Dear Senators Collins, Murray, Hyde-Smith, and Gillibrand, and Representatives Cole, DeLauro, Womack, and Clyburn,
We are writing to you today to urge you to uphold the promise of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) throughout the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process, particularly regarding programs that make transit more effective, affordable, and accessible to everyone. Transit is essential to all communities – big, small, urban, and rural. Millions of people ride transit every day to access jobs, education, grocery stores, and health facilities. Transit riders include managers and workers, teachers and students, parents and children – people from all walks of life, including those who are too young, old, poor, or infirm to drive. These riders count on affordable and reliable transit to get them where they need to go, but far too often, that option is not available. And communities lose economic opportunities when transit options are limited.
A paper in the Journal of Transport & Health, Public transport investments as generators of economic and social activity, highlights the importance of transit services, which are critical to serve the needs of people living in areas of persistent poverty, in rural or urban areas, and Black or brown communities.
We also ask you to reject efforts to claw back funds, via rescissions, that states and local governments are counting on to modernize infrastructure. Doing so would set back progress, harm local economies, and hurt your constituents. With great economic uncertainty throughout our country, public transit is more important than ever as it is an engine for economic growth and job creation.
At this critical moment, the IIJA gives towns, cities, and states the ability to expand public transit options, replace thousands of deficient transit vehicles, including buses, with clean, zero-emission vehicles, and improve accessibility for the elderly and people with disabilities. But that is not possible unless Congress fulfills its promise to the American public and fully funds the vital programs contained in the bill.
We particularly urge you to fund:
Transit Programs
We ask that you include full funding for public transportation programs authorized in the IIJA in the FY2026 appropriations bill. For FY2026, the IIJA authorized $14.6 billion in contract authority from the Highway Trust Fund and $3.4 billion from general funds (along with $4.25 billion in advance appropriations). These programs are crucial for addressing ongoing shortfalls in mobility and access to opportunities. Low-income communities are more likely to rely on public transportation, yet those very communities are most often underserved, with infrequent and unreliable transit, which makes it more difficult for people to reach jobs, healthcare, and other services. Recognizing these challenges, the President and Congress promised a historic level of investment in transit through passage of the IIJA.
We want to call particular attention to the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program, which is authorized at $3 billion for FY2026 (with an additional $1.6 billion in IIJA advance appropriations). The CIG Program is the largest general-fund transit program and has often been subject to cuts in the budget process. This program funds the construction or expansion of new transit lines in both large and small communities, with project evaluation based in part on considerations such as the project’s contribution to economic development. As we confront highgas prices, unhealthy air, and continuing economic uncertainties, ensuring access to high-quality, frequent transit for all must be a priority.
We request that you include $3 billion, as authorized under the IIJA, for the CIG Program for FY 2026.
BUILD and MEGA Competitive Grant Programs
The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program, formerly known as RAISE and TIGER, funds a diverse array of capital improvements in surface transportation projects and has been an important source of support for transit and safe walking and biking access to transit. The new National Infrastructure Project Assistance (MEGA) program provides grants on a competitive basis to support projects of national and regional significance, including transit, which will help provide new multimodal transportation options in areas currently lacking them. The IIJA guarantees $1.5 billion to BUILD but authorizes Congress to add $1.5 billion in annual appropriations as well as $2 billion for MEGA.
We ask that Congress fund the combined BUILD and MEGA line item at its full $3.5 billion, in addition to the funding guaranteed in the infrastructure law.
Healthy Streets Program
The Healthy Streets Program is a new program created under the IIJA with an authorization of $100 million annually. This program supports investments in our urban infrastructure and would fund projects that reduce flooding, improve air quality and mitigate the urban heat island effect within low-income neighborhoods and communities of color by providing grants to state and local governments, as well as nonprofits, to plant trees and deploy smart surfaces, such as reflective pavement in urban heat islands and porous pavement in flood prone areas. The program would also fund assessments of urban heat islands and tree canopies with a specific focus on areas of extreme heat and poor air quality, including mapping of tree canopy gaps, flood-prone locations, and urban heat island hot spots in relation to communities of color, low-income populations, and transit stops and pedestrian walkways.
