The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has expressed support for the release of the bipartisan Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Act, included in H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.
The legislation provides funding for the majority of public transit and passenger rail projects authorised under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Combined with IIJA advance appropriations, the FY 2026 THUD Appropriations Act allocates 21.1 billion USD for public transit and 15.9 billion USD for passenger and freight rail. According to APTA, federal public transport investment contributes to economic activity and supports jobs, manufacturing, and domestic supply chains.
Paul P. Skoutelas, President and Chief Executive Officer of APTA said:This bipartisan agreement is a strong affirmation that public transit and passenger rail are essential national infrastructure. It provides funding certainty that allows public transit agencies to continue investing in capital projects, safety, and reliable service that millions of Americans rely on every day.
Public transit funding includes:
- $21.1 billion allocated for public transit in FY 2026, an increase of $168 million over FY 2025 levels
- Federal Transit Administration formula grants and competitive bus grants funded at authorised levels
- $3.3 billion for Capital Investment Grants for 21 New Start, Core Capacity, and Small Start projects, with allocations to be distributed within 120 days
- $211.4 million earmarked for ferry grants, public safety operations, and Congress-directed projects
- $100.3 million allocated for transport needs for the FIFA World Cup and $94.3 million for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games
- Retention of key transit policies, including protections against across-the-board formula cuts and safeguards for CIG project development
Passenger and freight rail funding includes:
- $15.9 billion provided for passenger and freight rail
- $2.4 billion in grants to Amtrak, supporting the National Network and Northeast Corridor
- CRISI grants increased to $137 million to improve safety and infrastructure, including positive train control
Department of Transportation programmes include:
- $1.6 billion for BUILD grants, including $145 million in discretionary funding
- Introduction of oversight and transparency requirements for Department of Transportation discretionary grants
The House is scheduled to vote on H.R. 7148 in the coming days, with the Senate expected to consider the bill before the 30 January deadline.
APTA has urged Congress to approve the legislation promptly to maintain consistent federal support for public transport and passenger rail.
