CHARGE Investments Act

The CHARGE Investments Act would widen the use of the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program to support transit‑oriented development (TOD) around rail stations. Specifically, it allows direct loans and loan guarantees to finance economic development—including commercial and residential projects and related infrastructure—near fixed rail transit stations. To qualify, projects must be within 1/4 mile of a fixed rail guideway station, include more than 20% private investment, and be located at least 2 miles from a downtown core that isn’t served by intercity rail. The bill also creates an extended eligibility option for intercity rail stations that are not in a downtown core, allowing the nearest downtown core to count within a 2‑mile radius if the project sits in that downtown and there is a public transportation link between the station and the downtown area. Definitions for “downtown core” and “intercity rail passenger transportation” are provided. In short, the bill aims to catalyze housing and economic growth by expanding RRIF financing to TOD near rail stations, with specific proximity and private‑investment criteria and an added provision for connecting intercity railstations to nearby downtown cores.