Transportation and Infrastructure
More on Transportation and Infrastructure
Written By: Congresswoman Lateefah Simon
I came to Congress because my life has been shaped by the systems that either work or fail, with real consequences. I was born legally blind and have never driven a car. Public transit has always been the backbone of my life. The need and fight for accessible transportation inspired me to run for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors, where I served on the board and later as president for four years.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) announced her new legislation, the Same-Day Paratransit Innovation Act. This legislation would incentivize the use of same-day paratransit technology at public transit agencies to allow for more flexible, on-demand paratransit services for individuals with disabilities and other paratransit users who cannot use fixed-route public transit.
OAKLAND, CA. – Today, Bay Area members of Congress celebrated an $8,807,888 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support local public transportation as the region prepares to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The investment will ensure local transit agencies can meet increased demand during one of the largest global sporting events ever hosted in the United States.
OAKLAND, CA – Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) led 12 colleagues in calling for the withdrawal of a Department of Transportation (DOT) final rule that would eliminate regulations that provide essential civil rights protections and ensure organizations that receive federal transportation funding do not unintentionally discriminate against protected groups.
Written By: Jose Fermoso
Last week, Rep. Lateefah Simon called a conference inside Oakland’s 19th Street BART station to introduce a federal bill that could have big implications for transit safety.
There, Simon, who represents Berkeley and other East Bay cities in Congress, announced that she had introduced the Rapid Intervention and Deterrence for Enhanced Rider Safety Act, or the RIDER Safety Act, which would allow transit agencies across the country to tap federal crime prevention funds to pay for “transit support specialists” rather than exclusively law enforcement officers.
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
OAKLAND, CA – Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) is excited to announce that she has successfully secured $11.2 million for 15 different community projects in California’s 12th Congressional District through the Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding (CPF) Grant process.
OAKLAND, CA – On January 30, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) announced her new legislation, H.R. 6069, the Rapid Intervention and Deterrence for Enhanced Rider Safety Act, or the RIDER Safety Act. This legislation would support transit ambassador, or transit support specialist, programs at public transit agencies across the country.
OAKLAND, CA. – Since being sworn-in in January 2025, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) has secured over $344 million in federal funding for California’s 12th Congressional District. These federal grants have supported scientific research, arts, education, community health care programs, housing programs, infrastructure modernization, small businesses, and more across the East Bay.