The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) voiced its strong support for a letter from 124 representatives to leaders of the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee urging them to fully fund Public Transit Capital Investment Grants (CIG) and appropriate $3 billion for CIG in Fiscal Year 2024.
Combined with the advance appropriations provided by the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act, this appropriation would fully fund CIG at $4.6 billion.
The CIG investment would help address the need for funding the critical public transit capital projects. Currently, 65 CIG projects in 21 states are requesting $46 billion of CIG funds.
APTA also strongly supports the need to streamline project delivery and echoes the letter’s call to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to expedite the CIG review process.
“Local taxpayers rely on partnerships with the federal government to develop essential transit projects like those supported by CIG, and this funding is critical to developing a future-oriented transportation system that will meet the needs of our communities to reduce congestion, expand access to economic opportunity and provide transportation options,” the letter said.
“Strong public transportation grows the economy by connecting people to jobs, education, healthcare, businesses and opportunities. Investing in public transportation benefits all Americans,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “Public Transit Capital Investment Grants are critical to building communities. I thank Rep. [Earl] Blumenauer (D-OR) and his colleagues for leading this effort.”
