Bus network redesign grants

Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 5307(c)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (K), by striking and at the end; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (M) plans to complete a bus network redesign by fiscal year 2045 and, beginning in fiscal year 2045 and each fiscal year thereafter, has completed a bus network redesign in the preceding 20-year period; and; and (2) in section 5339— (A) in subsection (b)— (i) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: (2) Grant considerations In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall— (A) consider the age and condition of buses, bus fleets, related equipment, and bus-related facilities; and (B) give priority to eligible recipients who have received a grant under subsection (e) and have successfully increased bus ridership as a result of the bus network redesign carried out with such grant.; and (ii) by adding at the end the following: (12) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $20,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (e) Bus network redesign grants (1) Grants authorized Not later than 720 days after the date of enactment of the Faster Buses Better Futures Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities. (2) Application To receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall complete an eligible bus network redesign and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— (A) an overview of the existing bus network; (B) an overview of the eligible bus network redesign; (C) an analysis of the impact of the bus network redesign on— (i) service hours; and (ii) route miles; (D) an analysis demonstrating that the eligible bus network redesign can increase transit ridership by 100 percent not later than 6 years after such redesign is implemented; (E) an evaluation examining any equity and mobility gaps in each transit system operated by the eligible entity or in the geographic area under the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, and how the eligible bus network redesign will significantly close such gaps, including— (i) public transit ridership rates, disaggregated by— (I) mode of transit; and (II) demographic group, including youth (including foster care youth), seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income individuals; and (ii) average length of bus routes, average speed of bus routes, and average delay times of bus routes; (F) an estimation of additional costs that the eligible entity will incur in order to implement the eligible bus network redesign, including— (i) fuel costs; (ii) personnel costs; (iii) maintenance costs; and (iv) other operational costs; and (G) a description of eligible projects that the eligible entity intends to carry out to implement the eligible bus network redesign, including— (i) expanding bus fleets; and (ii) constructing additional bus garages. (3) Grant uses A grant awarded under this section may only be used to— (A) carry out eligible projects; and (B) pay for the difference in operating costs between the existing level of fixed-route bus service and the level outlined in the eligible bus network redesign submitted pursuant to paragraph (2). (4) Federal share (A) Eligible projects The Federal share of the costs described in paragraph (3)(A) shall be 80 percent. (B) First 3-year period In calculating the Federal share of the costs described in paragraph (3)(B)— (i) for the 3-year period beginning on the date on which an eligible entity receives a grant under this subsection, such Federal share shall be 100 percent; and (ii) for any period of a grant award that is during the 3-year period beginning on the date on which the period described in clause (i) ends, such Federal share shall be 33 percent. (5) Priority In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize awarding grants to eligible entities that propose an eligible bus network redesign that is capable of increasing transit ridership by the largest percentage. (6) Conditions of grant assistance As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall— (A) in the case of an entity that is a recipient of a grant under section 5307— (i) report to the Federal Transit Administration, for inclusion in the National Transit Database— (I) the service frequency, vehicle revenue hours, and unlinked passenger trips originating and terminating in areas of persistent poverty and underserved communities; (II) the number of jobs and essential services accessible by transit, and improvement in such access, including specific reporting on access by transit for areas of persistent poverty and underserved communities; and (III) any other data the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate; and (ii) during the 1-year period preceding the date on which the entity receives such grant, and at least every 2 years thereafter, conduct a survey of transit riders and nonriding residents of areas of persistent poverty and underserved communities on transit service improvements, using means designed to maximize participation from riders and nonriders, and publish the survey results in an online format; (B) in the case of an entity that is Indian Tribe— (i) report to the Federal Transit Administration, for inclusion in the National Transit Database— (I) revenue vehicle hours and unlinked passenger trips; and (II) any other data the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate; and (ii) during the 1-year period preceding the date on which the entity receives such grant, and at least every 2 years thereafter, conduct a survey of transit riders and nonriding residents of the service area on transit service improvements, using means designed to maximize participation from riders and nonriders, and publish the survey results in an online format; and (C) in