The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, which Sens. Tim Scott (R–S.C.) and Elizabeth Warren (D–Mass.) lead, is responsible for writing the transit segment of the bill that will replace the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act when it expires in September 2026. That process is already underway.
Priorities for transit imperative to Missouri providers include money for transit operations, rather than capital projects alone. Some rural communities can currently access some federal dollars to pay drivers, staff, and other critical costs to keep their networks running, but such expenditures are capped at around 50 percent. Secondly increase federal capital funding, especially as demand for transit continues to surge. The American Public Transportation Association says that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act underestimated the demand for capital dollars by at least $36 billion — which represents a lost opportunity to expand networks and shift people out of cars.
“Federal investment support in the next transportation bill will be critical for transit providers in Missouri, where the state has decreased its investment by 42% to $6.7 million to split among 30 providers. Federal investment is what keeps Missouri transit going, making this next bill even more critical. MPTA is urging riders to weigh in directly with the members of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, especially Senators Scott and Warren,” said Kimberly Cella, executive director of MPTA.
Find out more here: Advocates: The Senate’s Chance to Ensure America’s Public Transit Future Is Now — Streetsblog USA
Senator Scott may be contacted here and Senator Warren may be contacted here. Weigh in today on the importance of funding for transit.