Estimating the Long-Term Impacts of Map-21 on the Nation’s Local Rural Transit Bus Infrastructure

Abstract

This digest focuses on the impacts of the Moving Ahead for Progress for the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) on rural transit, and, more specifically, on the impact of capital funding levels on the long-term reinvestment needs of the nation’s rural transit infrastructure. The digest accomplishes four specific things: it summarizes the key changes of MAP-21 of particular interest to rural transit operators and state departments of transportation (DOTs) charged with administering federal rural transit programs; presents the results of an analysis of historical funding levels for rural public transportation, and how they compare with funding provided under MAP-21; considers the future condition of the nation’s rural transit infrastructure; and summarizes the effectiveness of the research methodology and its potential applicability to broader capital investment analyses.