APTA Opposes USDOT Proposal to Eliminate Guaranteed Public Transit and Passenger Rail Funding

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has issued a strong rebuke of U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) proposals for the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. Secretary Sean Duffy’s plan suggests eliminating the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund and ending advance appropriations, which APTA warns would jeopardize more than 85% of federal investment in the sector. This move threatens the stability of formula grants and safety initiatives that are critical for maintaining infrastructure and service levels across the United States.

In a letter to Senate committee leaders, USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy outlined a vision for the next surface transportation reauthorization that includes redistributing Federal Highway Trust Fund resources away from the Mass Transit Account. APTA responded by stating that the proposal would effectively strip all guaranteed funding for public transit and passenger rail. By eliminating both the Mass Transit Account and advance appropriations, the federal government would remove the financial cornerstone that allows local communities to plan and deliver long-term infrastructure projects.

The association highlighted that these cuts would impact over 85% of federal investments, including vital formula grants for urban and rural systems, bus facilities, state of good repair projects, and services for seniors and individuals with disabilities. APTA specifically noted that rural and smaller communities would face an outsized impact, as they rely more heavily on federal support for both capital and operating needs. Furthermore, the proposal would eliminate guaranteed funding for safety-critical initiatives, such as competitive grants designed to remove dangerous highway-rail grade crossings.

While APTA expressed a desire to collaborate with the USDOT on advancing autonomous vehicle innovation and increasing private-sector participation in infrastructure, it urged Congress to reject the proposed funding cuts. The association argued that the next Surface Transportation Authorization Act should instead build upon current investment levels to support the national economy and transportation network for decades to come. The current proposal represents a significant shift in the federal partnership that has historically enabled predictable financing for the nation's rail and public transit systems.