# Green Buses for Every Community Act

This bill makes sure that poorer communities get a fair share of federal money to buy new buses and improve bus facilities. Right now, there's no requirement that transit funding reach low-income neighborhoods, so wealthier areas often end up with newer, better bus systems while struggling communities get left behind. This bill changes that by setting aside at least 10 percent of federal bus funding specifically for projects that serve predominantly low-income areas.

The bill defines "low-income community" in a practical way: any neighborhood where either the poverty rate is at least 20 percent, or where the median family income falls below 80 percent of what's typical for the state or metro area. This captures both urban neighborhoods in big cities and struggling rural areas. By creating this definition and funding requirement, the bill ensures that federal dollars actually reach the communities that need better public transportation the most.

For everyday people, this means residents in lower-income neighborhoods would have better access to newer, cleaner buses and improved bus stops and facilities. Better public transportation can help people get to jobs, medical appointments, and schools more reliably. It also addresses environmental concerns by encouraging the use of cleaner buses in communities that often face the worst air pollution. The practical effect is that communities that have historically been overlooked in transportation planning would finally get resources to modernize their bus systems and make them more competitive with wealthier areas.

Green Buses for Every Community Act

Lynch, Stephen F.

Green Buses for Every Community Act This bill requires at least 10% of funding made available in a fiscal year for the low or no emissions competitive grant program for buses and bus facilities to be distributed to projects serving predominantly low-income communities. The bill defines a low-income community as any population census tract if (1) the poverty rate for such tract is at least 20%; or (2) the tract is not located within a metropolitan area and the median family income for such tract does not exceed 80% of statewide median family income, or the tract is located within a metropolitan area and the median family income does not exceed the 80% or the metropolitan area median family income.