Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7099

Congress proposes transit grants to add routes and timing for students and Head Start families

To increase access to higher education and center-based Head Start programs by providing public transit grants.

Also known as: PATH to Education Act

2 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: Congress Proposes New Grants to Expand Transit Access for Students and Families

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Creates a new federal grant program to help local transit agencies work with colleges, career schools, and Head Start centers.
Grant money could be used to add new bus/rail stops or routes (and related paratransit) that better reach campuses and Head Start sites.
Funds could also pay to run more frequent service or shift schedules so riders can get to classes and Head Start drop-off/pickup times.
Gives priority to projects serving schools where more than 25% of students get Pell Grants, aiming help at lower-income students.
Sets aside rising funding for these grants: $1M (2027), $2M (2028), $3M (2029), $4M (2030), $5M (2031).

EducationTransportationInfrastructure

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Positive Impacts(8)

Student Loans

Helps

Student

Helps

Child Tax Credit

Helps

Disability Benefits

Helps

Physical Disability

Helps

Sensory Disability

Helps

Cognitive Developmental

Helps

Mental Health

Helps

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Jan 15, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the law takes effect, before the first grant awards

Transit agencies and partner schools/Head Start providers prepare grant applications

Local transit providers would need to team up with an eligible institution and plan specific route/stop/schedule changes that help students and Head Start families get to programs.

Federal fiscal year 2027

First year of set-aside funding becomes available for grants (FY2027)

Some communities could start seeing planning and early service changes funded by the first $1,000,000 reserved for this program.

FY2028 through FY2031

More grant funding becomes available each year through FY2031

If the program continues to be funded and administered, more communities could add or expand education-focused transit projects as the annual set-aside rises from $2M to $5M.

During grant selection in each funding year

Priority scoring favors campuses where over 25% of students receive Pell Grants

Transit projects tied to those campuses may move ahead faster, meaning lower-income-serving schools could be more likely to get improved routes and schedules.