Since surface infrastructure materials in urban areas are traditionally selected based on lowest initial cost, most city surfaces are dark and impervious, absorbing roughly 90% of incoming heat and increasing water runoff and localized flooding. For this reason, cities are becoming increasingly hotter (the urban heat island effect), and more prone to flooding. Urban heat islands pose a serious threat to public health, particularly for children, the elderly, people with respiratory illnesses, and those who work outdoors. High temperatures also intensify air pollution in cities by creating smog, a dangerous pollutant that can make it difficult to breathe, triggering asthma attacks and spiking emergency room visits. Areas of urban heat island disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color, where walking, biking and taking transit for transportation can be an economic necessity. Addressing heat islands, reducing flooding and planting trees near pedestrian walkways and transit stops respects the dignity and comfort of all our people when using our transportation system.
We request that you fund the Healthy Streets program at $100 million in FY 2026, as authorized under the IIJA.
Reconnecting Communities
IIJA established a new Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) discretionary grant program, funded with $1 billion over the next 5 years. We strongly support efforts to reconnect communities, including a disproportionate number of underserved communities, that were previously cut off from economic opportunities by transportation infrastructure.
Starting in the 1950s, federal highway funds were used to construct highways that removed homes and businesses of Black and Latino persons, leading to a freeway system that erected physical boundaries separating people and communities of color. The physical isolation of neighborhoods of color effectuated by federally-funded highways isolated Americans on the basis of race and national origin from public facilities, services, quality schools and access to jobs outside the impoverished boundaries of these segregated neighborhoods. Cities like New Orleans and Houston have seen their Black communities decimated by highways. This isolation has caused lasting harms in Black and Latino communities in particular. For example, homes and businesses in the impacted Black and Latino communities have vastly lower property value than white communities.
We request that you include $102 million in your FY2026 appropriations bill for the RCP discretionary grant program, as authorized by IIJA. This program will continue the progress that has been made repairing past harms to underserved Black and Brown communities that have been disproportionately disconnected from vital economic services due to highway construction.
Thriving Communities
The Thriving Communities Program is an initiative to help disadvantaged, rural, and Tribal areas develop and deliver transformational community revitalization projects. No one knows their communities’ needs better than those who live there, yet too often, small and disadvantaged communities lack the technical expertise and capacity to effectively compete for federal grants.
Through the Thriving Communities Program, local areas receive intensive technical assistance to help them plan and develop a comprehensive pipeline of transportation and community revitalization projects. By participating in this program, these communities are empowered to utilize the historic funding provided under the IIJA to deliver infrastructure projects that meet their economic and community goals. While this program is not authorized under IIJA, it is a crucial program that provides technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to communities, enabling them to advance transportation projects that support their goals and needs.
We request that you include $75 million in the FY2026 appropriations bill for the Thriving Communities program. This funding will help more people access safe mobility choices, affordable housing, and economic opportunity, yielding long-term results for distressed communities across the country.
Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP)
The Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) facilitates the development and construction of safe, accessible walking, cycling, and public transportation routes. This investment will significantly improve the quality of life for millions of Americans, particularly those who cannot drive.
The provision of safe and accessible connections for walking and biking offers numerous advantages. It helps reduce pollution and alleviate traffic congestion by encouraging a shift to zero-emission transportation methods. Additionally, it meets the transportation and economic needs of smaller towns looking to establish better connections between communities. Moreover, establishing active transportation networks is essential to address increasing fatalities and serious injuries among pedestrians and bicyclists, making routine travel safer for everyone.
Given the growing interest from communities nationwide in applying for these grants, we request you allocate $200 million in FY2026, as authorized under IIJA.
