Federal Advocacy | Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Source: https://mtc.ca.gov/advocacy/federal-advocacy
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:26
Federal Advocacy | Metropolitan Transportation Commission
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Federal Advocacy
MTC is a strong advocate in Washington, D.C. for the Bay Area’s transportation priorities – focusing on policy and funding decisions that have a big influence on the region’s transportation network.
Photo by Maria Oswalt/Unsplash
Federal transportation policy and funding decisions are key to how regional priorities are delivered in the Bay Area. MTC is the Bay Area's federally designated metropolitan planning organization. This means that MTC has responsibility for regional transportation planning. Somewhat uniquely, MTC is also responsible for distributing the Bay Area’s approximately $900 million each year in federal transit and highway funds.That funding is used to help move projects from planning to reality.
MTC’s federal advocacy work focuses on:
Ensuring that Bay Area priorities are reflected in federal transportation policy;
Coordinating partners across the Bay Area; and
Supporting a strong and reliable federal transportation program that advances priority projects across the Bay Area.
Advocacy Principles
At a high-level, here are the current objectives and goals for federal advocacy work. See the
2025 Advocacy Program
for specifics.
Transportation and Housing Funding
Preserving California Access to Federal Transit Funds
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Reauthorization
Focus on Transit Riders
Maintain federal commitments to safety and state of good repair
Support improvements that can be sustained over the long-term
Climate, Resilience and Environment
Federal Advocacy Priorities
Highlighted below are details on some of the top federal advocacy priorities.
Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization
Every five or so years, Congress updates the surface transportation law that guides federal funding and policies for highways, transit and freight.
Current law, the
2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
expires on September 1, 2026.
For the next version of the surface transportation law, MTC's top priorities are:
Ensure the Bay Area’s federal transportation funding remains stable.
MTC’s top priority is to prevent the Bay Area federal transportation funding from being drastically cut. This may be done through sustaining or increasing Highway Trust Fund (HTF) dollars for core highway and transit programs.
Fully fund the
Capital Investment Grant Program
.
In the coming years, the Bay Area is counting on billions in federal transit Capital Investment Grant dollars for projects that will help the region meet growing transportation demand.
Establish a Resilient Regions Challenge.
Secure funds for a several large-scale demonstration projects to protect key infrastructure (and regional economies) from natural disasters.
Improve project delivery and transportation system effectiveness.
Add flexibility to federal policy and funding rules to remove barriers and help projects get to construction more quickly.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
The
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
allocates roughly $1 trillion for infrastructure investment over five years, including a five-year authorization of the core federal surface transportation program.
MTC distributes federal transit funds through the
Transit Capital Priorities program
.
MTC distributes flexible highway funds through the
One Bay Area Grant program
, the
Active Transportation Program
and the Carbon Reduction Program.
Capital Investment Grant Program
The
Capital Investment Grant Program
is the major funding source for rail and bus expansion projects nationwide.
MTC advocates for robust funding levels in Washington D.C. and also plays a critical role in helping Bay Area transit partners agree about which projects should be put forward to apply for these highly competitive grant dollars.
Working Together on the Federal, State & Regional Levels
State Advocacy
State legislators work on a range of policies that affect the Bay Area. MTC makes sure the Bay Area has a voice when state laws are made and state funding gets distributed.
Regional Leadership
MTC collaborates with city and county transportation leaders, transit agencies and other partners to advance shared regional priorities.
Partnership
MTC teams with many national organizations to advocate for federal policies that improve transportation in large metro areas. These include:
American Public Transportation Association
Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors
ITS America
International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association
Transportation for America
U.S. Conference of Mayors
Reports to Congress
View past MTC reports to Congress:
2025: Surface Transportation Reauthorization: MTC Priorities for a Strong Bay Area - 45th Annual Report to Congress
2024: Building a Better Bay Area: Federal Infrastructure Grant Priorities — Annual Report to Congress
2023: Building a Better Bay Area: BIL Grant Priorities — Annual Report to Congress
2022: The Bay Area is Stronger Together: BIL Grant Priorities — Annual Report to Congress
2020: Planning and Partnering for a New Generation — Annual Report to Congress
2019: Building Resilience: Planning and Investing in the Bay Area's Future — Annual Report to Congress
2018: Accelerating Progress: Strong Partnerships Move the Bay Area Forward — Annual Report to Congress
2017: Keeping the FAST Act Promise: 38th Annual Report to Congress
2016: 37th Annual Report to Congress: FAST Act Promises New Opportunities
2015: Report to Congress: Will Congress Choose a New Direction?
2014: Building America's Future : Bay Area on the Move : 35th Annual Report to Congress
Staying Informed
These online resources make it easier to stay on top of what’s going on in Washington:
The Eno Center for Transportation
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials AASHTO
Library of Congress
Streetsblog USA
Related Documents
2026 MTC and ABAG Legislative Advocacy Program
212.17 KB
pdf
Surface Transportation Reauthorization: MTC Priorities for a Strong Bay Area - 45th Annual Report to Congress, 2025
12.44 MB
pdf
Digital Library
Related News
January 28, 2026
2026 Advocacy Priorities Approved by MTC/ABAG
February 4, 2025
2025 Advocacy Priorities Approved by MTC/ABAG
Skip to main content
Federal Advocacy
MTC is a strong advocate in Washington, D.C. for the Bay Area’s transportation priorities – focusing on policy and funding decisions that have a big influence on the region’s transportation network.
