WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) applauded the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) announcement of more than $20 billion invested to upgrade and expand the U.S. public transportation network – a 58 percent increase in funding over last year. Thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Washington will receive nearly $370 million this year to invest in the state’s transit agencies and communities.

“In Northwest Washington, public transportation means jobs and is key to long-term economic recovery and growth,” said Larsen, a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “This historic investment enables Washington transit authorities to buy new buses and railcars, address repair backlogs, modernize fleets and transition to new technologies to help reduce congestion and transit emissions, fight climate change and keep Washingtonians and the economy moving.”

Larsen has long been a champion for bold, long-term investments in public transportation to ensure communities have the resources needed for critical infrastructure projects. Last month, the President signed into law the bipartisan FY 2022 omnibus spending package which fully funds Larsen’s local priorities included in the bipartisan infrastructure law. Larsen recently met with representatives from Everett Transit, Whatcom Transportation Authority, Community Transit, Island Transit and Sound Transit to discuss how these investments benefit Northwest Washington transit.

FTA has already issued Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the FY 2022 Tribal Transit Competitive program and the Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program and Low or No Emission Grant Program. NOFOs for other programs will be published later this spring and summer. For a comprehensive list of funding opportunities for state, local and Tribal governments, click here.

To read Larsen’s Second District transportation report, click here.

###