Sincerely,
National Campaign for Transit Justice, LeeAnn Hall
Transportation for America, Benito Perez
America Walks, Mike McGinn
Institute for Policy Studies Climate Policy Program, Basav Sen
League of Conservation Voters (LCV), Darien Davis
Natural Resources Defense Fund, Shruti Vaidyanathan
Smart Growth America, Beth Osborne
Rails to Trails Conservancy, Kevin Mills
Sierra Club, Katherine Garcia
10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, Stacie Reidenbaugh, CEO
1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Trevor Roark
Active Prince William, Allen Muchnick
BetterTransitNOW, Paul Sturm
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Chris Gale
Bike Cleveland, Jacob VanSickle
Bike Durham, John Tallmadge
Bike Fitchburg, Steve Arnold
BikeLA, Eli Akira Kaufman
Center for Neighborhood Technology, Miriam Savad
Central Florida Jobs With Justice, Jonathan AlinguCitizens for Modern Transit, Kimberly Cella
City of Twin Falls, Maxine Durand
Clean Air Council, Titania Markland
Coalition for Clean Transportation, Joshua Houdek
Coalition for Economic Justice, Anthony Gault
Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities, Colin Fiske
Coalition for Smarter Growth, Stewart Schwartz
Community Health Network for North Central MA, Chelsey Patriss
Conservation Law Foundation, Paulina Muratore
CultureHouse, Aaron Greiner
Denver Streets Partnership, Jill Locantore
Detroit Disability Power, Kaci Pellar
Detroit Greenways Coalition, Todd Scott
Drive Electric Dayton, Rap Hankins
Drive Electric RVA, Charles Gerena
East Coast Greenway Alliance, Allison Burson
East Metro Strong, William Schroeer
Families for Safe Streets, Thomas DeVito
Farm&City, Jay Blazek Crossley
Good Jobs First, Greg LeRoy
Grassroots Alexandria, Jonathan Krall
Green New Deal Network, Giancarlo Valdetaro
Grow Smart RI, John Flaherty
Illinois Environmental Council, Dany Robles
Joy Machines Bike Shop, Alex Nosse
Madison Area Bus Advocates, Susan De Vos
Maine People’s Alliance, Jesse Graham
Maryland Legislative Coalition, Cecilia Plante
Metropolitan Planning Council, Chicago, Audrey Wennink
Missouri Public Transit Association, Kimberly Cella
Missouri Workers Center, Aditi Ramaswami
Mobilify Southwestern Pennsylvania, Chris Sandvig
MOSES Action, Ponsella Hardaway
MountainTrue, Susan Bean
Move LA, Eli Lipmen
Move Minnesota, MJ Carpio
MOVE Ohio, Akshai Singh
Move Redmond, Kelli Refer
Parks & Trails New York, Dylan Carey
Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC), Lisa Daglian
Philly Transit Riders Union, Nat Lownes
Pittsburghers for Public Transit, Laura Chu Wiens
Planning and Conservation League, Matthew Baker
PODER, Antonio DíazProgressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, Laura Martin
Propel ATL, Jeremiah Jones
Providence Streets Coalition, Liza Burkin
PSOB Bike Committee, Marsha Hanchrow
Reconnect Rochester, Cody Donahue
Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Ann Silver
Revitalize San Pedro, Susan Hering
Riders Alliance, Betsy Plum
Rise and Resist Elevator Action Group, Jessica Murray
San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council, Christine Canaly
Seamless Bay Area, Adina Levin
Smart Growth America, Beth Osborne
Snohomish County Transportation Coalition, Brock Howell
Summit Campaigns, Ben Eisenberg
Sunrise Movement KC, Anthony Cunningham
Sustain Charlotte, Meg Fencil
Sustainable Mobility for Arlington County, Chris Slatt
The Funders Network, Ann Fowler Wallace
The People’s Lobby, Will Tanzman
The Street Trust, Sarah Iannarone
The Transit Coalition, Bart Reed
Transbay Coalition, Carter Lavin
Transform, Abi Rahman-Davies
Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee, Jessica DAuphin
Transit Columbus, Stevie Pasamonte
Transit For All PA, Connor Descheemaker
Transit Trekker, Kimberly Huntress-Inskeep
Transportation Alternatives, Elizabeth Adams
Transportation for Massachusetts, Pete Wilson
Transportation for Vermonters (T4VT), Evelyn Seidner
Transportation Riders United, Megan Owens
Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Jaqi Cohen
United Today, Stronger Tomorrow, Drew Cooper
Virginia Organizing, Brian Johns
WeMatter organization, Justina Plowden
In the Public Interest, Donald Cohen
Central Maryland Transportation Alliance, Brian O’Malley
Move California, Eli Lipmen
Native Organizers Alliance, Tremayne Nez
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Katie Huffling
Respiratory Health Association, Brian Urbaszewski
Clean Power Lake County, Mayra Mendez
ATU Local 689, Matthew Girardi
CASE- Citizens Alliance for a Sustainable Englewood, Janice BrownActive Transportation Alliance, Amy Rynell
Climate Defenders, Griffin
Our Streets, Joe Harrington
Environmental Law & Policy Center, Ann Mesnikoff
One Fair Wage, Fekkak Mamdouh
St. Vincent’s Green Team, Bethany Gregg
Living Streets Alliance, Emily Yetman
GreenLatinos, Andrea Marpillero-Colomina
Health by Design, Marc McAleavey