House passes INVEST in America Act

The U.S. House passed a five-year $715 billion INVEST in America Act last week.  The bill includes $343 billion in roads, bridges and safety investments, $109 billion in transit and $95 billion in passenger and freight rail investments.

The $109 billion in transit investments, a 140 percent increase, includes:

• $40.5 billion: Urbanized and Rural Area Formula Grants
• $24 billion: State of Good Repair Grants
• $21.5 billion: Capital Investment Grants
• $11 billion: Bus and Bus Facilities, including over $4 billion for zero-emission buses
• $2 billion: Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities
• $1 billion: All Stations Accessibility Programs Grants (Americans with Disabilities Act Grants)
• $1 billion: Reducing Transit Deserts
• $416 million: Bus Frequency/Ridership Competitive Grants
• $134 million: Transit Supportive Communities

The INVEST in America Act also includes $5.6 billion for 1,473 Member Designated Projects of which 237 are transit specific. In Missouri, KCATA received a $10.5 million grant for their electric bus program.  The bill now moves to the Senate, which has its own version of surface transportation reauthorization.