Faster Buses Better Futures Act · Introduced in House (2025-09-09) · Congress.wiki

H.R. 5230

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend chapter 53, United States Code, to increase local bus service to levels needed to combat the climate crisis, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · September 9, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Frost · Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

(a) Short title
- This Act may be cited as the Faster Buses Better Futures Act.
(b) Table of contents
- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
- Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
- Sec. 2. Bus network redesign grants.
- Sec. 3. Transit stop shelter and station accessibility.
- Sec. 4. Transit priority measures.
- Sec. 5. State purchasing for bus stop equipment.
- Sec. 6. Federal Transit Administration staffing and administrative funding.

Sec. 2. Bus network redesign grants.

of title 49, United States Code, is amended— Chapter 53

in section 5307(c)(1)—
- in subparagraph (K), by striking at the end; and
  - plans to complete a bus network redesign by fiscal year 2045 and, beginning in fiscal year 2045 and each fiscal year thereafter, has completed a bus network redesign in the preceding 20-year period; and
- by adding at the end the following:
in section 5339—
- in subsection (b)—
  - (i) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
    - (2) Grant considerations
      - In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall—
        
        consider the age and condition of buses, bus fleets, related equipment, and bus-related facilities; and
        
        give priority to eligible recipients who have received a grant under subsection (e) and have successfully increased bus ridership as a result of the bus network redesign carried out with such grant.
  - (ii) by adding at the end the following:
    - (12) Authorization of appropriations
      - There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $20,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
  - (e) Bus network redesign grants
    - (1) Grants authorized
      - Not later than 720 days after the date of enactment of the , the Secretary shall establish a program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities.
    - (2) Application
      - To receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall complete an eligible bus network redesign and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—
        
        an overview of the existing bus network;
        
        an overview of the eligible bus network redesign;
        
        an analysis of the impact of the bus network redesign on—
        
        (i) service hours; and
        
        (ii) route miles;
        
        an analysis demonstrating that the eligible bus network redesign can increase transit ridership by 100 percent not later than 6 years after such redesign is implemented;
        
        an evaluation examining any equity and mobility gaps in each transit system operated by the eligible entity or in the geographic area under the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, and how the eligible bus network redesign will significantly close such gaps, including—
        
        (i) public transit ridership rates, disaggregated by—
        
        mode of transit; and
        
        demographic group, including youth (including foster care youth), seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income individuals; and
        
        (ii) average length of bus routes, average speed of bus routes, and average delay times of bus routes;
        
        an estimation of additional costs that the eligible entity will incur in order to implement the eligible bus network redesign, including—
        
        (i) fuel costs;
        
        (ii) personnel costs;
        
        (iii) maintenance costs; and
        
        (iv) other operational costs; and
        
        a description of eligible projects that the eligible entity intends to carry out to implement the eligible bus network redesign, including—
        
        (i) expanding bus fleets; and
        
        (ii) constructing additional bus garages.
    - (3) Grant uses
      - A grant awarded under this section may only be used to—
        
        carry out eligible projects; and
        
        pay for the difference in operating costs between the existing level of fixed-route bus service and the level outlined in the eligible bus network redesign submitted pursuant to paragraph (2).
    - (4) Federal share
      - (A) Eligible projects
        
        The Federal share of the costs described in paragraph (3)(A) shall be 80 percent.
      - (B) First 3-year period
        
        In calculating the Federal share of the costs described in paragraph (3)(B)—
- by adding at the end the following:

Sec. 3. Transit stop shelter and station accessibility.

Section 5337 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(g) Bus stop shelter reimbursement program
- (1) In general
  - The Secretary shall reimburse an eligible entity for installing bus stop shelters if such entity followed the formal process established under paragraph (3) for the installation of each such shelter.
- (2) Reimbursement amount
  - The Secretary shall annually determine the amount for which an eligible entity shall be reimbursed for each bus stop shelter that such entity verifies has been successfully installed, including any additional amounts necessary for bus stop shelters to meet different weather standards. The Secretary shall set such amount at a level that—
    - maintains purchasing power for the eligible entity relying on such amount;
    - ensures that such amount is sufficient to discourage inflation; and
    - incentivizes eligible entities to use products covered by a Federal purchasing schedule authorized under section 5 of the .
- (3) Establishment of formal process
  - The Secretary shall establish a formal process for the instillation of bus stop shelters to be reimbursable under this subsection that includes—
    - an annual notice of funding opportunity that requires an eligible entity seeking reimbursement to—
      - (i) submit to the Secretary a bus shelter plan;
      - (ii) each year after the submission of a plan under clause (i), submit to the Secretary a report containing—
      - the progress the eligible entity has made in implementing the bus shelter plan with both Federal and non-Federal funds; and
      - the total cost of the bus stop shelters installed by such entity;
      - (iii) indicate the quantity and location of proposed bus stop shelters;
      - (iv) ensure that each proposed bus stop shelter meets weather standards; and
      - (v) indicate how the proposed bus stop shelter installations will be coordinated with any other capital projects taking place at bus stops with such proposed installations, including—
      - projects funded under section 5309;
      - transit priority measures authorized under section 5323(w); and
      - projects funded under subsection (h); and
    - a period between 270 and 365 days after the Notice of Funding Opportunity opens in which the eligible entity provides to the Secretary—
      - (i) the number and location of the bus stop shelters proposed in the bus shelter plan that have been installed; and
      - (ii) verification, in a form determined by the Secretary, that the bus stop shelters identified in clause (i)—
      - were constructed; and
      - meet weather standards.
- (4) Grant requirements
  - Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, amounts provided under this subsection shall be subject to the requirements of section 5307 of title 49, United States Code.

Sec. 4. Transit priority measures.

(a) In general
- (w) Prioritizing transit vehicles
  - (1) In general
    - The owners of public rights-of-way shall cooperate to the maximum extent feasible with transit providers to ensure that transit vehicles that run at grade are able to complete routes in as reliable and frequent a manner as possible.
  - (2) By-right transit priority measures
    - A transit provider may request that the owner of a public right-of-way implement transit priority measures on suitable corridors and the owner of said public right-of-way shall carry out specified collaboration with the transit provider to complete such request to the satisfaction of the transit provider.
  - (3) Consultation of Federal Transit Administration
    - If a transit provider determines that a request for transit priority measures has not been adequately incorporated into a project on a suitable corridor or the owner of a public right-of-way believes that a transit provider is making unreasonable requests, the transit provider or the public right-of-way owner may request that the regional office of the Federal Transit Administration make a determination on the matter. Such regional office shall defer to the transit provider unless the owner of the public right-of-way can provide evidence—
      - that allocating funding to implement requested transit priority measures would threaten the state of good repair of the overall public transportation system, even if funds from all projects to construct new capacity, or maintain existing capacity through reconstruction, for single-occupancy passenger vehicles were reallocated to either—
        
        (i) implementing requested transit priority measures; or
        
        (ii) maintaining the state of good repair of the overall transportation system; or
      - that—
        
        (i) the benefits a transit provider expects to see from the implementation of requested transit priority measures are factually incorrect as based on—
        
        transportation demand modeling; and
        
        real-world examples of similar projects in the United States and other countries; and
        
        (ii) the corridor where transit priority measures have been requested is not actually a suitable corridor.
  - (4) Prevention of compliance-avoiding service alterations
    - A transit provider may not alter the frequency of service on fixed-route transit service with the purpose of ensuring a public right-of-way does not meet the requirements of a suitable corridor.
  - (5) Penalties for non-compliance
    - If a regional office of the Federal Transit Administration finds by a preponderance of the evidence that a public right-of-way owner is not complying with paragraph (2) or a transit provider is in violation of paragraph (4), the Secretary shall not award any discretionary grants to that public right-of-way owner for the following year.

Sec. 5. State purchasing for bus stop equipment.

(a) State cooperative procurement
- A State may enter into a cooperative procurement contract with 1 or more vendors for transit equipment including bus stop shelters, signage that tracks arrival times of transit vehicles, and protected modular bicycle parking and charging infrastructure if—
  - each vendor agrees to provide to the State and any other grantee an option to purchase transit equipment to the State; and
  - the State acts throughout the term of the contract as the lead procurement agency.
(b) Buy America
- The requirements of section 5323(j) of title 49, United States Code, shall apply to all procurements carried out under a cooperative procurement contract described in subsection (a).
(c) Definition of grantee
- In this section, the term grantee means a recipient or subrecipient of assistance under chapters 53 or 229 of title 49, United States Code.

Sec. 6. Federal Transit Administration staffing and administrative funding.

There is authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for salaries and other administrative expenses related to the implementation of this Act and the amendments made by this Act, including—

providing assistance to entities eligible for assistance under this Act and the amendments made by this Act pursuing bus network redesigns;
providing assistance to such entities pursuing projects eligible for such assistance on environmental review, planning, engineering, and design from the inception of a project through the start of construction of such project;
adjudicating disputes between transit providers and right-of-way holders over the implementation of transit priority measures; and
producing research independently and in collaboration with University Transportation Centers on international best standards for transit planning, design, engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance, and disseminate such research to such entities and private sector industry.

(6) Conditions of grant assistance

As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall—
- in the case of an entity that is a recipient of a grant under section 5307—
  - (i) report to the Federal Transit Administration, for inclusion in the National Transit Database—
  - the service frequency, vehicle revenue hours, and unlinked passenger trips originating and terminating in areas of persistent poverty and underserved communities;
  - the number of jobs and essential services accessible by transit, and improvement in such access, including specific reporting on access by transit for areas of persistent poverty and underserved communities; and
  - any other data the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate; and
  - (ii) during the 1-year period preceding the date on which the entity receives such grant, and at least every 2 years thereafter, conduct a survey of transit riders and nonriding residents of areas of persistent poverty and underserved communities on transit service improvements, using means designed to maximize participation from riders and nonriders, and publish the survey results in an online format;
- in the case of an entity that is Indian Tribe—
  - (i) report to the Federal Transit Administration, for inclusion in the National Transit Database—
  - revenue vehicle hours and unlinked passenger trips; and
  - any other data the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate; and
  - (ii) during the 1-year period preceding the date on which the entity receives such grant, and at least every 2 years thereafter, conduct a survey of transit riders and nonriding residents of the service area on transit service improvements, using means designed to maximize participation from riders and nonriders, and publish the survey results in an online format; and
- in the case of an entity that is a State receiving a grant under section 5311—
  - (i) report to the Federal Transit Administration, for inclusion in the National Transit Database—
  - revenue vehicle hours for each State, including revenue vehicle hours and unlinked passenger trips originating and terminating in areas of persistent poverty and underserved communities; and
  - any other data the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate;
  - (ii) provide an annually updated report to the Secretary—
  - that identifies underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty in the nonurbanized areas of the State that do not have any reported public transit services, or in which either the availability or utilization of rural public transit is in the bottom quintile of all rural public transit services in the United States, using measurements identified by the Secretary; and
  - that describes progress toward achieving a strategy for establishing high-quality transit service in such communities and areas; and
  - (iii) during the 1-year period preceding the date on which the State receives such grant, and at least every 2 years thereafter, conduct a survey of transit riders and nonriding residents of areas of persistent poverty and underserved communities within the State regarding transit service improvements, using means designed to maximize participation from riders and nonriders, and publishes the survey results in an online format.

(9) Definitions

In this subsection:
(A) Additional forms of collective transportation
- The term additional forms of collective transportation means forms of collective transportation that are not considered public transportation, including intercity passenger rail transportation, intercity bus service, and school bus service.
(B) Area of persistent poverty
- The term area of persistent poverty means—
  - (i) a county that has consistently had greater than or equal to 20 percent of the population of such county living in poverty during the most recent 30-year period for which data is available, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses; or
  - (ii) a census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent as measured by the 2014 through 2018 5-year data series available from the American Community Survey of the Bureau of the Census.
  - (iii) The term eligible bus network redesign means a fixed route bus network redesign that—
  - through eligible projects, is expected to increase total transit network ridership levels by 100 percent more than such ridership levels as of April 1, 2025, by the end of the 6-year period beginning on the date of implementation of such redesign;
  - is informed by extensive, equitable outreach to affected communities, underserved communities, and areas of persistent poverty communities; and
  - does not rely on ridership increases from—
  - microtransit;
  - automated buses; and
  - fare elimination.
  - (iv) The term eligible entity means a recipient of funds under section 5307 or 5311.
  - (v) The term eligible project means any project, or program of projects, that is implemented as part of an eligible bus network redesign, including—
  - a project that reconfigures routes to better serve trips individuals are seeking to take;
  - a project that improves integration of fixed route bus service and—
  - higher order forms of public transportation; and
  - additional forms of collective transportation;
  - a project that consolidates stops on fixed route bus service;
  - a project that rationalizes fare policies through means such as fare integration, fare capping, and fare subsidization;
  - a project that decreases headways;
  - a project that expands service area, hours, or days;
  - a project for new or increased frequent nonfixed guideway service or frequent fixed guideway service; and
  - associated capital improvements related to projects described in clauses (i) through (vii).
  - (vi) The term higher-order forms of public transportation means bus rapid transit, light rail transit, heavy rail transit, and commuter rail.
  - (vii) The term overview means a list of routes on a bus network, a timetable for each route, and a map showing each route, with connections to higher-order forms of public transportation and additional collective transportation noted on the timetable and map.
  - (viii) The term underserved community means—
  - a census tract or block numbering area in which the median income does not exceed 80 percent of the area median income;
  - families with income not greater than 100 percent of the area median income that reside in minority census tracts;
  - families with income not greater than 100 percent of the area median income that reside in areas affected by disasters, as determined by the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration;
  - a census tract that has a minority population of at least 30 percent or a median income of less than 100 percent of the area median income;
  - a community that has low access to jobs and essential services, as determined by the Secretary; or
  - a census block or group of geographically contiguous census blocks in which the population of any racial or ethnic minority individuals, individually or in combination, comprises 30 percent or more of the population of persons in the census block or group of geographically contiguous census blocks.

(h) All stations accessibility program

(1) In general
- The Secretary may make grants under this subsection to assist eligible entities in financing capital projects to upgrade accessibility for individuals with disabilities by increasing the number of covered stations that meet the construction standards of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (). 42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.
(2) Eligible costs
- A grant awarded under this section shall be used by an eligible entity for the purpose described in paragraph (1) only—
  - for a project to repair, improve, or relocate station infrastructure at a covered station;
  - to develop or modify a plan for pursuing public transportation accessibility projects; or
  - to carry out other projects at covered stations that meet the construction standards of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (). 42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.
(3) Eligible facilities
- The Secretary—
  - may not provide a grant under this subsection to upgrade a station that is accessible to, and usable by, individuals with disabilities consistent with construction standards under title II the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (); and 42 U.S.C. 1231 et seq.
  - may provide a grant to upgrade a station that is not accessible and usable as described in paragraph (1), even if related services, programs, or activities, if viewed in entirety, are readily accessible and usable as so described.
(4) Application
- To apply for a grant under this subsection, an applicant shall provide to the Secretary such information as the Secretary may require, including information on—
  - the extent to which the proposed project will increase the accessibility of a covered system;
  - projected improvements in access to jobs, community activities, and essential destinations provided by such project;
  - the applicant’s plans to—
    - (i) enhance the customer experience and maximize accessibility of stations, and the transit options such stations serve, for individuals with disabilities;
    - (ii) improve the operations of, provide efficiencies of service to, and enhance the public transportation system for individuals with disabilities; and
    - (iii) address equity of service to all riders regardless of whether the riders are low-income, seniors, or members of a community of color; and
  - coordination between the applicant and disability advocacy entities.
(5) Federal share
- The Federal share of the total project cost of a grant provided under this subsection shall be 90 percent. The recipient may provide additional local matching amounts.
(6) Grant requirements
- Except as otherwise provided under this subsection, a grant provided under this subsection shall be subject to the requirements of section 5307.
(7) Grant solicitation
- The Secretary may provide funds authorized under this subsection through 1 or more notices of funding opportunity.
(8) Funding
- (A) Authorization of appropriations
  - There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to provide grants under this subsection.
- (B) Availability of amounts
  - Amounts made available under this subsection shall be available for a period of 4 fiscal years after the fiscal year in which the amount is made available.
(9) Definitions
- In this section:
- (A) Covered station
  - The term covered station means a bus station, a multimodal transfer station, or a rail fixed guideway public transportation station for passenger use constructed prior to the date of enactment of the .
- (B) Disability
  - The term disability has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (). 42 U.S.C. 12102
- (C) Eligible entity
  - The term eligible entity means—
    - (i) a recipient or subrecipient of assistance under section 5307 or 5311; or
    - (ii) a State or local government that operates a rail fixed guideway public transportation system that was in operation before July 26, 1990.

