Year    Milestone

1630 – First publicly operated ferryboat (Boston, MA).

1740 – First use of ox carts for carrying passengers (New York, NY).

1811 – First mechanically operated (steam-powered) ferryboat begins operation (New York, NY).

1827 – First horse-drawn omnibus begins service along Broadway Street (New York, NY).

1830 – First railroad begins operation (Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co.) (Baltimore, MD).

1832 – First streetcar and first horse-drawn rail cars in America begin operation (New York, NY).

1838 – First commuter fares on a railroad are established by the Boston & West Worcester Railroad (Boston, MA).

1856 – First fare-free ridership in the nation is offered (Boston, MA).

1863 – First subway in the world is established; steam engine trains begin service (London, England).

1868 – First cable-powered and first elevated rail line (West Side & Yonkers Patent Railway) (New York, NY).

1870 – First pneumatic-powered and first underground rail line (Beach Pneumatic Railroad Co.) (New York, NY).

1871 – First steam-powered elevated rail line New York Elevated Railroad Co. (New York, NY).

1873 – First cable car in the world begins operating on Clay Street (San Francisco, CA).

1883 – First publicly operated cable-powered line begins on the Brooklyn Bridge (New York, NY).

1884 – First electric street railway line, East Cleveland Street Railway, begins operation (Cleveland, OH).

1888 – First successful electric street railway begins operating (Richmond, VA).

1893 – First interurban rail line, East Side Railway Co., begins operation (Portland, OR).

1895 – First electric elevated rail line, Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway, begins operation (Chicago, IL).

1897 – First subway begins operation (Boston, MA).

1897 – First publicly financed public transportation facility, a street railway tunnel, is established (Boston, MA).

1898 – First electric multiple-unit controlled rail line, Chicago & South Side Rapid Transit Railroad Co., begins operation (Chicago, IL).

1904 – First state-operated street railway, State of North Dakota Capital Car Line, begins operation (Bismarck, ND).

1904 – First subway in New York City begins operation (New York, NY).

1905 – First American gasoline-powered buses begin service (New York, NY).

1906 – First municipal street railway begins operation (Monroe, LA).

1908 – First interstate underground heavy rail line, Hudson & Manhattan Railroad, begins operation (New York, NY).

1910 – First trolleybus line, Laurel Canyon Utilities Co., begins operation (Hollywood, CA).

1912 – First publicly operated street railway in a large city, San Francisco Municipal Railway, begins operation (San Francisco, CA).

1912 – First street railway to operate buses, Cleveland Railway, begins operation (Cleveland, OH).

1914 – First jitney begins operation (Los Angeles, CA).

1921 – First successful trolleybus line begins operation (New York, NY).

1923 – First cities to replace all operating streetcars with buses were Bay City, MI; Everett, WA and Newburgh, NY.

1926 – Transit patronage in America reaches its all-time high of 17.3 billion riders, except for the years of the Second Word War.

1927 – First automobile park and ride lot and first bus-rail transfer facility for a non-commuter rail line begins operation (Philadelphia, PA).

1932 – First publicly operated heavy rail line, Independent Subway, begins operation  (New York, NY).

1933 – San Antonio, TX becomes the first large city to replace all streetcars with buses.

1936 – First industry-developed standardized street railway car, the Brooklyn & Queens Transit System or “PCC,” begins operation (New York, NY).

1936 – Large scale federal assistance for mass transit begins in under the guidance of the U.S. Public Works Administration.

1938 – First use of federal capital funding to build a public transportation rail line (Chicago, IL).

1939 – First street with a designated bus lane is established (Chicago, IL).

1940 – For the first time, bus ridership exceeds street railway ridership.

1940 – San Francisco becomes the last city providing cable car service (San Francisco, CA).

1943 – First rail line in an expressway median, Pacific Electric Railway, begins operation (Los Angeles, CA).

1946 – U.S. transit patronage reaches 23.5 billion riders, a new all-time high, with war-related travel conditions still prevailing.

1952 – The last new PCC car for U.S. transit agency enters service (San Francisco, CA).

1958 – The Transportation Act was signed into law (August 12). This legislation removed any state role in allowing private railroads to discontinue commuter passenger service and vested the authority with the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). The enactment of this law was widely regarded as the single most important development leading to transit assistance programs.

1961 – The Housing & Urban Development Act of 1961 was signed into law, establishing the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provided funding and support for community development programs including initiatives to improve public transit accessibility and infrastructure in urban areas.

1962 – First monorail, Seattle World's Fair, begins operation (Seattle, WA).

1962 – First automated heavy rail line, Grand Central Shuttle, begins operation (New York, NY).

1963 – The Clean Air Act was signed into law, establishing a framework for regulating emissions and setting air quality standards.

1963 – Chicago becomes the last city with an interurban line, the Chicago, South Shore, & South Bend Railroad (Chicago, IL).

