The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, authorizes up to $108 billion for public transportation – the largest federal investment in public transportation in the nation’s history.

Fact Sheets

See FTA’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Program fact sheets, which provide detail about new programs created by the legislation as well as how other FTA programs have changed under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

What's New

• November 2023 marks the second anniversary of this once-in-a-generation investment in America's infrastructure. See the Biden-Harris Administration fact sheet celebrating our historic progress.
• Transit construction projects funded wholly or in part by BIL funds should follow Investing in America signage guidelines. Download the guidelines and sign templates at FTA’s Investing in America Signage webpage.
• Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $1.7 Billion to Help Put Better, Cleaner Buses on the Roads in Communities Across the Country
• Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $700 Million in Grants to Replace Aging Passenger Railcars in Six Transit Systems
• Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $380 Million in Grants to Modernize Ferry Services, Reduce Emissions, and Connect Rural Communities

Overview

Congress establishes the funding for FTA programs through authorizing legislation that amends Chapter 53 of Title 49 of the U.S. Code. On November 5, Congress sent President Biden the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for signature. The legislation reauthorizes surface transportation programs for FY 2022-2026 and provides advance appropriations for certain programs. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorizes up to $108 billion to support federal public transportation programs, including $91 billion in guaranteed funding.

On January 7, 2022, FTA held a webinar to provide a detailed look at the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and how it will be implemented through FTA’s programs.

• Watch the recording | See the presentation

The highlights below reflect funding for the five-year authorization period.

The legislation will advance public transportation in America’s communities through four key priorities:

Safety

Enhancing state safety oversight programs by strengthening rail inspection practices to protect transit workers and riders from injuries and ensure safe access to transit.

Modernization

Reducing the state of good repair investment backlog by repairing and upgrading aging transit infrastructure and modernizing bus and rail fleets.

Climate

Replacing thousands of transit vehicles, including buses and ferries, with cleaner, greener vehicles.

Equity

Improving transit service for communities that have historically had more limited access to transit and provide for substantial upgrades to station accessibility.

All of FTA's discretionary grant programs will focus on promoting equity throughout our transportation systems and supporting the transit industry's important role in combatting climate change.

In addition to increased funding for public transportation for FTA’s programs, other federal programs received additional funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Some programs also support the construction of public transportation infrastructure and surrounding improvements. See Federal Programs that Support Public Transportation for additional information and links to relevant programs.

Learn More

	View/download materials from FTA’s January 7, 2022 webinar
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See how the largest federal investment in public transportation in the nation’s history will help expand and modernize transit systems.

Highlights

Safety

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will enhance state safety oversight programs by strengthening rail inspection practices, protecting transit workers and riders from injuries, and ensuring safe access to transit. FTA’s Public Transportation Safety Program is updated to reinforce State Safety Oversight (SSO) programs, including strengthening rail inspection practices. Additional SSO updates will improve safety training, work to reduce assaults on vehicle operators, encourage development of transit agency safety plans, and institute measures to reduce vehicular and pedestrian accidents involving buses. 

FTA will also add content to the national public transportation safety plan – in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services – to include safety measures for riders and transit workers during a public health emergency. Recipients of Urbanized Area Formula grants will certify that agency safety plans are consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health authority guidelines to minimize exposure to infectious disease.

FTA recently published guidance to inform the transit industry about Bipartisan Infrastructure Law changes to Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) requirements. The new requirements apply to transit agencies with an Agency Safety Plan in place under the PTASP regulation.

• Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan FAQs for New Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Requirements

Modernization

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's significant investment in transit will help repair and upgrade aging transit infrastructure and modernize bus and rail fleets.

• Urbanized Area Formula Grants: Increased to more than $33.5 billion to provide funding for transit capital and operating assistance in urbanized areas, and for transportation-related planning.
   
• Rural Programs:
  • Rural Area Formula Grants: Increased to more than $4.58 billion to support 1,300 rural transit systems by enabling them to purchase transit vehicles and infrastructure, plan transit more effectively, and fund operations.
    • Includes increased funding for the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program and the Appalachian Development Public Transportation Assistance Programs.
  • A new program provides $1 billion on a competitive basis for essential ferry service in rural areas, with another $1 billion authorized for Congress to make available in the future.
     
• Capital Investment Grants (CIG): Funded up to $23 billion, with $8 billion guaranteed to invest in new high-capacity transit projects that communities choose to build.
   
• State of Good Repair Grants: America's transit systems have a combined repair backlog of more than $105 billion. The legislation provides $23.1 billion over five years for grants to fund the repair and maintenance of transit systems.
  • A new competitive grant program under the State of Good Repair Grants program provides an annual $300 million for competitive rail vehicle replacement, specifically to replace rail rolling stock that is past its useful life.
     
• Public Transportation Innovation Program: FTA will continue to lead an integrated and robust program to advance innovative public transportation research and development, using $193 million for transit research activities.
   
• Technical Assistance and Workforce Development: Using $62 million, FTA will continue to provide technical assistance that enables more effective and efficient delivery of public transportation services, develops standards and best practices, and addresses public transportation workforce needs.

Climate

Funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support replacement of thousands of transit vehicles, including buses and ferries, with low- and no-emission vehicles.

• $5.6 billion in Low- or No- Emission Bus Grants to transition to low- or zero-emission buses and purchase fueling and maintenance infrastructure.
• A pilot program to support the transition of passenger ferries to low- or zero-emission technologies, providing at least $250 million to electric, low-emission ferries.

Equity

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides additional funding to advance equitable public transportation planning and operations.

• All Station Accessibility Program: This new program provides $1.75 billion in competitive grants to state or local governments to upgrade the accessibility of legacy rail fixed guideway systems for people with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs.
   
• Transportation planning: The legislation includes more support for planning activities. 
  • Provides a greater federal share for transportation planning activities for lower-density and lower-income portions of metropolitan areas and adjoining rural areas.
  • Requires the inclusion of geographic service area coverage as a reporting requirement in the National Transit Database.
  • To advance equity in public transportation planning, encourages metropolitan planning organizations to expand consideration of housing and planning for affordable housing in the transit planning process.
     
• Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities: Increases funding to $2.2 billion to help states, transit agencies, and nonprofit organizations meet the transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities.

Additional Resources

• To support the implementation of these historic investments and new programs for public transportation under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, see FTA’s fact sheets for transit agencies, recipients of federal funding, and other transit stakeholders.
• Download materials from the January 7, 2022 webinar
•   Sign up to receive updates via email