District of Columbia Transportation Funding Equality Act

District of Columbia Transportation Funding Equality Act

This bill makes the District of Columbia eligible for certain Department of Transportation (DOT) grant programs by treating the District as a state under the programs.

Specifically, the bill applies to the Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program, which provides funding for capital expenses to purchase and rehabilitate buses and to construct bus-related facilities. Under the program, a state is eligible for higher payments than a territory. Currently, the District is treated as a territory under the program.

The bill also treats the District as a state under two additional DOT programs. The National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program provides competitive grants to eligible entities for projects that meaningfully improve or restore fish passage for certain types of fish. The Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program supports initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Currently, the District is not included under either of these programs.

Further, the bill treats the District as a state for purposes of the Growing States and High Density States Formula, which provides additional money to some places (e.g., states with a population density greater than 370 persons per square mile) and is distributed through the Urbanized and Rural Area Formula Programs. Currently, the District is not included under the formula.