What’s going on: If that metro station by your apartment has been under construction for years, this may be why. In President Donald Trump’s second term, the Federal Transit Administration hasn’t approved a single new infrastructure grant under the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) system. This multi-billion-dollar line-item helps fund everything from subway projects in Chicago to bus revamps in San Antonio. The Trump administration has approved spending on World Cup accessibility, enhanced policing of metro lines, and earmarked $610 million to modernize bus systems — but none of that is coming from the nearly $8 billion that Congress set aside for CIG this fiscal year.
Big Dig Energy: The Department of Transportation (DOT) said in a statement that it’s following "the multistage grant process required by law." But the slow pace reflects a troubling trend: instead of officially denying grants, the DOT simply leaves applicants on read. And, non-responses are a lot harder to take to court. Over a dozen transit agencies and local governments awaiting grants declined interviews with The New York Times because they worried “a fleeting phrase could anger the administration.” Some projects stuck in the pipeline are expensive and time sensitive (see: Salt Lake City for the 2034 Winter Olympics), but most are between $50-$150 million — a drop in the bucket for the feds. The stonewalling affects all residents, but especially those in lower-income communities. Public transportation is meant to bridge socioeconomic gaps — but that can't happen if it's not getting funded in the first place.
