APTA Supports Bipartisan Legislation to Give Parity in Permitting for Transportation Projects
4/29/2026
Newly introduced bipartisan legislation could speed up land acquisition for public transit and passenger rail projects. H.R. 8315, the Modal Parity in Permitting Act, would allow land acquisition prior to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, in line with the permitting process in place for highway projects and without undercutting environmental considerations.
The legislation was introduced by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) and co-sponsored by Reps. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) and Laura Friedman (D-CA). Rep. Titus—Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials and a senior member of the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure—will be pushing for the bill’s inclusion in the upcoming surface transportation authorization.
APTA is recommending authorizing advance acquisition of railroad right-of-way and expanding public transit agencies’ authority to acquire land prior to NEPA, similar to advance acquisition permitted for highway projects.
APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas applauded the representatives for introducing the bill. “For too long, public transit and passenger rail projects have faced a structural disadvantage in the permitting process—highway projects can acquire land before NEPA is complete, while FTA and FRA projects cannot.
This bill levels the playing field and will help move critical public transit and passenger rail investments forward faster and more efficiently. We urge Congress to advance this legislation without delay.”