Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart

Representing the 25th District of FLORIDA

After Miami-Dade TPO Vote, Diaz-Balart Commends Path Forward

Aug 30, 2018
Press Release

MIAMI ­­– Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, released the following statement after the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) voted to move forward on bus-rapid transit.  

“Today, Miami-Dade County took the first step of many towards addressing our community's transit needs. For years, I have watched in frustration as concrete solutions were never presented to federal partners and the County was unable to qualify for the billions of dollars I have made available for infrastructure projects around the country. Though this process is far from over, County leadership is finally showing they are serious about building a more modernized and efficient transit system, and I am optimistic this will lead to eligibility for federal support. As Chairman of the House Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, I have successfully secured record levels of funding for transportation and infrastructure. I remain ready and willing as ever to help however I can to bring these much-needed dollars home to Southern Florida.”

As Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Diaz-Balart has worked tirelessly to support and adequately fund grants the County could be eligible for to expand its transit system. For fiscal year 2018, he secured the following:

  • $1.5 billion for TIGER, a $1 billion increase from the previous year
  • $2.6 billion for Capital Investment Grants, which provide grant funding for major transit capital investments that are planned and operated by local communities , which was a $232 million increase from the previous year
    • $1.5 billion for New Starts Projects
    • $716 million for Core Capacity Projects
    • $401 million for Small Starts Projects
  • $400 million for both Transit Bus and Bus Facility Grants, and Transit State of Good Repair Grants, which was new funding in fiscal year 2018
     

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Issues: 
Appropriations, Transportation and Housing