{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://riley.house.gov/2026/09/24/riley-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-transit-access-in-rural-communities/", "RILEY INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO IMPROVE TRANSIT ACCESS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Josh Riley", "R000622", "riley.house.gov", "riley", "https://riley.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Representative Josh Riley (NY-19) and Representative James Gallagher (CA-01) introduced the Improving Rural Transportation Act. This bipartisan bill will create a federal grant program to fund rural transportation infrastructure and help communities deploy ride-share and micro-transit programs with a focus on public-private partnerships.\n\n\u201cIn Upstate New York, getting to the doctor, the grocery store, or the post office can mean driving 20 or 30 miles. If you don\u2019t have a car or can\u2019t drive, that becomes a real problem real fast,\u201d said Riley. \u201cSmall towns should have the tools to come up with solutions that work for them. This bill gives rural communities more options, brings local leaders and businesses to the table, and helps make sure folks can get where they need to go.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural communities deserve transportation options that actually work for them, not one-size-fits-all solutions designed for big cities. The Improving Rural Transportation Act gives smaller communities more flexibility to develop transportation services that fit their needs while bringing the private sector to the table. I\u2019m proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort with Congressman Riley and give rural America a better shot at the transportation investments it deserves,\u201d said Gallagher.\n\nThe Improving Rural Transportation Act would:\n\nCreate a Department of Transportation grant program for communities with populations under 200,000.\n\nHelp fund rideshare, microtransit, flexible-route, and other transportation programs.\n\nGive priority to projects that bring together local governments, private-sector partners, and nonprofit organizations.\n\nRequire state or local partners to cover at least 20 percent of project costs.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE).\n\n\u201cThe Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is proud to endorse the bipartisan \u2018Improving Rural Transportation Act.\u2019 This proposed legislation represents a critical opportunity to invest in advanced transportation technologies outside of urban centers, positioning rural communities at the forefront of American technological innovation in the transportation sector. CTE\u2019s work supporting rural fleets across the country as they plan for and deploy advanced transportation technologies has reinforced the importance of improving transportation access and quality in rural communities. We applaud Representatives Riley and Gallagher for advancing legislation that responds to the needs of their constituents while encouraging continued innovation in the transportation sector,\u201d said CTE Executive Director Dan Raudebaugh.\n\nYou can read the text of the Improving Rural Transportation Act HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://riley.house.gov/2026/09/24/riley-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-transit-access-in-rural-communities/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9121221266686916, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}