Authorizing Legislation

Congress establishes the legal authority to commence and continue FTA programs through authorizing legislation. Each reauthorization amends the Federal Transit Laws codified in Title 49 USC Chapter 53.

The most recent authorization, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021. The legislation reauthorizes surface transportation programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 through FY 2026. Prior authorization legislation includes:

• In December 2015, President Obama signed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, reauthorizing surface transportation programs from FY 2015 through FY 2020.  
• In July 2012, President Obama signed Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act, which reauthorized surface transportation programs from FY 2012 through FY 2014.