US proposes to boost transit funding to areas with higher marriage, birth rates

The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed on Wednesday to allocate more funding to transit projects in areas with higher marriage and birth rates, sparking criticism from Democrats. The plan would impact 40 major projects already in the program, which disburses approximately $20 billion annually in transit grants.

Democratic Senator Patty Murray decried the idea as "bizarre and dystopian," likening it to a scenario seen only on TV shows, not government policy. Projects at risk of funding cuts include Washington's Red Line subway modernization, Boston's Green Line subway, the BART train expansion in Silicon Valley, and Austin's light rail project.

Murray highlighted a study predicting the policy could deprive historically underfunded urban neighborhoods of funding while benefiting higher-income areas and those with larger white populations.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signed a memo in January 2025 implementing the preference for transit grants in communities with higher marriage and birth rates. Democrats argued this could result in lower spending in Democratic-controlled cities and penalize blue states. The Transportation Department emphasized setting strict deadlines and demanding local accountability on projects upfront to expedite construction, safety, and efficiency.

Murray warned the new guidance could force transit agencies and local governments to comply with additional rating and cost-share requirements, adding to the delays already faced in project planning and design. She accused the Trump administration of attempting to "penalize blue states" and slow down transit projects, a claim made in October 2025 when the department froze billions in funding for projects in New York and Chicago, though those decisions were later overturned by courts.