Streamlined Transit Apportionment Act

Summary#

This bill changes parts of title 49 of the United States Code that affect transit funding, grant timing, and some paperwork and review processes. Key changes in the bill text include: apportioning amounts to States and recipients in urbanized areas under 1,000,000 in population by December 1 of the fiscal year; extending the availability of bus formula funds from 3 fiscal years to 5 fiscal years; allowing recipients who certify that remaining asset disposition amounts will be used for capital projects under sections 5307, 5310, or 5311 to keep those amounts; directing the Secretary to minimize documentation for projects that qualify for categorical exclusion from environmental assessments or impact statements; encouraging early consultation with State historic preservation offices; requiring the Secretary of Transportation to review FTA discretionary grant reporting requirements within one year and to eliminate, consolidate, or reduce some requirements and report those changes to relevant congressional committees; and narrowing FTA triennial reviews to focus on prior deficiencies and randomly sampling up to 5 other compliance categories.

What it means for you#

  • Transit recipients in urbanized areas under 1,000,000 people would have apportioned funds provided by December 1 of the fiscal year, rather than later.
  • Bus formula grant funds would remain available for 5 fiscal years instead of 3.
  • Recipients that certify remaining asset-disposition amounts will be used for capital projects under sections 5307, 5310, or 5311 can use those amounts for those capital projects.
  • Projects seeking categorical exclusion from environmental review would face reduced documentation and study requirements, as directed.
  • Project sponsors are encouraged to consult State historic preservation offices early, before certain historic review processes begin.
  • The Department of Transportation must review and try to reduce or combine reporting requirements for Federal Transit Administration discretionary grant recipients and report planned changes to two congressional committees.
  • FTA triennial reviews will focus on past deficiencies and will randomly sample up to 5 additional compliance areas rather than reviewing everything in full.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs, savings, or budget effects is included in the bill text or provided metadata.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata explains supporters' arguments or stated benefits beyond the bill's text and title.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata explains opponents' arguments or stated concerns.