1964 – The Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 (UMTA) was signed into law, providing $375 million in transit capital assistance over three years.

1965 – The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1965 begins requiring standards for controlling the emission of pollutants from gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles.

1966 – The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1966 was signed into law on September 13^th and led to the first reauthorization of Federal Surface Transportation Programs.

1966 – The Department of Transportation (DOT) was established through the Department of Transportation Act of October 15^th.

1966 – First public takeover of a commuter railroad. The Long Island Rail Road was purchased by New York State from Pennsylvania Railroad (New York, NY).

1966 – First statewide transit agency, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, begins operation (Providence, RI).

1968 – First downtown transit mall, Nicollet Mall, begins operation (Minneapolis, MN).

1968 – First rail station at an airport opens (Cleveland, OH).

1969 – First transitway, Shirley Highway, begins operation (Washington, DC).

1969 – First modern heavy rail transit agency, Port Authority Transit Corporation, replaces a former rail line (Philadelphia, PA).

1970 – The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 authorized the development of federal and state regulations to limit emissions from stationary and mobile sources. 

1970 – First dial-a-ride demand response transit agency program begins operation (Fort Walton Beach, FL).

1970 – The Urban Mass Transportation Assistance Act of 1970 was signed into law on October 15 and enacted a ten-year reauthorization for an extended and more stable federal commitment to public transportation through long term funding.

1971 – First federally subsidized intercity passenger railroad, Amtrak, begins operation (Washington, DC).

1972 – First computer-controlled heavy rail transit agency, Bay Area Rapid Transit District, begins operation (San Francisco, CA).

1972 – Project FARE (Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Elements) was introduced to improve safety and efficiency of railroads and enhancing reliability for transit passengers.

1973 – The federal mass transit assistance program reaches its first "billion-dollar year.”

1973 – The Interstate Transfer Program was enacted as part of a reauthorization of the Federal Highway Program, providing states with the opportunity to request withdrawal of non-essential interstate segment funding and substitute for transit projects to serve that area. This promoted flexible funding and supported the development of more comprehensive and effective public transit systems.

1973 – The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was signed into law mandating accessibility in public transit for individuals with disabilities, leading to the implementation of services like paratransit and accessibility buses and trains, ensuring equitable access to transportation.

1973 – The last surviving trolleybus systems in the U.S. (Boston, MA; Dayton, OH; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA; and Seattle, WA).

1974 – The Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) Act was amended to provide federal funding for urban public transportation, helping develop and expand mass transit.

1974 – Section 15 of the Federal Transit act and an annual formula grant program were established as a result of the UMTA Act amendments of 1974. Section 15 required transit agencies to report data on ridership, expenses, revenues, and other metrics.

1974 – The last surviving street railway systems in the U.S. (Boston, MA; Cleveland, OH; Newark, NJ; New Orleans, LA; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; and San Francisco, CA).

1975 – First automated guideway transit agency, at West Virginia University, is established (Morgantown, WV).

1976 – The federal mass transit assistance program reaches its first "two-billion-dollar year.”

1976 – First portion in the Washington Metrorail system opens for service (Washington, DC).

1977 – The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977 set new emission standards for vehicles and provided monetary incentives for transit agencies to adopt lower emission vehicles.

1977 – First wheelchair-lift-equipped fixed-route bus begins service (San Diego, CA).

1978 – The Surface Transportation Act required all § 5307 recipients to file an accounting and reporting release to Section 15.

1978 – The federal mass transit assistance program reaches its first "three-billion-dollar year.”

1979 – First standardized public transportation data accounting system is established in (Washington, DC).

1980 – First new light rail transit agency built in decades, the San Diego Trolley, is completed (San Diego, CA).

1981 – First NTD report is published based on 1979 data.

1981 – The federal mass transit assistance program reaches its first "four-billion-dollar year.”

1983 – The Surface Transportation Assistance Act was signed into law on January 6. The NTD established formulas to apportion funds for transit agencies.

1983 – The Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund for capital projects was created through the dedication of one-cent of the federal gas tax.

1987 – The federal transit assistance program is reauthorized.

1989 – First new commuter rail transit agency in decades, Tri-County Commuter Rail Authority, is built (Miami, FL).

1989-1991 – Section 15 is restructured and simplified with reduced data reporting requirements.

1990 – The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, requiring all public transit agencies to provide accessible services to individuals with disabilities.

1990 – The first National Transit Summaries and Trends (NTST) Report was released. This report provided an overview of the national public transit industry and highlighted financial, operational, and time series data trends.

1991 – The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) was signed into law on December 18. The law encouraged a multi-modal use of transportation, promoted safety and environmental protections, and gave local communities more control over how to use federal funds.

1991 – The Federal Transit Act Amendments of 1991, from the Intermodal Transportation Efficiency Act, changed the name of Urban Mass Transportation Agency (UMTA) to Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

1991 – The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 established strict pollution controls for transportation buses.

