.

Key Provisions

• Expands transit-oriented development planning from a pilot into a grant program.
• Adds fixed guideway bus rapid transit, corridor-based capital investments, and predevelopment activities to eligible work.
• Requires access improvements for people with disabilities, seniors, veterans, and other transit-dependent populations.
• Authorizes $75 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.