Congressman Mike Kennedy of Utah’s 3rd District has introduced the Streamline Transit Projects Act in the House of Representatives, with Senator Lee sponsoring a companion bill in the Senate. The proposed legislation aims to allow state transit agencies to manage environmental reviews for local transit projects instead of federal officials.
Kennedy stated, “Utahns need infrastructure that keeps pace with our rapid growth, and we can’t afford to see critical projects stalled by Washington red tape. Utah’s agencies know our communities better than unelected bureaucrats ever will. This bill returns decision-making power to the state so we can deliver results for Utah quickly, responsibly, and without years of needless delay.”
Carlton Christensen, Chair of the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) Board of Trustees, expressed support for the bill: “The Streamlining Transit Projects Act will help UTA deliver reliable, accessible public transit service for Utahns by cutting through burdensome regulatory red tape that often slows critical projects. This legislation preserves the rigorous environmental standards, while giving agencies the flexibility to move forward more efficiently. We appreciate Congressman Kennedy’s leadership in introducing this important bill in the House of Representatives.”
Andrew Gruber, Executive Director of the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), also endorsed the proposal. “The Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) strongly supports the Streamlining Transit Projects Act because it provides additional tools to advance essential transit investments that improve mobility for communities across Utah,” Gruber said. “Providing multimodal transportation choices, including public transit, helps Utah address challenges like traffic congestion, air quality, and housing availability which accompany our state’s rapid growth. By streamlining the environmental review process, while still safeguarding environmental considerations, this bill helps deliver high-quality transportation options more effectively. We thank Congressman Kennedy for championing this legislation and for his leadership in strengthening Utah’s transportation future.”
If enacted, the Streamline Transit Projects Act would give authority to the Secretary of Transportation to enter into agreements with interested state transit agencies so they could take on responsibility under NEPA for certain projects. States would determine if activities are categorically excluded from further environmental assessment or impact statements based on criteria identified by the Secretary. The Secretary would retain authority to terminate these assignments if agencies do not meet requirements.
Senator Lee is leading similar efforts in the Senate.
A full version of the bill is available online.