Photo by Maria Oswalt/Unsplash
Federal transportation policy and funding decisions are key to how regional priorities are delivered in the Bay Area. MTC is the Bay Area's federally designated metropolitan planning organization. This means that MTC has responsibility for regional transportation planning. Somewhat uniquely, MTC is also responsible for distributing the Bay Area’s approximately $900 million each year in federal transit and highway funds.That funding is used to help move projects from planning to reality.
MTC’s federal advocacy work focuses on:
Ensuring that Bay Area priorities are reflected in federal transportation policy;
Coordinating partners across the Bay Area; and
Supporting a strong and reliable federal transportation program that advances priority projects across the Bay Area.
Advocacy Principles
At a high-level, here are the current objectives and goals for federal advocacy work. See the
2025 Advocacy Program
for specifics.
Transportation and Housing Funding
Preserving California Access to Federal Transit Funds
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Reauthorization
Focus on Transit Riders
Maintain federal commitments to safety and state of good repair
Support improvements that can be sustained over the long-term
Climate, Resilience and Environment
Federal Advocacy Priorities
Highlighted below are details on some of the top federal advocacy priorities.
Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization
Every five or so years, Congress updates the surface transportation law that guides federal funding and policies for highways, transit and freight.
Current law, the
2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
expires on September 1, 2026.
For the next version of the surface transportation law, MTC's top priorities are:
Ensure the Bay Area’s federal transportation funding remains stable.
MTC’s top priority is to prevent the Bay Area federal transportation funding from being drastically cut. This may be done through sustaining or increasing Highway Trust Fund (HTF) dollars for core highway and transit programs.
Fully fund the
Capital Investment Grant Program
.
In the coming years, the Bay Area is counting on billions in federal transit Capital Investment Grant dollars for projects that will help the region meet growing transportation demand.
Establish a Resilient Regions Challenge.
Secure funds for a several large-scale demonstration projects to protect key infrastructure (and regional economies) from natural disasters.
Improve project delivery and transportation system effectiveness.
Add flexibility to federal policy and funding rules to remove barriers and help projects get to construction more quickly.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
The
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
allocates roughly $1 trillion for infrastructure investment over five years, including a five-year authorization of the core federal surface transportation program.
MTC distributes federal transit funds through the
Transit Capital Priorities program
.
MTC distributes flexible highway funds through the
One Bay Area Grant program
, the
Active Transportation Program
and the Carbon Reduction Program.
Capital Investment Grant Program
The
Capital Investment Grant Program
is the major funding source for rail and bus expansion projects nationwide.
MTC advocates for robust funding levels in Washington D.C. and also plays a critical role in helping Bay Area transit partners agree about which projects should be put forward to apply for these highly competitive grant dollars.
Working Together on the Federal, State & Regional Levels
State Advocacy
State legislators work on a range of policies that affect the Bay Area. MTC makes sure the Bay Area has a voice when state laws are made and state funding gets distributed.
Regional Leadership
MTC collaborates with city and county transportation leaders, transit agencies and other partners to advance shared regional priorities.
Partnership
MTC teams with many national organizations to advocate for federal policies that improve transportation in large metro areas. These include:
American Public Transportation Association
Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors
ITS America
International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association
Transportation for America
U.S. Conference of Mayors
Reports to Congress
View past MTC reports to Congress:
2025: Surface Transportation Reauthorization: MTC Priorities for a Strong Bay Area - 45th Annual Report to Congress
2024: Building a Better Bay Area: Federal Infrastructure Grant Priorities — Annual Report to Congress
2023: Building a Better Bay Area: BIL Grant Priorities — Annual Report to Congress
2022: The Bay Area is Stronger Together: BIL Grant Priorities — Annual Report to Congress
2020: Planning and Partnering for a New Generation — Annual Report to Congress
2019: Building Resilience: Planning and Investing in the Bay Area's Future — Annual Report to Congress
2018: Accelerating Progress: Strong Partnerships Move the Bay Area Forward — Annual Report to Congress
2017: Keeping the FAST Act Promise: 38th Annual Report to Congress
2016: 37th Annual Report to Congress: FAST Act Promises New Opportunities
2015: Report to Congress: Will Congress Choose a New Direction?
2014: Building America's Future : Bay Area on the Move : 35th Annual Report to Congress
Staying Informed
These online resources make it easier to stay on top of what’s going on in Washington:
The Eno Center for Transportation
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials AASHTO
Library of Congress
Streetsblog USA
Related Documents
2026 MTC and ABAG Legislative Advocacy Program
212.17 KB
Surface Transportation Reauthorization: MTC Priorities for a Strong Bay Area - 45th Annual Report to Congress, 2025
12.44 MB
Digital Library
Related News
January 28, 2026
2026 Advocacy Priorities Approved by MTC/ABAG
February 4, 2025
2025 Advocacy Priorities Approved by MTC/ABAG