The gist

The Maximizing Transportation Efficiency Act funds carpools, vanpools, and tech tools to cut traffic. It targets rural areas hit hardest by limited transit options.

Who wins, who loses

• Wins: Rural commuters, transit agencies, small cities under 1 million people, employers offering commute benefits.
• Loses: No one materially; unused funds shift to other transportation projects.

What it does

• Adds Transportation Demand Management (TDM) to federal law as strategies that maximize road efficiency through tech and incentives.
• Sets aside $20 million yearly for rural TDM grants: vanpools, carpools, trip-planning apps, smart transit hubs.
• Removes the 1-million-population threshold for Congestion Relief Program grants, opening eligibility to smaller metros.
• Creates $20 million small-project set-aside for grants between $500,000 and $10 million.

Why should I care?

Supporters say rural families spend more on gas and cars than city families, so shared rides and remote work help household budgets. Critics argue federal dollars should build actual roads and transit, not marketing campaigns or apps. An alternative being debated: direct transit expansion instead of behavior-change programs. Where do you land? Vote below and use "Tell Your Rep" to make sure your voice reaches Congress.