US proposes to boost transit funding to areas with higher marriage, birth rates

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 3:26 PM

WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) – The US Transportation Department said on Wednesday it is proposing to boost grants for major transit projects by 10% in areas that have above-average marriage and birth rates.

Democrats criticized the plan that would apply to 40 major projects already in the program that funds light rail, bus and commuter rail projects. “Tying funding for transit projects to marriage rates and how many babies a woman has is the sort of bizarre and dystopian idea you’d expect in a TV show, not actual policy put forth by the U.S. government,” said Democratic Senator Patty Murray.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese)


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