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HR 5677119th CongressIn Committee
RIDE FAST Act
Introduced: Oct 3, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-California)
Infrastructure
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The RIDE FAST Act (Rail Improvement Design and Expansion for Faster Advanced State Transportation Act) would extend the period during which the federal government can authorize grants for intercity passenger rail projects. Specifically, it amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to push the authorization for grants under 49 U.S.C. section 24911 from 2026 to 2032. In short, this bill broadens the time frame for funding intercity rail improvements but does not by itself provide new funding amounts—federal spending would still depend on future appropriations.
Key Points
- 1Short title: The bill is called the RIDE FAST Act.
- 2Extends authorization window: Raises the end date for grant authorization from 2026 to 2032.
- 3Applies to intercity rail grants: Continues the program authorized under section 24911 of Title 49 U.S. Code for intercity passenger rail projects.
- 4Legal mechanism: Changes IIJA Section 22106(a) by striking 2026 and inserting 2032.
- 5Funding vs. authorization: The bill extends the authorization period but does not specify new funding levels; actual funding remains contingent on annual appropriations.
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected: State departments of transportation, intercity rail operators, and rail project sponsors that rely on federal grants to design and implement intercity passenger rail improvements.Secondary group/area affected: Infrastructure contractors, design and engineering firms, and local economies along rail corridors expecting long-range planning and construction activity.Additional impacts: Provides greater planning certainty for rail modernization and speed/expansion projects; federal budgeting and procurement timelines related to intercity rail will align with a longer authorization horizon, while actual funding remains subject to future appropriations.
Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 16, 2025