Modal Parity in Permitting Act
Sponsored By: Senator Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Introduced
Summary
Earlier acquisition of real property interests for passenger rail projects would be authorized while keeping required environmental reviews in place. The bill also renames the Corridor Preservation program to "Real Property Interests" and directs the Federal Transit Administration to update guidance within 6 months of enactment.
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- Rail project sponsors and grant recipients would be allowed to purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire any real property interest needed for a project before the project’s environmental review is complete, as long as the transaction is permitted by Federal law.
- Communities and landowners could see property transactions occur earlier, but acquired property may not be physically developed or improved for the project until all required environmental reviews are finished.
- The bill updates statutory language by replacing "right-of-way" with "real property interests", adds a new Section 24203 for passenger rail transactions, and requires the Federal Transit Administration to revise FTA Circular 5010.1F or successor guidance within 6 months to reflect these changes.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Transit agencies may buy land earlier
If enacted, transit project sponsors that get federal assistance under chapters 229, 249, or 243 would be able to acquire real property interests before a project's environmental review is complete. Acquisition could be by purchase, lease, or other legal transaction, but only if allowed by other federal law. Any property acquired this way could not be physically improved or developed for the project until all required environmental reviews are finished. The bill would also rename program terms from "right-of-way" to "real property interests" and require the FTA to update its Circular 5010.1F and related guidance within six months of enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
ND • R
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov