Sponsors (4)
Official title: To foster greater deployment of same-day paratransit services for individuals with disabilities and to establish minimum standards for paratransit technology, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 26, 2026 by Lateefah Simon · Last progress March 26, 2026
The bill expands and modernizes same‑day paratransit (improving access, affordability, and digital inclusion for riders) by raising federal operating support and technology standards, but it increases federal spending and imposes significant short‑term costs and compliance burdens that could disadvantage small providers and strain local budgets.
People with disabilities and seniors will gain substantially expanded same‑day paratransit access and booking flexibility, improving access to work, health care, and community activities.
Local and state transit agencies (and riders) can operate more same‑day paratransit at lower net cost to agencies because federal operating shares rise (from ~50% up to 70–80%), enabling lower fares and expanded service.
Standards for open APIs, dynamic matching, and data ownership can let transit agencies use paratransit capacity more efficiently (more trips, lower per‑trip costs) and enable coordinated regional planning.
Higher federal operating shares and funding to expand same‑day paratransit will increase federal spending and could put pressure on the federal budget or taxpayers.
Transit agencies and local governments will face meaningful short‑term procurement, implementation, and operational costs (software replacements, integrations, training) to meet new standards and expand same‑day service.
Smaller and some rural providers — especially those that rely on contracted drivers or cannot meet minimum technical standards — may be disadvantaged, left with lower funding shares, or excluded from grants.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Raises federal operating-share caps for qualifying same-day paratransit (up to 80%) and requires FTA standards for paratransit software, barring funds for noncompliant systems after set deadlines.
Raises the federal share of operating grants to encourage transit agencies to offer same-day paratransit and requires the FTA to set minimum standards for paratransit software and technology. Agencies that meet the new standards can receive up to 70% of net operating costs (or up to 80% when using vehicles and staff employed directly by the recipient), and the FTA must publish technology standards within one year and block certain formula funds for noncompliant third-party software after set deadlines.