(7) Definitions

In this subsection:
(A) Specified collaboration
- The term specified collaboration means—
  - (i) the owner of a public right-of-way about which a transit provider has made a formal request shall—
  - respond not later than 180 days after the date on which such owner submits such request with—
  - the expected cost of implementing the requested transit priority measures;
  - an identification of any funding sources such owner expects to use to construct the requested transit priority measures; and
  - any timelines for completion of the construction of such measure, depending on any variations in circumstances, taking into consideration—
  - how existing funds from of title 49 and of title 23 are spent; and chapter 53; chapter 1
  - how long it may take to access additional needed funding; and
  - work with transit providers to create the maximum feasible impact of implementing transit priority measures in the most expeditious manner possible by—
  - adding transit priority measures to all projects scheduled to begin construction not later than 365 days of the date of enactment of this subsection, including—
  - all new construction and reconstruction or retrofit projects; and
  - all maintenance projects and ongoing operations, such as resurfacing, repaving, restriping, or rehabilitation; and
  - proposing amendments to the applicable transportation improvement program and statewide transportation improvement program to—
  - ensure projects on rights-of-way identified as suitable corridors in formal requests include transit priority measures requested by transit providers; and
  - prioritize implementing projects identified in formal requests by transit providers; and
  - (ii) not later than 120 days before carrying out a project on a suitable corridor for which the owner of a public right-of-way is required to produce a plan under section 5303 or 5304, such owner shall alert any transit provider operating on that corridor or operating in the same jurisdiction as that corridor and work cooperatively with the transit provider to incorporate any transit priority measures requested by the transit provider into the project.
(B) Formal request
- The term formal request means a request submitted to the owner of the public right-of-way that a suitable corridor is on, with copies sent to the applicable regional offices of the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration, indicating—
  - (i) the location at which the transit provider would like the right-of-way owner to implement transit priority measures;
  - (ii) which transit priority measures such provider would like the right-of-way owner to implement;
  - (iii) whether or not the requested transit priority measures—
  - would be immediately implementable through projects that would qualify for funding under section 5309; or
  - would set up the suitable corridor for the implementation of additional transit priority measures that would qualify for funding under section 5309;
  - (iv) the order of priority for the implementation of requested transit priority measures;
  - (v) an explanation of how the transit priority measures align with the program of projects required by sections—
  - 5307(b);
  - 5310(b)(6); and
  - 5311(2);
  - (vi) the benefits for transit riders that they expect to see from the implementation of the transit priority measures; and
  - (vii) the conditions that make the identified right-of-way a suitable corridor for transit priority measures.
(C) Suitable corridors
- The term suitable corridors means—
  - (i) the right-of-way and quarter-mile on either end of a right-of-way where—
  - at least six buses are scheduled to run each hour; or
  - there are at least 2 lanes in each direction for all-purpose vehicle travel; or
  - (ii) any right-of-way where light rail vehicles are scheduled to run at a frequency of at least 6 vehicles per hour.
(D) Transit-friendly intersections projects
- The term transit-friendly intersections projects means projects that include—
  - (i) converting a stop-sign to a traffic signal;
  - (ii) adding a turn arrow signal, which may or may not be bus-activated; and
  - (iii) traffic signal priority.
(E) Transit-friendly streets projects
- The term transit-friendly streets projects means projects that include—
  - (i) the addition, improvement, or widening of sidewalks;
  - (ii) the conversion of on-street parking spaces to designated loading zones;
  - (iii) the consolidation or removal of underutilized or duplicative driveways;
  - (iv) the installation of transit-only lanes that have restricted access for nonemergency vehicles, including—
  - curbside transit-only lanes;
  - median transit-only lanes with either left- or right-side door boarding;
  - offset transit-only lanes that are paired with either transit stop bump outs or boarding islands to ensure that parked vehicles do not prevent transit riders from onboarding or offboarding a transit vehicle; and
  - dedicated transit-only lanes on limited-access highways;
  - (v) the introduction of turn restrictions to prevent through-traffic by nontransit vehicles; and
  - (vi) the conversion of a right-of-way to a transit mall, wherein transit vehicles are the only vehicles allowed, with limited exceptions for timed deliveries.
(F) Transit-friendly transit stop projects
- The term transit-friendly transit stop projects means projects that include—
  - (i) the installation of lighting, seating, shelter, signage that tracks arrival time of buses, and additional wayfinding;
  - (ii) raising the height of the sidewalk and curb at a bus stop to make boarding easier;
  - (iii) the construction of transit stop bump-outs or boarding islands; and
  - (iv) the installation of bicycling parking, either protected or unprotected, around bus stops that are served by routes with at least four buses per hour.
(G) Transit priority measures
- The term transit priority measures means changes to the design of a public right-of-way that reallocate space away from all-purpose vehicle traffic and towards transit vehicles through transit-friendly transit stop projects, transit-friendly streets projects, and transit-friendly intersections projects in order to improve the efficiency and reliability of transit service.
(H) Transit vehicles
- The term transit vehicles means transit buses, light rail trains, and, when operated on limited access highways, intercity buses.

