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Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act of 2026
To amend the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2012 to alter project eligibility for the transit-oriented development planning grant program, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill converts the transit-oriented development planning pilot program into a permanent grant program and expands its scope. The bill broadens the definition of eligible projects to include fixed guideway bus rapid transit projects and corridor-based capital investments in existing fixed guideway systems, in addition to new fixed guideway projects. The bill expands what activities can be funded to include predevelopment activities such as site evaluation, engineering and architectural design, community engagement, feasibility studies, and utility coordination. The bill adds requirements to improve access to transit for all users, including people with disabilities, seniors, veterans, and transit-dependent populations. The bill authorizes $75,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out the grant program.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
3 cosponsors
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Lateefah Simon’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- EXELIXIS $10,350
- UCSF $9,810
- EXELIXIS INC. $8,600
- ALTSHULER BERZON LLP $8,348
- KEKER VAN NEST & PETERS $7,350
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Lateefah Simon → · Outside spending →
Actions (3)
- Jan 31, 2026 Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. · house
- Jan 30, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. · house
- Jan 30, 2026 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 30, 2026
Ms. Simon (for herself and Ms. Jacobs) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2012 to alter project eligibility for the transit-oriented development planning grant program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act of 2026”.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PLANNING.
(a) In General.—Section 20005(b) of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 5303 note) is amended—
(1) in the subsection heading by striking “Pilot Program” and inserting “Grant Program”;
(2) in paragraph (1)—
(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking “means a new fixed guideway capital project or a core capacity improvement project, as those terms are defined in section 5309 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by this division.” and inserting “means—
“(i) a new fixed guideway capital project or a fixed guideway bus rapid transit project, as those terms are defined in section 5309; or
“(ii) a corridor-based capital investment in an existing fixed guideway system.”; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
“(B) Predevelopment activities.—The term ‘predevelopment activities’ includes planning, site evaluation, engineering and architectural design, community engagement, feasibility studies, utility coordination, accessibility assessments, and other activities necessary to prepare a site for transit- oriented development.”;
(3) in paragraph (2)—
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by inserting “and predevelopment activities” after “planning”;
(B) in subparagraph (E)—
(i) by striking “infrastructure” and inserting “and address infrastructure and utility”; and
(ii) by striking “and” at the end;
(C) in subparagraph (F) by striking the period at the end; and
(D) by inserting at the end the following:
“(G) support predevelopment activities; and
“(H) improve access to transit and transit- oriented development sites for all users, including individuals with disabilities, seniors, veterans, and other transit-dependent populations, to ensure people of all ages and abilities can safely and efficiently reach and navigate transit stations and transit- oriented developments, including through paratransit connectivity and bicycle infrastructure.”;
(4) in paragraph (3)—
(A) in subparagraph (D) by inserting “and predevelopment activities” after “plan”; and
(B) in subparagraph (E)(iii) by inserting “and predevelopment activities” after “plan”; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
“(4) Authorization of appropriations.—In addition to any amounts appropriated under section 5338, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.”.
(b) Transfer.—Section 20005(b) of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 5303 note) is transferred to appear as subsection (s) of section 5303 of title 49, United States Code. <all>
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