Washington, DC – Legacy transit stations get federal money to increase access for American families. According to the Federal Transit Administration, hundreds of stations built before 1990 are not wheelchair or stroller friendly. Eight of those stations will receive ADA-compliant upgrades thanks to federal funding totaling $233 Million. The All Stations Accessibility Program will pay for modernizations including elevators, raised platforms, and wayfinding tools.  

In a move to tie federal funding to transit safety, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) introduced legislation that would give the USDOT authority to withhold federal funding based on fare evasion, certain public safety policies, and crime rates. The Safe Transit Act would require transit agencies in cities to dedicate at least 3% of their federal formula funding to safety and crime prevention initiatives including cameras, lighting, and emergency crime boxes.  

However, the proposal is one of many transportation-related items, including a post DCA-crash aviation safety plan, that may not be considered until after the mid-term elections. 

Time is also running out for the Senate to take on Surface Reauthorization before then. The Senate breaks for recess, Friday October 2, 2026, and returns to Capitol Hill after the November elections. In May, the House T& I Committee passed a bi-partisan reauthorization, BUILD America 250, but the Senate has yet to debate the 5-year plan. The recently signed stop gap funding bill temporarily extends Surface Reauthorization until December 11, 2026. That leaves just weeks for Congress to move on the measures.