(b) Metropolitan transportation planning

(1) More options before more lanes
- Section 134(h) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
  - (4) More options before more lanes
    - Before carrying out a project to construct new capacity, or maintain existing capacity through reconstruction, for single-occupancy passenger vehicles, a metropolitan planning organization shall submit to the Secretary, and make publicly available, documents that demonstrate that the metropolitan planning organization has completed all projects to implement transit priority measures requested by transit providers under section 5323(w). Not later than 15 days after the submission of such documents, the Secretary shall provide for a 180-day of public comment period on the veracity of the information provided in such submission. The Secretary shall approve or reject the submission not later than 365 days after such submission.
(2) Transit priority measures
- Section 5303 of title 49, United States Code is amended—
  - in subsection (i)(2), by adding at the end the following:
    - (I) Transit priority measures
      - An identification of the locations in which a transit provider may request the implementation of transit priority measures under section 5323(w).
  - in subsection (j)—
    - (i) in paragraph (1)(A)—
    - in clause (ii), by striking and at the end;
    - in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
      - (iv) includes any projects for transit priority measures, as defined in section 5323(w), on public rights-of-way within the jurisdiction of the metropolitan planning area that are requested by transit providers;
    - by adding at the end the following:
    - (ii) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following:
      - (E) Transit priority measures
        
        The program shall include any projects requested by transit providers for transit priority measures, as defined in section 5323(w), on public rights-of-way within the jurisdiction of the metropolitan planning area that are requested by transit providers.