Federal Transportation Funding

Green road sign with "Welcome to Texas" above Texas flag and "Drive Friendly - the Texas Way" below.

Federal Carbon Reduction Funds Could Finance Highway Projects in Texas

Transit advocates say the state’s carbon reduction strategy reveals a continued preference for car-oriented infrastructure.

November 7, 2023 - Texas Tribune

St. Louis Metrolink

St. Louis Train Expansion Planning Receives Federal Funding

The Bi-State Development Agency received roughly $7.4 million for efforts to expand the city’s MetroLink train system.

March 28, 2023 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Protected Bike Lane

FTA Waives Local Funding Match for Complete Streets Projects

Local and state agencies can apply for federal Complete Streets funding without matching funds until 2026.

March 17, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

I-84 to I-5 Interstate Freeway in Portland Oregon with Long Exposure Vehicle Traffic Motion

Oregon Youth Activists Protest Highway Expansion

A group of young climate activists are demanding an end to traffic-inducing road expansion projects and a renewed commitment to sustainable, transit-oriented transportation.

January 27, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Metro Subway Los Angeles

L.A. Metro Receives $1.24 Billion in Federal Funds

L.A.'s transit agency was awarded over a billion dollars in American Rescue Plan funding for maintenance and operations.

January 18, 2022 - The Source

Delmar Loop

The Uncertain Future of the St. Louis Loop Trolley

St. Louis faces losing federal funds if the Loop Trolley remains defunct. But is the 2.2-mile line worth it?

January 5, 2022 - nextSTL

Atlanta streetcar

Expansion Planned for Atlanta Streetcar

A proposed expansion of Atlanta's beleaguered downtown streetcar could turn the 'novelty' line into a truly useful transportation option in the car-centric city.

December 22, 2021 - Urbanize Atlanta

Highway Construction

How RAISE Grants Promote Car-Free Mobility

While there are many reasons to break away from automobile dominance, the RAISE grant program is the only federal effort fully reflecting a public transit and active transportation priorities.

December 1, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Houston Light Rail Transit

Houston Area Loses $64 Million in Federal Transportation Funds Due to Delays and Lack of Oversight

The funding was directed to congestion mitigation, air quality, and transportation alternatives projects.

October 5, 2021 - Houston Chronicle

Bonaventure Expressway

How Highway Removal Can Benefit Cities

Cities across the country are reevaluating the impacts of major highway on neighborhoods and looking for ways to revitalize and reconnect communities.

June 1, 2021 - The New York Times

Bridgeport Rail

Opinion: Transportation Funding Priorities Are Outdated

Investing in technology and promoting innovation in the transportation sector can further the Biden administration's goals of reducing carbon emissions and improving public transit.

May 26, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Federal Transit Administration

How Much Will Buttigieg Change Federal Transportation Policy?

The USDOT secretary is making big promises, but an entrenched system makes it difficult to implement long-lasting, systemic change.

May 19, 2021 - Governing

MTA Bus

Why the Federal Government Should Fund Transit Service

Although federal transit funding is traditionally reserved for capital improvement and infrastructure projects, advocates argue that funding improved service could have transformative impacts on transit-dependent communities.

April 27, 2021 - TransitCenter

Salt Lake City, TRAX Red Line

U.S. DOT Grant Program to Allocate Funds for Climate and Environmental Justice Projects

The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program will, for the first time, support projects aimed specifically at reducing emissions and fighting the effects of climate change and environmental racism.

February 28, 2021 - TechCrunch

Train platform

Boston-to-New York High-Speed Rail Project Hopes for Federal Support

If completed, the North Atlantic Rail project could transform New England's transportation landscape.

February 25, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Highway Construction

$1 Billion in Transportation Grants Announced by U.S. DOT

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced $1 billion in BUILD transportation grants, once again showing a preference for car-centric, rural projects in selecting the winners of this competitive grant process.

October 12, 2020 - Transport Topics

Electric Bus

First: Grant Enables Automated Transit Buses in Connecticut

CTtransit will work with Robotic Research LLC, New Flyer of America, and the Center for Transportation and Environment to be the first public transit provider in the United States to operate full-sized, autonomous buses.

July 1, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Plano DART

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

APTA's new report suggests that the need for investment is great, but the benefits could be even greater.

March 21, 2019 - Metro Magazine

Road Usage Charge at Least 10 Years Away

Pilot programs are not the real thing, warned Michael Lewis, executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation, testifying at a House transportation subcommittee on March 7. Colorado completed a successful four-month pilot last April.

March 12, 2018 - AASHTO Journal

Donald Trump

Trump Threatens Government Shutdown if Congress Funds Amtrak Gateway Tunnel

Trump's animus towards using federal funds to replace a century-old, hurricane-damaged rail tunnel under the Hudson River is so strong that he warned Congress he will veto a spending bill they must pass by March 23 to keep the government operating.

March 12, 2018 - The Hill

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