1991 – The first general authorization of use of highway funds for public transportation under the ISTEA. Federal transit and highway programs are jointly reauthorized. A five-cent gas tax increase was established with one-cent dedicated for transit funds.

1992 – The National Transit Institute (NTI) was established under ISTEA to develop and provide training programs to the nation’s public transit industry.

1993 – Major streamlining of the Federal Transit Assistance program occurred under aegis of "reinventing government.” By 1998, more multiyear grants had been awarded to build new rail transit systems than during any comparable period in the history of the program.

1994 – The Revised Uniform System of Accounts (USOA), a key NTD reference document containing the accounting structure required by federal transit laws, is published for use with the NTD.

1995 – Section 15 of the Federal Transit Act is renamed the National Transit Database (NTD); and security reporting was added for transit systems in large urbanized areas.

1995 – Congress increases the portion of federal fuel tax dedicated to transit funds from 1.5 to 2 cents.

1998 – The Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century was signed into law on June 9, expanding funds for transportation projects and restructuring federal public transportation programs with a focus on improving equity and accessibility.

1998 – National Economic Crossroads Transportation Efficiency Act (NEXTEA) was signed into law. This aimed to continue developing a national intermodal surface transportation system through programs that ensure safe and efficient movement of people and goods, improve economic productivity, preserve the environment, and strengthen partnerships among all levels of the government and the private sector.

2002 – Monthly ridership and safety and security reporting requirements are initiated under the redesigned NTD.

2005 – The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) was signed into law on August 10, providing extensive funding for transit and safety improvements, offering states and local governments greater flexibility in their use of federal transportation funds, adding provisions for environmental review and mitigation, ensuring investments addressed the needs of all communities, and encouraging use of public private partnerships to fund transportation projects.

2006 – The NTD begins collection of rural transit data.

2007 – FTA enhances how it collects data from rural transit agencies, releasing a set of newly streamlined forms specific to rural reporters in a Rural NTD Module and the NTD Rural Reporting Manual. The changes reflected SAFETEA-LU requirements and feedback from the first year of reporting.

2008 – FTA introduces a revised Safety & Security module using an interactive approach for reporting major incidents to reduce reporting burden on reporters and data validation errors.

2012 – The implementation of the Transit Asset Management (TAM) requirements. This program includes collecting data on the condition of transit assets to ensure proper maintenance and long-term usage.

2012 – The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century (MAP-21) Act was signed into law, providing funding stability, promoting performance-based planning, emphasizing maintenance of transit infrastructure, and encouraging innovating and safety improvements for public transit agencies.

2015 – FTA updates the Safety & Security Module in the NTD Reporting Manual to better align NTD safety data collection with data collected in the State Safety Oversight (SSO) program Rail Transit Event Database.

2015 – The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was signed into law, providing long-term funding stability, enhancing safety measures, supporting innovation, and streamlining regulatory processes for public transit agencies.

2016 – FTA issued a final rule requiring transit agencies develop a Transit Asset Management (TAM) plan. The TAM plan is submitted alongside asset inventory module data to the NTD, and it is used by agencies to monitor and manage their capital assets, achieve and maintain a state of good repair, increase system reliability and performance, reduce operation delays, promote resilience, reduce costs, and yield system improvements.

2016 – FTA establishes the Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low-No Program), as authorized by the FAST Act, with $55 million in funding for agencies to purchase low or no emission buses and related infrastructure, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

2016 – FTA implemented guidebooks to assist grantees in complying with FTA’s TAM program, informing the transit community of the calculation methodologies for the state of good repair performance measures.

2016 – FTA updated the USOA to better align current NTD and accounting practices and to address FTA’s data needs.

2017 – FTA updated its guidance on reportable safety events to collect data for safety events that occur on transit infrastructure.

2019 – FTA adds two additional types of reportable service to the NTD as part of the Demand Response (DR) mode, taxi and Transportation Network Company, to better capture the public’s use of these services.

2020 – The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted on March 23, providing emergency funding to support public transit agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to maintain essential transit services, protect jobs, and ensure the safety of passengers and workers.

2020 – The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) was signed into law on December 27, including $900 billion in supplemental appropriations for COVID-19 relief, $14 billion of which was allocated to support the transit industry during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

2021 – The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs (IIJA), or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), was signed into law on November 15.  It allocated significant funding to improve public transit infrastructure and services in the USA, addressing State of Good Repair backlogs, expanding accessibility, enhancing sustainability, and promoting innovation to modernize transit systems nationwide.

2022 – As a result of the BIL, FTA began collecting additional data from reporters including their geographic service area coverage through the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) as well as the number of assaults on transit workers.

2023 – The Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low-No Program) reaches a funding milestone of $1.21 billion.