Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 7298

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-31: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Last Updated

2026-06-03T08:09:10Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act of 2026 aims to expand and strengthen federal support for planning grants related to transit-oriented development (TOD). TOD refers to development around public transit stops to encourage walkable, mixed-use communities that reduce reliance on cars. The bill updates an existing program to make it more flexible, inclusive, and funded, helping communities plan for better-connected transit systems and surrounding areas.

Key Provisions

• Program Renaming and Structure: Changes the program from a "Pilot Program" to a permanent "Grant Program" under federal transportation law.
• Expanded Project Eligibility: Defines eligible projects as:
• New fixed guideway capital projects (e.g., rail or dedicated bus lines).
• Fixed guideway bus rapid transit projects (high-quality bus systems with dedicated lanes).
• Corridor-based investments in existing fixed guideway systems (upgrades along transit routes).
• Broader Predevelopment Activities: Includes funding for planning, site evaluations, engineering designs, community outreach, feasibility studies, utility coordination, accessibility checks, and other site preparation steps.
• Eligible Grant Uses: Grants can support:
• Integrated planning for land use, housing, and transportation.
• Addressing infrastructure, utilities, and zoning to promote TOD.
• Predevelopment work to ready sites for development.
• Improving access to transit for everyone, including people with disabilities, seniors, veterans, and transit-dependent groups (e.g., via paratransit services or bike paths).
• Funding Authorization: Allocates $75 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, in addition to existing transit funding.
• Code Relocation: Moves the program from its current spot in temporary law to a permanent section (49 U.S.C. § 5303(s)) in the U.S. Code for long-term stability.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Wider Scope: Previously limited to specific new rail or core capacity projects; now includes bus rapid transit and upgrades to existing systems, broadening access for more communities.
• Enhanced Activities: Adds predevelopment tasks and accessibility improvements, which were not explicitly covered before, and expands community engagement requirements.
• Shift from Pilot to Permanent: Removes the experimental "pilot" label, signaling full commitment, and relocates it to core transportation statutes for easier administration.
• New Funding Stream: Introduces dedicated annual appropriations, replacing reliance on ad-hoc funding.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will administer a larger, ongoing program, potentially increasing workload for grant reviews but streamlining planning for transit projects. Local and state agencies gain more predictable funding.
• On Citizens: Improves transit access and urban planning, benefiting transit users (especially underserved groups like low-income residents, disabled individuals, and seniors) by fostering affordable housing, reduced traffic, and equitable mobility near transit hubs.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it supports U.S. goals for sustainable transport, which could align with global climate efforts (e.g., reducing emissions via better public transit).
• Broader Effects: Encourages denser, greener communities, potentially lowering housing costs and environmental harm from sprawl, but may strain local resources in implementation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Transit Agencies and Local Governments: Primary recipients of grants for planning and development around transit.
• Developers and Planners: Benefit from funding for site preparation and feasibility studies to build TOD projects.
• Communities and Residents: Especially transit-dependent populations (e.g., low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans), who gain better access and connectivity.
• Federal Agencies: DOT oversees distribution; Congress controls funding levels.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Integrates the program into permanent U.S. Code, ensuring continuity beyond the original 2012 act's temporary provisions; no conflicts with existing environmental or accessibility laws (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act) but reinforces them through new requirements.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under the Commerce Clause to fund interstate transportation; promotes equal protection by emphasizing access for vulnerable groups, without raising federalism concerns as it provides voluntary grants to states/locals.
• Political: Bipartisan potential in urban-rural divides, as it expands opportunities for mid-sized cities via bus projects; could face debates over funding priorities amid budget constraints, but supports national goals like climate resilience and housing affordability without controversial mandates.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-31: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
• 2026-01-30: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• 2026-01-30: Introduced in House
• 2026-01-30: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-30 — PDF (4 pages)