Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— GENERAL AND INTERMODAL PROGRAMS › Chapter 53— PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION › § 5323
Federal transit money can be used to buy a private transit company, its property, or to run services that compete with a private carrier only when three things are true: the Transportation Secretary finds the spending is essential to an approved transit program, private carriers can join as much as possible, and the private owner is paid fair value for franchise or property (this includes property bought after July 9, 1964). A government agency may not use federal transit funds to buy transit land, vehicles, or facilities from another government in the same area. The Uniform Relocation Act (1970) and the National Environmental Policy Act (1969) apply. The Secretary must work with the Interior Department and EPA on projects that may greatly affect the environment. Federal bus funds come with limits: recipients must agree not to offer charter bus service outside their urban area except as allowed, and the Secretary will investigate complaints and can stop funding for violations. Recipients must not use grants to run ordinary operations, pay for extra art or decorative landscaping costs, or support buying based on exclusionary or discriminatory specs. Grants for vehicles bought to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Clean Air Act cover 85% of the net vehicle cost, and 90% of the net cost for related equipment or facilities tied to those laws. Buyers may use revenue bond proceeds as part of their local match if the State and local support for transit over the next 3 fiscal years is at least as much as it was in the prior 3 years. Vanpool providers can count certain van purchases toward the local match. Transit projects paid with federal funds must use U.S.-produced steel, iron, and manufactured goods unless the Secretary issues a waiver for public interest, lack of U.S. supply or quality, or if using U.S. material raises project cost by more than 25%. For rolling stock, U.S. component content must exceed 60% in fiscal years 2016–2017, 65% in 2018–2019, and 70% in 2020 and after, and final assembly must happen in the U.S. Waivers must be published with a chance for public comment and reported to Congress annually starting within 1 year after the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2012. False “Made in America” claims can make a supplier ineligible for federal contracts. Small purchases are defined as $150,000 or less. The Secretary must require preaward and postdelivery reviews and independent inspections for rolling stock purchases, and rail transit recipients must have written cybersecurity plans following NIST and applicable DHS guidance. Other rules cover right-of-way, shared fueling use, access for private intercity carriers, value-capture matching funds, and penalties for fraud.
Full Legal Text
Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 5323
Title 49 — Transportation
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60