Transportation and Mobility Access
Last Updated: April 8, 2025
Grants being cut or changed
In 2025, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has reduced or paused several grant programs that supported equitable and accessible transportation. The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants, which funded bike lanes, sidewalks, transit, and pedestrian safety improvements, have been reduced by over 50%. Programs that specifically supported rural and tribal mobility, paratransit services, and community-driven infrastructure planning have also seen cuts.
Eliminations or restructuring
Programs designed to increase transit access in low-income areas or connect workers to job centers have been deprioritized. The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) initiative—aimed at reducing traffic deaths in high-need communities—is no longer accepting new applications. Transit infrastructure investments are being redirected to major highway and freight corridor upgrades, with less emphasis on multimodal transportation or climate resilience.
On hold or court challenges
Advocates for disability access and rural mobility have filed administrative complaints with DOT, alleging that the sudden defunding of transit equity programs violates federal nondiscrimination rules. While these challenges have not yet advanced to the courts, they may impact future program implementation.
Timeline
Funding reductions began in early 2025, and many FY2024 projects have been canceled or downsized. If Congress approves the administration’s FY2026 budget, further reductions to community-focused transportation programs will go into effect starting in October 2025.
State-level impact
Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee have lost planning grants for regional transit and rural ride-share programs. In North Carolina and South Carolina, funding for sidewalks, safe school crossings, and local transit expansions has been frozen. Pennsylvania and Ohio cities like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Cleveland have paused bus rapid transit or station improvement projects due to loss of federal funds. These cuts are especially harmful to residents without cars, older adults, and people with disabilities.
Sources
U.S. Department of Transportation. (2025, February 28). FY2026 Budget Proposal Summary. https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/fy2026-budget-proposal
Federal Transit Administration. (2025, March 10). Update on Transit Infrastructure Grant Programs. https://www.transit.dot.gov/news/2025-program-cuts
NPR. (2025, March 22). Rethinking mobility: Transit equity funding cut nationwide. https://www.npr.org/2025/03/22/transit-equity-cuts
Politico. (2025, March 29). DOT shifts focus from communities to highways in new budget. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/29/dot-budget-transit-highways
