Congressman Brown Advances Transformational Initiatives Investing In Equitable Local, National Infrastructure

Press Release

Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) praised the passage of the "Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America" Act to build modern, sustainable infrastructure while creating millions of good-paying jobs, combatting the climate crisis and addressing disparities in communities across Maryland and throughout the country.
As the sole Maryland Congressional delegation member on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Congressman Brown helped shape this transformational legislation.

The INVEST Act provides $547 billion over five years to improve the nation's infrastructure. The bill funds critical road and rail infrastructure projects, vital to the American economy, public safety, and our environmental health.

"Behind economic recovery and revitalization is 21st-century infrastructure that complements the daily lives and communities of Americans. It's not enough to simply rebuild our roads and fix our bridges; we need to reinvest in a modern, interconnected transportation network for future generations, with equity at the forefront of our efforts" said Congressman Anthony Brown. "Our country is changing rapidly in how we live, work and travel. Now is the time to create the modern transportation network needed to keep this country moving."

"Congressman Brown's north star has always been serving the people of Maryland and making communities in his district and across the country better places to live," said Chair DeFazio. "Whether it's working to expand transit access, address inequities of the past, or move our transportation systems into the modern era, Congressman Brown understands that we can't build the infrastructure that Americans want and need with 1950s thinking. I look forward to working with him as we get transformational, 21st-century infrastructure legislation signed into law."

The INVEST Act includes several bills and initiatives championed by Congressman Brown, and over $4.4 billion for Maryland's highways and $1.8 billion for the state's transit systems. These policies will;

Reauthorize funding for WMATA and other passenger rail used Marylanders each day;

Significantly increase funding levels for the Federal Lands Transportation Program, funding which can be used for the repair of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and other high-commuter corridors;

Foster Transit Oriented Development for greener, safer more livable communities;

Create infrastructure needed to keep students safe on the way to school;

Invest in the next generation of transit workers through the creation of the National Training Center for Frontline Transit Workers and other programs;

Dedicate new funding to reconnecting underserved communities left divided by exclusionary infrastructure barriers;

Ensure the collective bargaining rights of workers negotiating public transportation safety plans;

Expands and funds high-speed, heavy, light, and commuter rail projects throughout the country, and more.

A fact sheet on the INVEST Act is available here.
A full list of policies put forward by Congressman Brown can be found below.

Investing in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

$1.73 billion for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) over 10 years as well as more independence for the WMATA Office of Inspector General.

Repairing and Improving the Baltimore-Washington Parkway

H.R. 3016, the Commuter Parkway Safety and Reliability Act, which allows the head of a Federal agency that owns a transportation facility to request assistance from a State in paying the project costs when a high commuter corridor (defined as a transportation facility administered by a Federal agency that has an average annual daily traffic of not less than 20,000 vehicles) within that State in need of repair.

Includes a GAO National Park Service Study, which requires GAO to look at how the Federal Lands Transportation Program resources are typically prioritized as well as the challenges facing the NPS, including areas with high-commuter corridors, like the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.

Upgrading the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Train Service

Reauthorizes the FRA's discretionary grant program, the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI), at $7 billion over five years. Commuter rail authorities are newly eligible, like the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Train Service, and project eligibility is extended to commuter rail transportation improvement projects, maintenance and upgrades of railroad safety technology, and establishment of new quiet zones.

Protecting Transit Workers' Rights and Investing in the Next Generation

H.R. 2129, the National Transit Frontline Workforce Training Act of 2021 co-led with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Jesus G. "Chuy" García (IL-04) to establish a National Transit Frontline Training Center to invest in and train the next generation of transportation workers.

H.R. 2128, the Public Transit Safety Program Improvement Act requires frontline employee representatives to be at the table when for the approval of a public transportation agency safety plan.

H.R. 3017, Bias in Automobile Stops Act, seeks to develop partnerships between local law enforcement and universities to thoroughly study racial profiling before and during traffic stops, and ways to develop effective training and technology to allow us to better address implicit bias and racial profiling in policing.

Investments in Workforce Development, The INVEST in America Act creates a 21st Century Task Force on Workforce Development, which establishes a task force comprised of representatives from surface transportation industry sectors, labor, and other experts to develop recommendations and strategies to address surface transportation workforce needs and ways to increase the representation of women and minorities in surface transportation careers.

Developing 21st Century Infrastructure

H.R. 1615, the Maximizing Our Redevelopment and Efficiency for Transit-Oriented Development Act (MORE TOD Act) will create integrated neighborhoods, where public and private infrastructure work together seamlessly to better facilitate the daily lives of those who live there. This bill promotes community revitalization by recognizing existing transportation options and infrastructure for Transit-Oriented Development.

H.R. 386, the Safe Routes to School Expansion Act will expand funding for infrastructure improvements critical to student safety such as sidewalks, crosswalks, signage, and bus stop shelters.

Expand High-Speed Rail Network, The INVEST in America Act creates a new intercity passenger rail funding program. The Passenger Rail Improvement, Modernization, and Expansion (PRIME) Grants, which authorizes grant funding of $25 billion over five years for the state of good repair service improvement projects, and rail expansion projects.

Anti-Corrosion, The INVEST in America Act requires states to spend 20% of their two largest apportioned programs on bridge repair and rehabilitation projects, including projects such as corrosion control. Congressman Brown worked with North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) to get a provision that uniformly applies corrosion prevention best practices on all bridges funded by the federal government.

INFRA Multimodal Grant cap (Section 117(d)(2)), The INVEST in America Act, establishes a Projects of National and Regional Significance (PNRS) program, which provides more than $12 billion for large highways, transit, and passenger and freight projects that reduce congestion on roadways.

Establishes a $500 million grant program to reduce traffic gridlock in large metropolitan areas. The grant program supports projects to reduce and mitigate the adverse impacts of traffic congestion; make better use of existing capacity; and employ innovative, integrated, and multimodal solutions to reducing gridlock.

The INVEST in America Act increases funds for the Transportation Alternatives Program so that states and localities can invest more in sidewalks and bike lanes.

Advancing Equity and Justice

H.R. 3750, the Equity in Transit Service Planning Act, requires the Secretary to issue best practices to aid transit agencies in defining a "major service change" for purposes of compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Following the publication of these best practices, initiates a Transit Cooperative Research Program survey of the methods that transit agencies use for defining a major service change and the extent of adoption of the best practices.
Provides $3 billion over the life of the bill on a reconnecting neighborhoods discretionary grant program. The program is focused on remediating economically disadvantaged and underserved communities and emphasizes projects that provide for inclusive economic development. Congressman Brown has previously introduced the Reconnecting Communities Act

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