Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act

This bill creates a new High Quality Transit Operating Support Program (referred to as 5308) within the federal transit program. The purpose is to provide grants to urbanized areas, states, and Indian Tribes to cover operating costs and fund service improvements that boost mobility and environmental sustainability. It emphasizes benefiting transit-dependent riders and underserved communities, and it includes specific funding formulas, eligible uses, and reporting requirements to ensure data collection and accountability. The bill also increases federal participation for certain rural areas and tribes, adds climate-related goals to the federal transit program, and requires a GAO review of the program’s outcomes within four years. In addition to creating 5308, the bill makes related changes such as (a) setting the federal share generally at 50% with higher shares for areas of persistent poverty or underserved communities (up to 80% in those areas and 100% for Indian Tribes), (b) enabling a two-year period to obligate funds, (c) requiring extensive reporting and rider/non-rider surveys, and (d) increasing the allowable federal share for rural operating costs up to 80% under 5311. It also directs regulatory development within a year and adds a sense that capital funding for transit should be increased.