The Transit Abundance Playbook
The United States once led the world in transit construction. Today, we lead in transit construction costs. This playbook offers policy solutions so the American public can stop paying more for less.
Infrastructure
Stop Paying More for Less Transit
Fifteen ideas to bring costs down and speed projects up
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Planning
Reform federal programs to encourage better project planning
Infrastructure
Reform Funding to Encourage Early Transit Planning
A penny today is worth a dollar tomorrow
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Infrastructure
Focus Capital Investment Grants on Improved Project Delivery
Redesigning federal grant procedures and requirements will set up projects for success
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Cost-effective design
Adopt cost-saving best practices for what we build and buy
Infrastructure
Reduce Needless Bus Customization
Federal incentives can reform bus procurement
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Infrastructure
Eliminate Redundant Subway Cross-Passages
How to save on construction costs without compromising safety
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Procurement
Change procurement standards to reward value and transparency
Infrastructure
We Should Know How Much Transit Components Cost
Itemized procurement reduces expensive change order conflicts
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Infrastructure
Get the Best Value in Transit Procurement
Requiring agencies to select the cheapest contracts ends up costing more
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Utility, agency, and local government coordination
Eliminate unnecessary veto points
Infrastructure
Use AI to Improve Transit Planning
An accessible repository of transit planning information would aid project delivery
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Infrastructure
Transit Projects Need a Single Decision-Maker
Limit unreasonable third-party demands using the Conference of Services model
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Permitting
Streamline federal permitting rules to speed up project delivery
Infrastructure
Let Agencies Do Their Own Environmental Review
Allowing self-certification will accelerate project delivery
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Infrastructure
Fast-Track Democratically Approved Transit Projects
Procedural requirements delay voter-approved transit
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Infrastructure
Let Transit Agencies Buy Land
FTA regulations block transit agencies from conducting early works until after environmental review
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State capacity
Strengthen transit agencies’ ability to manage projects in-house
Infrastructure
Close America’s Transit Automation Gap
An outdated federal law blocks transit modernization
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Infrastructure
Loans Can Stabilize Transit Funding
Consistent and predictable funding builds state capacity
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