Congresswomen Simon and Jacobs Introduce Legislation to Support Affordable and Accessible Transit and Housing Development

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (CA-12) and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51) introduced the Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act. This bill would make permanent and expand the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning to support housing projects near new or existing transit corridors. It would also strengthen the TOD planning program by ensuring critical predevelopment work and meaningful community input are incorporated into grant eligibility and planning decisions.

These TOD planning grants have already turned vision into action in the East Bay. California transit agencies and metropolitan planning organizations have successfully used this pilot program to advance new housing projects near high-frequency rail and bus lines, improving access to transit while helping address the state's housing shortage. Specifically, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and its partner transit agencies have demonstrated the effectiveness and promise of TOD. For example, construction is now underway on a 97-unit apartment project for lower-income seniors next to BART's Lake Merritt station in Oakland's Chinatown neighborhood. The TOD planning grant served as the catalyst to attract a private nonprofit developer and a mix of private and public funding sources for this project.

"I am proud to introduce the Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act to support and expand the successful TOD planning work taking place in the Bay Area," said Congresswoman Simon. "When folks live and work near affordable and accessible transit, we create more vibrant, connected communities that can thrive economically and culturally. This legislation would help ensure that future housing development is sustainable, equitable, and centered on the needs of real communities, strengthening opportunity and quality of life for residents across our region."

"Our country is facing a severe housing shortage - pushing Americans further away from their work, school, and transit. We need to cut the unnecessary red tape and incentivize building communities that are connected and designed for the future," said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. "That's why I'm proud to co-lead the Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Actto make funding permanently available for essential infrastructure projects that prioritize increased transit near housing that's affordable, safer and cleaner streets, and local economic growth."

TOD planning grants can help cities, towns, counties, school districts and transit agencies across the country make the most of these properties' potential and ultimately help millions of people enjoy a better quality of life.

You can find the full text of the bill here. This bill is endorsed by The California Transit Association, East Bay Housing Organizations, the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, and Transform.

"California's public transit and planning professionals are harnessing the power of Transit-Oriented Development planning grants to support new housing projects near high-frequency transit," said Georgia Gann Dohrmann, Federal Legislative Committee Chair at the California Transit Association. "We applaud Congresswomen Simon and Jacobs for their efforts with the Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act of 2026 to help communities across the country and ultimately help millions of people enjoy a better quality of life. Our Association sees the positive long-term impacts this bill can have for all Californians."

"Expanding the available uses and funding for TOD projects and planning is important for affordable housing development as well as for our environment and neighborhood quality. Robust TOD helps make new affordable housing projects more competitive when they search for funding. The East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO) is proud to endorse this bill and hopes to see its passage," said Rev. Sophia DeWitt, Chief Program Officer at East Bay Housing Organizations.

"The Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act gives local communities the authority and resources to expand transit-oriented development planning to existing corridors and support early predevelopment work," said Sharon Lai, Chief Strategy Officer of the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC). "This legislation makes clear that transit investments must deliver housing stability, safer streets, and shared economic opportunity for the people who depend on them - community members should be guiding what this looks like. EBALDC works alongside residents and small businesses in transit-rich neighborhoods where reliable mobility is essential-and where infrastructure has often divided communities rather than supported them."

"The Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act will bring needed resources to regions, like the Bay Area, that have already made significant investments in transit infrastructure but lack the planning capacity to turn existing transit corridors into thriving, transit-oriented communities that everyone can afford to live in," said Transform Housing and Parking Manager Julia Gerasimenko. TOD planning along existing guideways will increase transit ridership, spur economic growth, and lower the cost of living for working families across the country. Transform is grateful to Congresswoman Lateefah Simon for her leadership in advancing federal policies that help communities fully realize the benefits of their transit investments."

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