A bipartisan initiative led by Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Mike Braun (R-IN) have reintroduced the Build More Housing Near Transit Act, which is designed to encourage the construction of low- and middle-income housing in transit-served, walkable locations.
The bill was first introduced as a standalone legislation by Peters in the House of Representatives in 2019. Its reintroduction follows the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) recent announcement on how their lending authorities can be used to finance housing near transit at below market interest rates. The Build More Housing Near Transit Act would direct the DOT to incentivize local governments to promote housing development and regional growth in and around the transit corridors of future New Starts projects.
“San Diego, like many communities across the country, faces a growing housing crisis that forces people to move far from where they work,” said Peters. “Our bill will maximize federal investments in transit and increase housing options for cost-burdened Americans to alleviate this pressure. On top of that, it boosts our efforts to protect the environment by growing transit ridership and getting more cars off the road.”
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