ASAP Act

Key Points

• The bill creates a new competitive grant program to help states and transit agencies upgrade old rail stations built before the Americans with Disabilities Act existed, so they meet current accessibility standards.
• It only applies to rail systems that were already running before July 26, 1990, which covers many of the oldest subway and commuter rail networks in the country.
• Grant money can pay for structural repairs, moving platforms, adding elevators, and other physical changes needed to make stations usable for wheelchair users and other people with disabilities.
• The program would be funded at $350 million per year starting in fiscal year 2027, with the amount rising each year to keep pace with inflation.
• The federal government would cover up to 80 percent of a project's cost, with local governments expected to provide the rest.
• Local governments that get the money must work with disability advocacy groups, like centers for independent living, to plan and assess the upgrades.