President signs appropriations bill that includes $13.5B for FTA programs
APTA President/CEO Paul Skoutelas said that in passing the bill, "Congress has preserved the strong federal partnership with states and communities that is required to improve the nation’s transportation infrastructure."
President Trump signed the $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations bill to keep the federal government open until at least September and provides funding for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) programs to $13.5 billion, well more than the $12.3 billion authorized, and provides significant increases in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) commuter and intercity passenger rail programs as well.
“The bill reflects the importance that Congress places on the value of public transportation, for the contribution it makes to mobility, and for the role such investment plays in the vibrancy and economic prosperity of communities nationwide. In passing this bill, Congress has preserved the strong federal partnership with states and communities that is required to improve the nation’s transportation infrastructure. It will help create jobs, connect communities, and grow our economy,” said APTA President/CEO Paul P. Skoutelas.
Of the $13.5 billion for the FTA, $2.6 billion will go to the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program — a slight increase from the $2.4 billion allotted in FY 2017. The bill also increases funding for buses and bus facilities over the FY 2017 level from $720 million to $1.1 billion, while funding for the rail State of Good Repair program was increased from $2.6 billion to $3 billion.
The bill also increases funding for other transit formula programs as authorized by the FAST Act, including the appropriation of $1.5 billion for the TIGER program and $250 million for Positive Train Control implementation under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant program. It also increases Amtrak funding from $1.5 billion in FY 2017 to $1.9 billion this year, and provides significant increases for other passenger rail programs.
“Federal investments supported under these programs will help to address the $90 billion funding backlog, identified by the U.S. DOT, that is needed to bring America’s public transportation infrastructure back into a state of good repair,” added Skoutelas. “Additionally, these 2018 appropriations will help move public transportation forward and help communities of all sizes create economic growth.”
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
