• USDOT Repeals “disparate impact” portion of its civil rights rules.

  “The Department is rescinding portions of its Title VI implementing regulations to align with the language that Congress enacted in Title VI prohibiting intentionally discriminatory conduct, pursuant to Title VI, 42 U.S.C. 2000d–1. See 42 U.S.C. 2000d. There are serious statutory and constitutional concerns with the legality of the Department’s Title VI regulations, which go beyond intentional discrimination by prohibiting conduct that has an unintentional disparate impact. This rule accordingly rescinds those portions of the regulations that prohibit conduct having a disparate impact, which are in considerable tension with both the statute and the Constitution and do not serve the public interest.”

• FTA has published a notice of withdrawal of guidance for Circular 4704.1A, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Requirements and Guidelines for Federal Transit Administration Recipients.  According to the agency, the withdrawal “removes a significant administrative burden for many large transit recipients by eliminating the requirement to submit comprehensive EEO program plans and documentation to the FTA for review and approval as well as FTA oversight through our Comprehensive Oversight Review process.

  “It is important for all FTA recipients to understand that the withdrawal of this circular only affects transit recipient EEO reporting requirements to FTA; it does not change the underlying obligation to comply with all Federal nondiscrimination requirements, including those under Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act and other applicable statutes.”

• (Politico) Transportation industry lobbyists who met with Speaker Mike Johnson this week to discuss the surface transportation bill came away encouraged about its prospects, three people briefed on the meeting told POLITICO.

  Those people, granted anonymity to discuss a private conversation, said participants emerged with a sense that the speaker has an overall positive outlook on the five-year, $580 billion bill and that its passage could help members politically in an election season. Still, they said, Johnson acknowledged some challenging provisions, though he believed those could be hashed out. He also wants to get the White House engaged — but at the right time.

• (Progressive Railroading) U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) this week introduced a three-bill legislative package that aims to support the deployment of clean technology in rail, identify rail electrification opportunities, and strengthen rail network planning.

  The American Electric Rail Mapping Act (H.R.9213) — co-led with U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) — would direct the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to assess rail electrification opportunities across the United States. The bill's full text is available here. 

  The Rail Motive Power Source Integration Act (H.R.9181) would establish an FRA research and development pilot program to support the integration of multiple power sources into a locomotive, including electrification, batteries and hydrogen. The bill's full text is available here. 

  The Southeastern Rail Technologies Mapping Act (H.R.9182) would direct the FRA to evaluate opportunities for rail electrification and other technologies along the corridor connecting Florida and Washington, D.C. The bill's full text is available here. 

Grant Reminders:

• FTA has approximately $166 million in available funding for the Fiscal Year 2026 Rail Vehicle Replacement Program. Applications are due by July 6, 2026.

• FTA has approximately $28.5 million in available funding for the Fiscal Year 2026 Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning Program. Applications are due by July 10, 2026

GETTING TO THE GAMES: 2026 WORLD CUP

• Metrolink is launching a contactless payment pilot on the San Bernardino Line and Arrow service in time to serve World Cup riders.

• Caltrain is adding late night trains to serve fans leaving matches via Mountain View station.

• SEPTA is offering free post-match rides, trains every four or five minutes, overnight service, and rolling out a robust security operation to support World Cup fans in Philadelphia. (MetroPhiladelphian.com)

• New Jersey is encouraging residents to download the Public Safety by Everbridge app, create an account, and subscribe to "WORLDCUPNJ," which will serve as a primary source of official tournament information, including transportation updates, Know Before You Go guidance, public safety notifications, and operational alerts. NJ Transit is also heightening awareness of the signs of human trafficking and asking riders to alert authorities.

• Trinity Metro and north Texas leaders are highlighting their extensive planning and coordination efforts to ensure fans can move throughout the region safely and efficiently.

  Read more about how systems have prepared to welcome World Cup fans here, here, and here.

CRC’S SUMMER BOARD MEETING IS JUST OVER TWO WEEKS AWAY

All CRC members in good standing are welcome to attend in person, or via zoom. Please indicate your intention here.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 30 | 1PM – 4PM

WHERE:  401 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore

Following the meeting, join the MARC team for some Baltimore hospitality as we decamp to Pratt Street Ale House.

NEWSOM UNDER FIRE FOR BUDGET IMPACT ON TRANSIT SPENDING

(Per Politico) California state lawmakers blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday over budget proposals that could reduce transit spending by over $1 billion.

The lawmakers held a rally in front of the state Capitol this week in an attempt to pressure Newsom to fully restore $690 million in emergency transit funding. Newsom agreed to earmarking the money in 2023 but did not include it in the updated budget plan he released last month.

Newsom, in February, signed a $590 million loan for the region’s four major transit operators — Bay Area Rapid Transit, Muni, AC Transit and Caltrain — to avert service cuts this year. But transit operators say that funding is only a temporary stopgap.

Connect Bay Area, a campaign backed by local lawmakers, unions and transit advocates, announced last month that it had submitted enough signatures to qualify a regional tax measure to help fund the systems. The measure asks voters to approve a half-cent sales-tax hike in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and up to a full cent in San Francisco.

Newsom and lawmakers must pass a state budget by June 15, but their negotiations over transit and climate funding will likely result in a follow-up budget trailer bill.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• South Shore Line responds to Chicago Bears’ advancement of Hammond Stadium option (South Shore Line)

• FTA Plans Family-Friendly Transit Scorecard for Agencies Nationwide (Metro)

• US Rep. Beyer introduces 3 bills to support rail modernization (Progressive Railroading)

• FTA to develop transit performance dashboard, seeks public input (Progressive Railroading)

• Tri-Rail Back on Track, but Hurdles Remain (BOCA Magazine)

• Congress’s Transportation Reauthorization Bill Would Drastically Underfund Transit and Rail Projects (Urban Institute)