PATH Act

The "Promoting Access to Transit in High-Growth Communities Act," or PATH Act, amends Section 5309 of title 49, United States Code, which governs federal funding for fixed guideway capital investment grants. This legislation aims to update the criteria used to determine if a public transportation project is justified for federal funding.

Specifically, it modifies the requirements for ridership forecasting methods, allowing them to incorporate factors such as population density, population growth rate, and development planning activities. The bill clarifies that when forecasting ridership, the method may utilize either population density or population growth rate, selecting whichever factor is most advantageous for the project's justification, alongside current public transportation ridership in the corridor. This change is intended to provide greater flexibility and accuracy in assessing the potential success and need for transit projects, particularly in growing communities.