The Federal Transit Program Turns 60
The idea for the federal transit program was born with a message to Congress by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 and launched in 1964 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Urban Mass Transportation Act.
Over its nearly six decades, the federal transit program has helped transform transit in America from scattered bus systems and a small number of high-capacity systems to a diverse set of transit providers in thousands of communities. Today, FTA administers a $20 billion annual program with the historic funding provided by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
As we approach the 60th anniversary of the federal transit program on July 9, 2024, FTA will highlight milestone programs and initiatives that have fulfilled the FTA’s mission to improve America’s communities through public transportation.
Videos
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In video 1, we provide an overview of the federal transit program, from supporting small independent bus systems and a few subway lines in the 1960s to today’s network of transit providers serving thousands of communities nationwide. |
Did You Know?
Facebook Posts
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Happy Birthday to us! On July 9, 1964, the federal transit program was born as the Urban Mass Transit Administration following legislation championed by President Kennedy and signed by President Johnson. It was the nation’s first federal program to support “mass transportation.” See Post 07/09/2023 04:27 PM EDT |
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Did you know? More than 70,000 transit buses run on fixed routes every day in the United States, and about 75% of them are funded, in part, by FTA. These buses are on the streets in over 500 urban areas across the country, including thousands of cities and towns. See Post |
