Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act
Sponsored By: Representative Johnson (GA)
In Committee
Summary
Creates a new High Quality Transit Operating Support Program to expand federal operating aid for public transit, improve access to jobs and essential services, and target underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
New federal support for transit operations
This bill would create a new federal grant program to support day-to-day transit service. It would authorize $20 billion each year for 2025–2028, subject to later appropriations. Each year, eligible areas would first get 50% of their 3-year average operating costs, then a pro‑rata share of what is left, capped at 80% of the 3-year average. Funds could be obligated for two years; unused amounts would roll into the next year’s pot within 30 days. The Secretary would issue program rules within one year of enactment.
Stronger transit service and higher federal match
Grants could pay to add or speed up service, extend hours, improve reliability, share real‑time info, and plan better connections. They could also support cleaning, safety, outreach to unhoused riders, and workforce training; using these funds would not affect eligibility for other federal transit or highway funds. The federal share would generally be up to 50%; it could be up to 80% for operating help in underserved or persistent‑poverty areas, and 100% for Tribes receiving an apportionment. Up to 25% of the non‑federal match could come from in‑kind capital work. Most of each grant would need to benefit underserved communities or areas of persistent poverty, using definitions set in the bill and future rules.
New transit data and rider surveys
To get funding, recipients would have to report key data to the Federal Transit Administration. Urban areas would report frequency, vehicle hours, trips, and jobs and services reachable by transit. Tribes and rural recipients would send similar data and run rider and non‑rider surveys at least every two years. Survey results would be published online. The Secretary would build a tool to measure access to jobs and essential services; interim data could be used until it is ready.
Cap on rural transit operating aid
The bill would limit rural transit operating grants under section 5311. A grant could not exceed 80% of a project’s net operating costs, as set by the Secretary.
Transit agencies must keep funding effort
Each year, recipients would certify within 30 days that they will keep up their own transit funding. They would report last year’s and this year’s non‑HQ‑TOSP operating spending. If they fail to keep that level, next year’s HQ‑TOSP amount would be cut by one‑third.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Cosponsors
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Frost
FL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Dean (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Boyle (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Doggett
TX • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sykes
OH • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Garcia (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sanchez
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Raskin
MD • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Horsford
NV • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Fields
LA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Morelle
NY • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Scanlon
PA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Omar
MN • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Evans (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Jayapal
WA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
DeGette
CO • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Brown
OH • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Neal
MA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sherman
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Ryan
NY • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Garcia (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sherrill
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Figures
AL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Casar
TX • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Houlahan
PA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sorensen
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Huffman
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Escobar
TX • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Foster
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Moskowitz
FL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Salinas
OR • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Takano
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Vasquez
NM • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 5/29/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
Sponsored 6/9/2025
Waters
CA • D
Sponsored 6/9/2025
Scott, David
GA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Pressley
MA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Suozzi
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Case
HI • D
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Pou
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Menendez
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Gillen
NY • D
Sponsored 7/22/2025
Williams (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
Sponsored 8/19/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Pelosi
CA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Jacobs
CA • D
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Olszewski
MD • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Torres (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rivas
CA • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Matsui
CA • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Kaptur
OH • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Balint
VT • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Pappas
NH • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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