METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

17 public transit projects still awaiting $1.4B from Feds

Authorities in these cities have been counting on federal dollars to move ahead with planning and construction.

August 22, 2018
17 public transit projects still awaiting $1.4B from Feds

T4America created a clock to keep track of how much time the projects have been waiting for funding.

Screenshot via T4America

2 min to read


T4America created a clock to keep track of how much time the projects have been waiting for funding.

Screenshot via T4America

WASHINGTON, D.C. — CityLab and Transportation 4 America report that 151 days, 20 hours, and 41 minutes have passed since President Trump signed a $1 trillion federal infrastructure bill and public transit agencies are still waiting for the $1.4 billion that was promised to transit projects across the U.S., with no clear reason being given by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as to why there is a holdup.

Overall, 17 rail and rapid bus projects are awaiting grants promised by the federal appropriations bill signed into law by the President in March 2018. The list according to T4America includes:

Ad Loading...
  • Albuquerque, N.M. — Central Avenue BRT

  • Dallas — DART Red & Blue Line Platform Extension

  • El Paso, Texas — BRT Extension

  • Jacksonville, Fla. — Southwest BRT

  • Los Angeles — Purple Line Extension (LRT), Section 3

  • Minneapolis — Blue Line, Green Line, and Orange Line (LRT) Extension

  • New York City — Canarsie (L) Line Improvements

  • Orange County, Calif. — Streetcar

  • Reno, Nev. — Virginia Street BRT

  • Sacramento, Calif. — Riverfront Streetcar

  • Seattle — Lynnwood LRT extension and Madison Street BRT

  • South Shore, Ind./Ill. — Commuter Rail Double Tracking

  • St. Petersburg, Fla. — Central Avenue BRT

  • Tempe, Ariz. — Streetcar

Authorities in these cities have been counting on federal dollars to move ahead with planning and construction, with many already committing hundreds of millions in local resources toward their completion. The FTA’s procedural slowdown is worrying transit agencies, consternating commuters and advocates, and embarrassing the political leaders who championed the projects, reports CityLab, which also points out delays of any kind also tend to increase the costs of the projects.

T4America has also created a clock to keep track of how much time the projects have been waiting for funding. To view the tracker, click here. For the full CityLab story, click here.


More Management

AAAHI receiving METRO's Innovative Operator of the Year Award
Motorcoachby Alex RomanSeptember 16, 2026

METRO Opens Submissions for 2026 Motorcoach Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for METRO Magazine’s Operator of the Year and Innovative Operator of the Year awards.

Read More →
A New York MTA subway car with an open gangway
Railby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 16, 2026

New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion

Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.

Read More →
Transit Leaders Gather for National Safety Summit
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanSeptember 16, 2026

Transit Agencies Highlight Safety Gains at National Summit

Leaders from 15 major transit systems shared crime-reduction results and safety initiatives while discussing the role of continued federal support.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with text reading "NITA Names New Leadership, Expands Reduced-Fare Program."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 14, 2026

NITA Names New Leadership, Expands Reduced-Fare Program at First Board Meeting

The new regional transit authority appointed its first board chair and interim executive director while extending reduced fares across CTA, Metra, and Pace for eligible riders.

Read More →
From Checklists to Better Outcomes
TechnologySeptember 11, 2026

Beyond the Checklist: A Structured Approach to Transit Maintenance

Reliability-Centered Maintenance helps transit agencies move beyond routine checklists to focus limited resources on the assets and failures that have the greatest impact on safety, reliability, and service.

Read More →
A red, white, and blue graphic with the APTA logo and text reading "APTA Nominates 2026-2027 Chair & Vice Chair."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 10, 2026

APTA 2026 Nominating Committee Selects Leadership Slate, Names Chair and Vice Chair Nominees

Leadership changes will help shape the association’s priorities and its representation of the transportation industry during the 2026–2027 term.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
DART's light rail station at 8th and Corinth
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanSeptember 10, 2026

DART Launches Major Security, Fare Enforcement Initiative

The 90-day demonstration will deploy coordinated security teams at five light rail stations while testing controlled access and gathering data to guide future investments.

Read More →
STraffic White Paper Cover Learn about delivering 1300 gates at 91 stations while managing fare evasion. Explore the large scale deployment, solution customization and real-world results that affect the region. Prepare for deployment in your region now.
SponsoredSeptember 9, 2026

Advancing Fare Collection Through Technology and Innovation

Learn about delivering 1300 gates at 91 stations while managing fare evasion. Explore the large scale deployment, solution customization and real-world results that affect the region. Prepare for deployment in your region now.

Read More →
A TransLink train goes by a large FIFA World Cup soccer ball structure.
Managementby Elora HaynesSeptember 8, 2026

Game Day in Motion: Moving Millions During the 2026 World Cup

Between packed transit stations and team motorcoaches, see how agencies and operators across North America tackled the transportation demands of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with text reading "Surface Transportation Averts Shutdown, Leaves Transit Funding Gap."
Managementby Elora HaynesSeptember 4, 2026

Surface Transportation Extension Averts Shutdown, Leaves Transit Funding Gap

The stopgap keeps federal transportation programs moving, but missing advance funding could complicate the transit and rail projects agencies are planning next.

Read More →