Sponsor
Kevin Mullin
Representative · D-CA
Representative · D-CA
The bill enables federal support to modernize commuter rail and cut emissions and operating costs, but it increases federal spending and could shift costs or available funds onto local agencies, riders, and taxpayers.
Urban residents and rail passengers will see lower local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions because commuter rail systems can recover and reuse braking energy.
State and local transit agencies can accelerate modernization and increase resilience of commuter rail fleets by deploying onboard or wayside energy storage and regenerative braking.
Commuter rail operators can receive federal funding to install regenerative braking and energy storage, lowering operational energy costs and potentially reducing long‑term operating expenses.
Taxpayers may face higher federal spending to fund grants for these technologies, increasing the fiscal cost unless offsets are provided.
State and local governments (and the projects they pursue) could receive less funding overall if adding commuter rail eligibility dilutes a limited pool of grants.
Local transit agencies and riders could incur ongoing maintenance or replacement costs for energy storage and braking systems if federal support does not cover lifecycle expenses.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds commuter rail passenger providers to the list of entities eligible for assistance for regenerative braking and energy storage projects under 49 U.S.C. § 22907.
Official title: To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide eligibility for projects to develop and implement regenerative braking and energy storage technologies under the consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements program, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 4, 2025 by Kevin Mullin · Last progress June 4, 2025
Expands eligibility for federal assistance under 49 U.S.C. § 22907 to include providers of commuter rail passenger transportation so they can access funding or support for projects that develop and implement regenerative braking and energy storage technologies. The change makes commuter rail operators explicitly eligible alongside entities already covered, enabling modernization projects that capture braking energy and store it for later use.