March 5, 2022 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Friday, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that 13 local transit agencies in California will receive over $632 million in additional discretionary assistance to help maintain service and jobs. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the American Rescue Plan Act, which Padilla voted to pass last year. California transit systems have already received $3.97 billion in formula funding from this law as they continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A full list of grants to California transit agencies is available here.

“Public transit agencies are still facing the burdens of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Senator Padilla said. “As ridership dropped, so did the fare revenue that supports their staffing and operations. Maintaining service is critical as we rebuild and recover from the pandemic. I am proud to announce that the American Rescue Plan is providing hundreds of millions of dollars to keep transportation workers across the state employed, so they can help keep our economy moving.”

This funding is part of more than $30 billion for public transportation secured in the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. A fact sheet from Senator Padilla’s office on what the American Rescue Plan Act delivers to California is available here. The White House has provided an online resource guide to help Americans understand how the American Rescue Plan will directly benefit them here.
Source: Senator Alex Padilla