APTA Letter to House THUD Appropriations Subcommittee Leaders on on FY 2027 THUD Appropriations Priorities
| The Honorable Steve Womack Chairman Subcommittee on Transportation, HUD, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations U.S. House of Representatives 2358A Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 |
The Honorable James E. Clyburn Ranking Member Subcommittee on Transportation, HUD, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations U.S. House of Representatives 1036 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 |
Dear Chairman Womack and Ranking Member Clyburn:
On behalf of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), which represents the $102 billion public transportation industry that provides mobility for millions of Americans each year, directly employs more than 450,000 people, and supports millions of private-sector jobs, I write to urge you to provide robust investment for public transit and passenger rail for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 that builds upon current investment levels (including guaranteed funding).
Specifically, we urge you to provide $26.3 billion for public transit and $24.8 billion for passenger and freight rail in FY 2027, in line with APTA’s 2026 Surface Transportation Authorization Recommendations. These topline funding levels reflect FY 2026 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) authorization levels, with an adjustment to restore the purchasing power lost to inflation since 2021. Moreover, APTA’s Recommendations continue the IIJA’s guaranteed funding, as public transit contract authority and advance appropriations, and we look forward to working with Congress to ensure this critical guaranteed funding continues.
Public transportation drives the American economy, creating millions of jobs and strengthening local communities. Every $1 invested in public transportation generates $5 in long-term economic returns. It benefits more than just the people who ride it. In cities and towns across the nation, American workers build buses, trains, and technology that power our nation’s mobility. In fact, 77 percent of Federal public transportation investments flow to the private sector, and every $1 billion invested creates or sustains more than 41,000 jobs—family-wage jobs in manufacturing, technology, and services.
These critical investments will help public transit agencies address the more than $150 billion state-of-good repair backlog, meet growing mobility demands in our communities, and drive innovation and new technologies to enhance safety, security, and the rider experience.
Continuing to provide advance appropriations for public transportation programs is crucial to these efforts. Without these funds, public transit investment could be cut by 23 percent. Advance appropriations also serve as a critical source of funding for several key public transit investments. For instance, total Buses and Bus Facilities formula and competitive grants would be cut by 47 percent. At the same time, All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Grants targeted to increase the number of legacy rail stations meeting Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards would receive no funding. Similarly, Passenger and Freight Rail investment would be cut by 82 percent compared to FY 2026.
As part of APTA’s public transit investment Recommendations, APTA urges you to provide $5.7 billion for the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG). This funding will help communities address the growing demand for more mobility choices. These critical infrastructure investments help communities, large and small, design and construct new Bus Rapid Transit, commuter rail, subway, and light rail systems and extensions. Today, 54 projects across the nation are seeking $31.9 billion of CIG funds in FY 2027 and subsequent years.1
Moreover, public transit agencies play a critical role in Mega Events, providing increased capacity and optimized routes and frequency to move millions of fans efficiently. Thus, in addition to the amounts specifically requested for public transit investment pursuant to APTA’s Recommendations, we encourage Congress to provide the necessary funds to host and carry out the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Specifically, we understand that the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has identified $2.0 billion of unmet public transit capital and operating needs for LA Metro and its partners in California, Oklahoma, and other Olympic Venue cities to deliver world-class public transit services during the Games. We greatly appreciate Congress providing $94.3 million for public transit for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (2026 THUD Appropriations Act) (P.L. 119-75, Division D) and urge Congress to help address the significant, remaining unmet needs for the Games in the FY 2027 THUD Appropriations bill.
APTA also strongly supports several funding limitations. We greatly appreciate that the 2026 THUD Appropriations Act and prior THUD Appropriations Acts have included provisions to prohibit implementation of the Rostenkowski Test. We strongly encourage you to continue this provision in the FY 2027 THUD Appropriations bill, as requested in President Trump’s FY 2027 Budget Request. In addition, we encourage Congress to prohibit the U.S. Department of Transportation from impeding or hindering a project from advancing or approving a project seeking a CIG Federal share of more than 40 percent, as included in the 2025 THUD Appropriations Act and prior Acts.
Finally, APTA encourages you to fully fund passenger rail in accordance with APTA’s Recommendations, including Amtrak, Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination, Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail, and Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grants.
Thank you for your strong support for public transportation and consideration of our public transportation priorities. Investing in public transportation is a smart, practical investment in American leadership, jobs, and innovation. We look forward to working closely with you to enact a THUD Appropriations Act, as well as a new Surface Transportation Authorization Act, that ensures robust investment for public transit and passenger rail that builds upon current investment levels (including guaranteed funding).
Sincerely,  Paul P. SkoutelasPresident and CEO |
cc:
The Honorable Tom Cole, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives
Members, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives
1 APTA CIG Project Pipeline Dashboard (May 4, 2026).