Congress advances transportation funding bill

The legislation largely maintains funding for public transportation and passenger rail but slashes a program to add intercity passenger trains.

SMARTCITIES DIVE

By Dan Zukowski

Jan. 22, 2026

Dive Brief:

• U.S. House and Senate appropriators agreed Tuesday on bipartisan legislation to fund transportation through the remainder of fiscal year 2026, which ends Sept. 30. 

• The bill “provides the overwhelming majority of public transit and passenger rail investments” funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, according to the American Public Transportation Association.

• The House is expected to vote on the measure this week, and the Senate next week, to prevent a partial federal government shutdown on Jan. 30.

Dive Insight:

The bill is “a really good-news story for our industry,” APTA President and CEO Paul Skoutelas said in a hastily arranged webinar for its members Wednesday.

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