APTA Email Advocacy Campaign Seeks Restored Public Transportation Funding

APTA has launched an email advocacy campaign for public transportation allies to contact representatives and senators to restore public transit and passenger rail funding to FY 2026 enacted levels. APTA’s advocacy efforts are focused on urging Congress to provide at least $21.1 billion for public transit and $15.9 billion for passenger rail in December.

The effort comes as the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (P.L. 119-103) was signed into law by President Trump on September 2. The Act funds the federal government and provides a short-term Surface Transportation Authorization extension through December 11, 2026.

However, the continuing resolution does not include “advance appropriations,” a form of guaranteed funding provided under current law, resulting in a 20 percent (-$4.2 billion) cut to public transit investment and an 81 percent (-$12.9 billion) cut to passenger rail investment from FY 2026 levels.

APTA makes the case that every $1 invested in public transportation generates $5 in long-term economic returns. Moreover, 77 percent of federal public transportation investment flows to the private sector.

Cuts in federal investment in public transportation disrupt and delay projects across the nation and inject uncertainty into future state and local investment decisions. The funding cuts also hurt public transit agencies’ efforts to address the more than $150 billion state-of-good-repair backlog.

Join the email advocacy campaign.

In addition to the email campaign, APTA encourages its members to host Members of Congress to see first-hand how public transportation investment works for everyone. ATPA’s Site Visit Toolkit provides guidance.

Additional APTA advocacy tools include:

Learn more at the APTA Advocacy Resource Center.