Schatz, Braun Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Build More Affordable Housing, Address America’s Growing Housing Crisis

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) today introduced the Build More Housing Near Transit Act. The bipartisan legislation continues Senator Schatz’s efforts to address America’s housing shortage by offering federal benefits and encouraging local governments to build more high-density housing near transit-oriented urban spaces, where options are especially lacking.

“We have a national housing shortage crisis, and one thing is clear: we need to build more housing,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. “Our bipartisan bill will make sure that when cities expand or redevelop their public transit systems, they are also building more affordable housing with it. This will help put more families in homes, grow local economies, and cut carbon pollution.”

“For too long, transit and housing issues have run in parallel. This bill finally marries the two by giving local governments the tools they need to encourage high density and mixed use development to help relieve the affordable housing crisis. This bill gives local communities the resources they need to build more housing near transit systems and encourages them to enable their economies to grow through more housing options for families,” said Senator Braun.

Specifically, the legislation directs the Secretary of Transportation to provide a scoring boost to the competitive grant application of public transit projects that include housing planning and development near new stations.

Currently, 47% of renter households are cost-burdened, and lack of housing options in transit-friendly areas is a major contributor to this. Moreover, transportation costs are often a household’s second-largest expenditure behind housing, meaning more housing in transit areas would have a two-fold benefit.

By offering easier access to transit centers, the Build More Housing Near Transit Act will connect more employees with jobs and boost economic output, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased public transit ridership. It will also make federal transportation projects more efficient and ensure federal dollars are used most effectively.

“America is experiencing a severe shortage of homes, and nowhere is this crisis more acute than in transit-served neighborhoods. The Build More Housing Near Transit Act addresses the critical link between transportation and housing and will help spur the creation of more walkable, livable, and equitable communities. The bill incentivizes early collaboration between transit agencies and local governments and will create closer alignment of land-use policies and transit investments through encouraging housing feasibility assessments. Additionally, the bill will shift program guidance to help drive additional resources towards affordable housing development, specifically in transit-served areas. If passed, this legislation will increase public transportation ridership and encourage the creation of housing that uses less land, take cars off the road, and allows people and their families to live closer to jobs and other opportunities. We applaud Senator Schatz and Senator Braun for introducing the Build More Housing Near Transit Act and their ongoing leadership on this critical issue,” said Mike Kingsella, Chief Executive Officer of Up for Growth Action.

“The nation’s housing crisis is also a crisis of economic opportunity and mobility. Effective planning that coordinates transit, housing, jobs, and land use is vital to tackling the challenge of housing affordability and availability. The Build More Housing Near Transit Act will spur better coordination of housing and transportation and promote public transit projects that also increase mobility options and access to housing and economic opportunity. With the passage of historic and much needed federal infrastructure legislation, this bill will ensure that these new investments provide the broadest and highest benefit. The American Planning Association is proud to support this legislation as an important tool for the recovery and reinvention of our communities,” said Leo Asuncion, AICP, President of the American Planning Association (APA).

“Providing critically needed public transportation access to affordable housing is a key step in addressing America’s housing crisis. Improving transit access is one of the most important actions we as a nation can take to address inequities in communities. Public transportation creates access to opportunities, including jobs, health care, and education, which can help disadvantaged communities address the equity challenges they face,” said Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

The full text of the bill is available here.

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