No Desire for Streetcars Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3822
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-07: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-15T08:06:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "No Desire for Streetcars Act" (H.R. 3822) aims to prevent the use of federal transportation funds from specific programs for the development, operation, or upkeep of streetcars, which are fixed-rail public transit vehicles typically running on streets in urban areas.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition in Surface Transportation Block Grant Program: Amends Section 133 of Title 23, U.S. Code, to bar states from using apportioned funds for procuring, operating, or maintaining streetcars.
- Prohibition in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program: Amends Section 149(c) of Title 23, U.S. Code, to explicitly exclude streetcar projects from receiving any funds under this program, which supports efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.
- Prohibition in Urbanized Area Formula Grants: Amends Section 5307 of Title 49, U.S. Code, to prevent grant funds from being used for streetcar procurement, operation, or maintenance in urban areas.
- Prohibition in Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants: Amends Section 5309 of Title 49, U.S. Code, to block grant funds from supporting streetcar-related activities under this program for major capital transit investments.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new restrictions on federal funding by adding explicit prohibitions to four key transportation funding statutes (Titles 23 and 49, U.S. Code). Previously, these programs could potentially allocate funds to streetcar projects as part of broader public transit or infrastructure initiatives, but the amendments override that flexibility with blanket bans, regardless of other provisions in the laws.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and state transportation departments will need to enforce these funding restrictions, potentially redirecting resources to other transit modes like buses or rail systems, which could streamline grant administration but limit project options.
- On Citizens: Residents in urban areas planning or relying on streetcar expansions may face delays, cancellations, or increased local costs for such projects, affecting access to affordable public transit and urban mobility.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic transportation funding.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State and Local Governments: Including departments of transportation and transit authorities that receive federal grants and may need to seek alternative funding for streetcar initiatives.
- Urban Planners and Developers: Those involved in city infrastructure projects, who could see streetcar proposals deprioritized.
- Public Transit Users: Particularly in cities with existing or proposed streetcar lines, who might experience reduced transit options.
- Federal Agencies: Primarily the DOT, responsible for overseeing compliance with the new prohibitions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The amendments use "notwithstanding" clauses to ensure the prohibitions take precedence over conflicting provisions in the affected statutes, providing clear enforceability but potentially inviting legal challenges from localities arguing that the bans infringe on established grant uses.
- Constitutional: Relates to Congress's spending power under Article I, allowing restrictions on federal funds without broader constitutional issues, though it could raise questions about federalism if states view it as overreach into local transit decisions.
- Political: Signals a policy preference against subsidizing streetcars, possibly favoring more cost-effective or higher-capacity alternatives; it may spark debates on urban transit priorities but remains a targeted fiscal measure without broader ideological overtones in the bill text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-07: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- 2025-06-06: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-06-06: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Desire for Streetcars Act — issued 2025-06-06 — PDF (3 pages)