Modernizing Public Transit Act of 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 22, 2011

Modernizing Public Transit Act of 2011 - Revises project justification criteria the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) must use in approving capital investment grants for new fixed-guideway capital projects under the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Starts and Small Starts programs.

Adds to the criteria that must be considered: (1) the costs and impacts of urban sprawl; (2) population density, land use, proposed land use, and local development goals along the project corridor and along transit corridors connecting with the project, including bus, bus rapid transit, and rail; and (3) estimated reductions in transit times for passengers of the existing transit system as the result of the project.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] · D–IN

Committees

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Sep 23, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Sep 22, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Sep 22, 2011
Introduced in House
Sep 22, 2011
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Sep 22, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.3019 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.3019, 112th Congress: Modernizing Public Transit Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3019

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-09-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3019/BILLS-112hr3019ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:21:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.3019 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3019 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.3019, 112th Congress: Modernizing Public Transit Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3019

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-09-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3019/BILLS-112hr3019ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:21:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3019 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3019 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss H.R.3019, 112th Congress: Modernizing Public Transit Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3019

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-09-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3019/BILLS-112hr3019ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:21:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3019 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3019 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3019, 112th Congress: Modernizing Public Transit Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3019

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-09-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3019/BILLS-112hr3019ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:21:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3019 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.