# The TRAIN Act: Making It Easier to Fund Transit Improvements

This bill makes changes to how the federal government funds public transportation projects like buses, trains, and subway systems. Right now, the government has strict rules about what kinds of transit improvements it will pay for through federal grants. This bill loosens those rules to allow funding for a wider variety of projects that cities and transit agencies want to build.

Currently, federal money is mostly limited to funding entirely new transit corridors or major expansions. The TRAIN Act opens the door to funding improvements to existing transit systems that don't necessarily create brand new routes. This includes things like adding more frequent service on existing lines, expanding station capacity so more people can fit, building new stations in underserved areas, and upgrading platforms. The bill also allows federal funding to replace temporary fixes—like using older, secondhand rail equipment to temporarily boost capacity—with permanent solutions.

Another key change involves environmental considerations. The bill requires that when evaluating which transit projects deserve federal funding, decision-makers must consider whether projects use clean and renewable energy and whether they include measures to make transit more environmentally sustainable. This encourages cities to prioritize greener transportation options when planning improvements.

For everyday people, this means cities and transit agencies will have more flexibility in how they use federal transportation dollars. Instead of waiting to fund massive new projects, they can now get federal support for practical improvements that make existing transit work better—like running trains more often, making stations less crowded, or adding stops in neighborhoods that currently lack service. The emphasis on clean energy also means more of these improvements could involve electric buses or trains, reducing pollution in communities that rely on public transportation.

TRAIN Act

Curtis, John R.

Transit Revitalization And Infrastructure Needs Act or the TRAIN Act This bill expands the authority of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide fixed guideway capital investment grants. DOT may provide grants to state and local governments to assist in (1) expanding transit station platforms, (2) increasing service frequency, (3) increasing the capacity of an existing station, and (4) replacing temporary measures (including the use of rail equipment) which have been used to expand system capacity. A fixed guideway capital investment grant project may advance to the engineering phase of development if DOT makes certain determinations, including (1) that the project will increase capacity of an existing fixed guideway system, corridor, or station at least 10% or replace temporary measures; and (2) whether existing fixed guideway transit vehicles or stations are at or over capacity, or are projected to be at or over capacity within the next 10 years.