Letter:

RE: 2026 Surface Transportation Reauthorization Request

Dear Subcommittee Members,

The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is writing on behalf of our member organizations to express our strong support for priorities in the 2026 surface transportation reauthorization: authorization of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Technology Vehicle Innovation Deployment Centers (TVIDC) program and funding for low- and no-emission vehicles. The stakes for American jobs and industry competitiveness in an increasingly global market are extremely high. Inaction will have far-reaching consequences beyond the transit industry.

TVIDC: The Engine for Transit Innovation (Requested Authorization: $15M a year)

Without authorization, the TVIDC program remains vulnerable to annual appropriations uncertainty, putting the domestic transit supply chain at risk, and limiting the industry’s ability to design a modern, safe transit system, which affects nearly every American. TVIDC advances American-built innovations which directly compete with foreign technology capabilities. In fact, many of the issues studied in TVIDC will impact other transportation sectors and their operations. Failure to authorize and adequately fund this program jeopardizes private investment, and, most importantly, undermines domestic manufacturing efforts and America’s energy independence. Congress created this program under the first Trump Administration, and it has repeatedly and consistently gained bipartisan support.

Funding for Low- or No-Emissions Vehicles (General Support)

In the event that the discretionary grant program is discontinued, it will be critical to include eligibility for low and no emission vehicles and related infrastructure in other federal programs. Americans rely on transit for access to jobs and economic opportunities in both urban and rural communities. Low- and no-emission buses are a vital part of the transportation ecosystem and eliminating this program would disrupt procurement cycles, reduce order predictability for manufacturers, and severely impact job growth in the industry. Federal funding for low- and no-emission vehicles presents key opportunities for fleet modernization across all 50 states and supports manufacturing jobs, infrastructure modernization, and workforce development efforts across the transit supply chain.

We urge the Subcommittee to prioritize the funding and authorization of these programs and priorities. Thank you for your dedication to supporting American innovation and strengthening our economy and communities. 

Sincerely,

The Center for Transportation and the Environment

730 Peachtree St NE, Ste 450, Atlanta, GA 30308