the case of an entity that is a State receiving a grant under section 5311— (i) report to the Federal Transit Administration, for inclusion in the National Transit Database— (I) revenue vehicle hours for each State, including revenue vehicle hours and unlinked passenger trips originating and terminating in areas of persistent poverty and underserved communities; and (II) any other data the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate; (ii) provide an annually updated report to the Secretary— (I) that identifies underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty in the nonurbanized areas of the State that do not have any reported public transit services, or in which either the availability or utilization of rural public transit is in the bottom quintile of all rural public transit services in the United States, using measurements identified by the Secretary; and (II) that describes progress toward achieving a strategy for establishing high-quality transit service in such communities and areas; and (iii) during the 1-year period preceding the date on which the State receives such grant, and at least every 2 years thereafter, conduct a survey of transit riders and nonriding residents of areas of persistent poverty and underserved communities within the State regarding transit service improvements, using means designed to maximize participation from riders and nonriders, and publishes the survey results in an online format. (7) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prevent an eligible entity from implementing a redesigned bus network through the use of any other Federal or non-Federal funds. (8) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $250,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. (9) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Additional forms of collective transportation The term additional forms of collective transportation means forms of collective transportation that are not considered public transportation, including intercity passenger rail transportation, intercity bus service, and school bus service. (B) Area of persistent poverty The term area of persistent poverty means— (i) a county that has consistently had greater than or equal to 20 percent of the population of such county living in poverty during the most recent 30-year period for which data is available, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses; or (ii) a census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent as measured by the 2014 through 2018 5-year data series available from the American Community Survey of the Bureau of the Census. (iii) Eligible bus network redesign The term eligible bus network redesign means a fixed route bus network redesign that— (I) through eligible projects, is expected to increase total transit network ridership levels by 100 percent more than such ridership levels as of April 1, 2025, by the end of the 6-year period beginning on the date of implementation of such redesign; (II) is informed by extensive, equitable outreach to affected communities, underserved communities, and areas of persistent poverty communities; and (III) does not rely on ridership increases from— (aa) microtransit; (bb) automated buses; and (cc) fare elimination. (iv) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means a recipient of funds under section 5307 or 5311. (v) Eligible project The term eligible project means any project, or program of projects, that is implemented as part of an eligible bus network redesign, including— (I) a project that reconfigures routes to better serve trips individuals are seeking to take; (II) a project that improves integration of fixed route bus service and— (aa) higher order forms of public transportation; and (bb) additional forms of collective transportation; (III) a project that consolidates stops on fixed route bus service; (IV) a project that rationalizes fare policies through means such as fare integration, fare capping, and fare subsidization; (V) a project that decreases headways; (VI) a project that expands service area, hours, or days; (VII) a project for new or increased frequent nonfixed guideway service or frequent fixed guideway service; and (VIII) associated capital improvements related to projects described in clauses (i) through (vii). (vi) Higher-order forms of public transportation The term higher-order forms of public transportation means bus rapid transit, light rail transit, heavy rail transit, and commuter rail. (vii) Overview The term overview means a list of routes on a bus network, a timetable for each route, and a map showing each route, with connections to higher-order forms of public transportation and additional collective transportation noted on the timetable and map. (viii) Underserved community The term underserved community means— (I) a census tract or block numbering area in which the median income does not exceed 80 percent of the area median income; (II) families with income not greater than 100 percent of the area median income that reside in minority census tracts; (III) families with income not greater than 100 percent of the area median income that reside in areas affected by disasters, as determined by the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration; (IV) a census tract that has a minority population of at least 30 percent or a median income of less than 100 percent of the area median income; (V) a community that has low access to jobs and essential services, as determined by the Secretary; or (VI) a census block or group of geographically contiguous census blocks in which the population of any racial or ethnic minority individuals, individually or in combination, comprises 30 percent or more of the population of persons in the census block or group of geographically contiguous census blocks..