APTA Calls for $232 Billion in 'Critical' Public Transit Investment

A federal infrastructure bill should include at least $232 billion over the next 10 years for critical public transportation projects around the country, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) says in a new report. That investment would yield $928 billion in economic activity over the next 20 years, the report says.

To tally the needed investment, APTA surveyed member agencies for their priority projects at the local and regional levels. That deficit came to $91 billion, on top of a $89.9 billion backlog for state of good repair programs and $51.2 billion still in the pipeline from the FTA's Capital Investment Grant Program.

In addition to maintenance and repair, transit agencies told APTA they could use funding to modernize their systems through electrification; automated shuttle pilots; and integration with TNCs and other new mobility options.

The report also notes that around 70 percent of Americans support increasing federal funding for public transportation.