Sponsor
Richard Ray Larsen
Representative · D-WA
Representative · D-WA
The bill funds a targeted pilot to expand transit access for veterans and underserved rural/Tribal areas and builds evidence for future expansion, at the cost of limited scale, potential ongoing taxpayer-funded operating expenses, and added administrative burden for small jurisdictions.
Veterans in pilot locations will have improved access to transportation to reach VA facilities and veteran-serving organizations through funded routes and services.
Local governments and transit providers can obtain federal funding for capital, service agreements (including with private providers), and operating costs to start or sustain transit services.
Rural and Tribal communities could receive new or expanded transit services, increasing mobility options in underserved areas.
Taxpayers could face additional costs if federal funds are used to cover operating expenses without a guaranteed funding source after the 5-year pilot.
Smaller jurisdictions and Tribal governments may face administrative and compliance burdens to apply for the pilot, meet federal requirements, and produce required reports.
Limiting the pilot to at least five locations may not yield broadly generalizable results to address veterans' transit needs nationwide.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires DOT (with VA consultation) to create a five-year pilot grant program to expand transit services for veterans in rural and small urban areas.
Official title: To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program for grants to improve access to public transportation services for veterans, and for other purposes.
Introduced December 4, 2025 by Richard Ray Larsen · Last progress December 4, 2025
Creates a Department of Transportation pilot grant program to expand and improve public transit services for veterans in small urbanized and rural areas. DOT, working with VA, must set up the pilot within one year, award grants at no fewer than five eligible locations, require outreach to veterans, collect data from recipients, and deliver a consolidated report to Congress after the five-year pilot ends.