The House and Senate passed the bipartisan Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act for FY24 last week. The bill, a part of the $469 billion minibus fiscal year 2024 spending bill, was sent to the president’s desk and signed into law on March 8.
This bill provides the overwhelming majority of public transit and passenger rail investments authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), with $20.9 billion for public transit and $16.3 billion for passenger and freight rail.
Public Transit
The THUD Appropriations Act and IIJA provide $20.9 billion for public transit in FY 2024, which is $364 million (2 percent) less than the FY 2023 enacted level.
- Fully funds public transit contract authority of $14 billion as provided by the IIJA, a $356 million increase from the FY 2023 enacted level.
- $3.8 billion for Capital Investment Grants (CIG), which is $430 million less than the FY 2023 enacted level.
- Provides an additional $252 million for specific initiatives, including: $20 million for Passenger Ferry grants; $20 million for Rural Ferry grants; and $207 million for Congressionally directed spending on designated public transit projects.
Passenger Rail
The THUD Appropriations Act and IIJA provide $16.3 billion for passenger and freight rail in FY 2024, which is $383 million (or 2 percent) less than the FY 2023 enacted level.
- $7.3 billion for Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grants;
- $6.8 billion for Amtrak grants ($4.5 billion for National Network grants and $2.3 billion for the Northeast Corridor);
- $1.2 billion for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grants (including $99 million for specific Congressionally directed CRISI projects); and
- $600 million for Railroad Crossing Elimination grants.
Capital Investment Grants
The THUD Appropriations Act and IIJA provide $3.8 billion for Capital Investment Grants.