Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— - GENERAL AND INTERMODAL PROGRAMS › Chapter CHAPTER 53— - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION › § 5323
Allows federal transit money to pay for many parts of public transportation, but with lots of limits and rules. States or local governments can use the money to buy or take an interest in a private transit company, buy property from one after July 9, 1964, or run services that compete with a private company only if the federal Secretary finds the project is required by regional plans, makes room for private companies as much as possible, and the company is paid fair value. Federal money cannot be used to buy transit land, equipment, or facilities from another government in the same area. Laws about fair payment for property and environmental reviews, including the National Environmental Policy Act and coordination with Interior and EPA, apply. Grants for vehicles bought to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Clean Air Act cover 85 percent of net vehicle cost; grants for related equipment or facilities cover 90 percent of the net cost tied to compliance. Revenue bond proceeds can count toward local matching funds for grants under sections 5307, 5309, or 5337 if the Secretary finds that State and local support over the next 3 fiscal years is at least as much as it was in the prior 3 fiscal years. Federal transit funds cannot pay routine operating costs, or pay for nonfunctional art or landscaping, or support discriminatory procurement rules. Recipients must agree not to run charter bus or schoolbus services that unfairly compete with private operators, with some exceptions; the Secretary will investigate complaints and can stop or reduce federal aid for violations. Vanpool providers and local recipients may use certain provider funds as part of local matching, and a vanpool vehicle must seat at least 6 adults and be used mostly for commuting. Federal-funded projects must use U.S.-made steel, iron, and manufactured goods unless the Secretary grants a waiver for public interest, lack of availability or quality, or if using domestic material raises project cost by more than 25 percent. For rolling stock, domestic component thresholds are: more than 60 percent for fiscal years 2016–2017, more than 65 percent for 2018–2019, and more than 70 percent for 2020 and later, and final assembly must happen in the United States. If average cost per vehicle is over $300,000 and shells are not made in the U.S., U.S. steel used in frames must be counted. Waivers must be published with time for public comment and reported to Congress. False “Made in America” labels can make a person ineligible for federal contracts. Small purchases are $150,000 or less. Transit agencies that run rail must certify they will reduce cybersecurity risks using NIST voluntary standards and identify hardware or software needing third‑party testing. Federal rules also require preaward and postdelivery safety reviews of rolling stock, allow limited early land purchases with environmental limits, let recipients let others use fueling facilities if costs are covered, protect access for private intercity or charter operators, and allow value-capture revenue to count as local matching funds.
Full Legal Text
Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 5323
Title 49 — Transportation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73