Rep. Mullin Advances Transit-Oriented Housing and Pedestrian Safety Bills in Congress

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15) secured committee approval yesterday for three pieces of legislation focused on helping communities build more transit-oriented housing and increasing driver and pedestrian safety on our roadways. The bills were advanced as part of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization process, a legislative package that Congress passes about once every five years. Rep. Mullin's bills were included in the sections of the package that were passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and will next move to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

The Energy and Commerce Committee approved Rep. Mullin's Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act (H.R.3360), which would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to investigate the impact of new driver technology, namely touch screens and their user interface design, on traffic injuries and fatalities, and to make policy recommendations to lawmakers.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved Rep. Mullin's Empty Lots to Housing Act (H.R.3459), which would enable state and local governments to repurpose underutilized land previously acquired with federal highway funding for housing, as well as H.R.7440, a bill that would allow the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), to develop housing on a specific empty parking lot next to the Colma BART station.

Together, the housing provisions are intended to expand opportunities for transit-oriented development by making underused public land available for housing construction and removing barriers that have prevented local communities from redeveloping effectively empty parcels to meet changing needs.

"Families across America are experiencing the housing shortage, and we know this crisis all too well here in the Bay Area. At the same time, many state and local governments want to take action to increase the housing supply, yet are sometimes prevented from doing so due to outdated regulations," Rep. Mullin said. "I authored the Empty Lots to Housing Act to help communities tackle this issue head on. This legislation would remove some of the unnecessary barriers that have been preventing communities from building much-needed transit-oriented housing. I'm proud of the bipartisan support we've received to be able to move this bill out of out of committee and I look forward to seeing the full House pass it soon."

The package also includes H.R.7440, a targeted bill that would authorize SamTrans to redevelop a commuter parking lot that sits nearly-empty next to the Colma BART stations in Daly City. This legislation would provide local leaders with greater flexibility to determine future uses for the site and support long-term community planning efforts.

"For years, I've worked alongside SamTrans to help unlock the potential of the Colma Park-and-Ride site and remove barriers that have prevented the community from turning this land into much-needed housing," Mullin said. "This bill's passage would be a big win for our district and is just one example of the kind of parcel that can be unlocked with the broader Empty Lots to Housing Act."

"We are grateful to Congressman Mullin and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for advancing the Empty Lots to Housing Act and language in the BUILD America 250 Act that would remove all federal interests and restrictions in the Colma Park-and-Ride Lot in Daly City to SamTrans," said SamTrans CEO April Chan. "These actions are a critical step toward unlocking an underutilized transit-adjacent site for a locally led project that can deliver much-needed housing, support transit ridership, and advance our shared climate and mobility goals. We appreciate Congressman Mullin's leadership in helping remove a long-standing federal barrier and create new opportunities for the communities we serve."

Separately, the Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act responds to persistently high traffic and pedestrian fatalities nationwide. The bill would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to study how driver-controlled vehicle technologies-including touch-screen interfaces and user experience design-may affect pedestrian safety. The study would also evaluate broader roadway conditions and provide recommendations to Congress and federal agencies on potential policy and safety updates.

"Whether you ride transit, drive, bike, or walk, everyone experiences our transportation system as a pedestrian at some point," Mullin said. "As pedestrian deaths continue to rise, we need a better understanding of the factors making our roads less safe. The Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act would take a closer look at how modern vehicle technology-including increasingly screen-based controls-may be affecting driver attention and contributing to serious crashes, so policymakers can make informed decisions to better protect people on our streets."

The Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act has been supported by numerous traffic safety and consumer groups, including AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Center for Auto Safety, Consumer Reports, National Safety Council, and State Farm.

"Every second a driver's eyes are off the road can put lives at risk," said president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety Cathy Chase. "As vehicle dashboards become increasingly dominated by touch screens and other complex driver-controlled technology, we need a clear understanding of how these systems affect distraction, crash risk and the safety of all road users. We commend Representative Mullin (D-CA-15) for advancing this commonsense study and urge Congress to support efforts that will reduce driver distraction and prevent fatalities and injuries from motor vehicle crashes."

The Empty Lots to Housing Act (H.R.3459), the bill to grant SamTrans authorization to redevelop the Colma BART Park-and-Ride (H.R.7440), and the Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act (H.R.3360) will next move to the Floor of the House of Representatives for final passage as part of the larger surface transportation reauthorization package.

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