Rep Owens Introduces PATH Act to Level Playing Field on Transit Funding

Resources / Press Share on Rep Owens Introduces PATH Act to Level Playing Field on Transit Funding Jul 23, 2026 Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Reps. Burgess Owens (R-UT-04), Mike Kennedy (R-UT-03), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) introduced the Promoting Access to Transit in High-Growth Communities Act (PATH Act) , bipartisan legislation that would reform the federal formula used to award major transit construction grants so that fast-growing states like Utah can compete on a level playing field. The bill amends title 49 of the United States Code to allow the Federal Transit Administration to factor population growth rate and local transit-oriented development planning, alongside current ridership, into eligibility determinations under the agency’s Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program. A Senate companion bill has also been introduced by U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ). “The PATH Act is a commonsense, bipartisan fix to a broken formula. For too long, federal transit dollars have gone to big cities that grew a century ago, funding the upkeep of infrastructure they already have, while fast-growing states like Utah were left fighting for scraps. This bill fixes that formula and levels the playing field. It ensures that states like ours, which have seen record growth and had the foresight to plan for it, can compete for limited federal dollars and put them to work on projects that will have long-lasting and meaningful impacts.” Congressman Burgess Owens “Southern Nevada is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. By ensuring that population forecasts are taken into account in infrastructure investments such as commuter rail, streetcars, and rapid bus transit, the PATH Act will help transit agencies make vital investments to accommodate this growth.” Congresswoman Dina Titus – Ranking Member, Highways and Transit Subcommittee “I have the privilege of representing one of the fastest-growing districts in America, and our infrastructure needs are growing just as quickly. The PATH Act modernizes how we evaluate transit projects by recognizing population growth and future development rather than relying solely on existing density. That’s a common-sense fix, and for Utah and other fast-growing states, it means a fair shot at the resources we need to build for the future.” Congressman Mike Kennedy “Fast-growing communities should be rewarded for planning ahead. Under the current evaluation framework for the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant Program, many communities must wait until population growth, traffic congestion, and transit demand have already materialized before they can effectively compete for major transit capital investments. The Promoting Access to Transit in High-Growth Communities (PATH) Act modernizes that approach by allowing projected population growth and local transit-oriented development planning to be considered when determining project eligibility. UTA is grateful to Congressman Burgess Owens, Senator John Curtis, and the bipartisan cosponsors for their leadership in advancing this common-sense legislation, which will help rapidly growing regions like Utah’s Wasatch Front build the transit infrastructure needed to support future generations.” Jay Fox, Executive Director, Utah Transit Authority “For decades, Utah has pursued a deliberate strategy of coordinating transportation investments, land-use planning, and transit-oriented development to create thriving population centers connected by high-quality transit. That approach has helped our region prepare for continued growth while addressing challenges such as traffic congestion, air quality, and housing affordability. The Promoting Access to Transit in High-Growth Communities (PATH) Act recognizes the value of that planning by allowing communities that have done the hard work of preparing for future growth to compete more effectively for federal transit funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant Program. We appreciate Congressman Burgess Owens, Senator John Curtis, and their bipartisan colleagues for championing legislation that will empower fast-growing communities across the country to build transit systems before growth outpaces infrastructure.” Andrew Gruber, Executive Director, Wasatch Front Regional Council The PATH Act amends Section 5309 of Title 49, United States Code, which governs the FTA’s fixed-guideway Capital Investment Grant program, the primary source of federal funding for new and expanded transit systems. The PATH Act allows the FTA to update its ridership forecasting methods for the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program to also account for population growth rate and transit-oriented development planning, giving fast-growing regions credit for the growth headed their way, not just the growth already behind them. Currently, CIG dollars tend to flow to regions with existing high ridership, leaving out fast-growing area