The Resilient Transit Act of 2025 creates a new federal grant program to help public transit systems prepare for and withstand climate-related disasters. The bill allows states and local governments to use federal transportation funding to make their buses, trains, and transit infrastructure more resilient against flooding, extreme heat, wildfires, and other climate impacts.

The money can be used for practical improvements like installing flood barriers at transit stations, adding backup power systems, replacing equipment damaged by extreme weather, upgrading drainage systems, and assessing which parts of transit systems are most vulnerable to future climate threats. Transit agencies can also use the funds for planning and developing emergency response strategies.

The bill prioritizes helping communities that are most vulnerable to climate change and environmental hazards, including low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, and areas with high poverty rates. It sets aside about 3 percent of the grant funding specifically for these underserved communities. The Department of Transportation must report annually to Congress on how the money is being spent and which communities are benefiting from the improvements. The bill provides $300 million in new funding for this resilience program starting in 2026.

Resilient Transit Act of 2025

Gillibrand, Kirsten E.

Resilient Transit Act of 2025This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide grants under the State of Good Repair Grants Program&nbsp;to assist states and local governments in financing public transportation resilience improvement projects that increase the resilience of public transportation systems from the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise, flooding, wildfires, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters. Under the program, grants may be used for (1) standalone projects, and (2) components of capital projects.DOT must submit an annual report to Congress on the grants provided under this bill and publish the report on DOT's website.&nbsp;