U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), members of the U.S. Senate committees on Environment and Public Works and Commerce, introduced the Build Housing, Unlock Benefits and Services (HUBS) Act. The bill cuts red tape to unlock transit-oriented development (TOD) projects that boost local economies and housing supply. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Laura Friedman (D-CA).
The Build HUBS Act makes several changes aimed at improving the usability of important infrastructure loan programs. These programs allow the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Transportation to collaborate and prioritize projects that promote transit-oriented development.
“Utah is growing quickly, and that growth must be paired with smart, coordinated transportation planning and more attainable housing,” said Senator Curtis. “The Build HUBS Act helps us maximize transportation investments, makes better use of public land, and empowers local leaders to use existing infrastructure programs more effectively to build housing where it matters and makes sense.”
“Taking on our housing affordability crisis means using all the tools at our disposal,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “Investing in transit-oriented development will have a positive impact on housing affordability, local economies, and quality of life. It’s not enough to make communities more affordable, we must also work to make communities more livable – that’s what the Build HUBS Act does. I am proud to be part of a bipartisan and bicameral coalition leading this bill, and I look forward to working with all our colleagues to advance our legislation.”
“Too many communities are ready to build near transit but are blocked from securing the investments they need by unnecessary red tape,” said Representative Friedman. “The Build HUBS Act breaks out the scissors and gives local governments the flexibility and tools to build more housing near jobs, services, and public transportation. It’s a commonsense, bipartisan step to address our housing shortage and create more connected, sustainable communities.”
“The Build HUBS Act is one of many bipartisan bills I’m proud to support to help tackle the housing affordability crisis. By making it easier for communities to build more housing near transit and align housing and transportation investments, we can move projects forward more efficiently. This bicameral, bipartisan effort expands workforce housing, strengthens local economies, and helps families live closer to where they work,”said Representative Lawler.
The Build HUBS Act:
- Extends TIFIA and RRIF for 5 years and clarifies the definition of “transit-oriented development.”
- Implements a delegated lending model to retain federal oversight while adopting private sector efficiency and expertise.
- Speeds up processing timelines for project review and funding.
- Provides relief on certain requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act, including for office-to-residential conversions and infill development.
- Encourages these existing loan programs to prioritize projects that promote attainable housing.
TOD is a development strategy that creates dense, walkable, mixed-use development near public transportation. TOD increases land use efficiency, spurs neighborhood revitalization, and provides access to attainable housing, jobs, and services. The Transportation Infrastructure and Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) programs were amended to include TOD projects, recognizing the direct link between housing and transportation. However, TIFIA and RRIF have not yet realized their full potential for TOD projects due to unforeseen gaps in their authorizations. The Build HUBS Act remedies that.
A one pager on the bill is available here. A section-by-section summary is available here. Full text is available here.
What they are saying:
“Utah has asked neighborhoods and cities to plan for growth around our transit stations, which are key areas to drive attainable housing, less congestion, and better access to jobs and education,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “The lack of infrastructure to support housing is slowing us down, and these updates to the TIFIA and RIFF programs will add flexibility and accelerate construction.”
“WFRC appreciates Senator Curtis’s leadership in tackling some of Utah’s most pressing challenges—transportation mobility, housing attainability, and air quality—through the introduction of the Building HUBS Act,” said Andrew Gruber, Executive Director of Wasatch Front Regional Council. “By making targeted adjustments to the RRIF and TIFIA programs, this legislation better aligns these federal financing tools to accommodate transit-oriented development (TOD). Utah is a leader in TOD with comprehensive station area plans developed around all rail and BRT stations, and this legislation would provide resources for Utah to further implement these plans. Coordinating our land use, economic development, housing, and transportation infrastructure is essential to preparing Utah for continued growth while preserving a high quality of life for the communities we serve.”
“UTA strongly supports Senator Curtis’ Build HUBS Act because it provides important new tools to help finance transit-oriented development (TOD), which is essential to Utah’s future growth and housing needs,” said Carlton Christensen, Chair of the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) Board of Trustees. “TOD allows us to better connect housing, jobs, and services around transit, making public transportation more accessible and convenient for hard-working Utahns. We are grateful for Senator Curtis’ leadership in introducing this important bill and his continued support for smart public transit investments that strengthen our communities.”
“For too long, it has been too hard to build affordable homes in the locations where people want to live and work, especially near transit,” said Alecia Hill, Chair of LOCUS. “By reforming the RRIF and TIFIA programs, we believe the Build HUBS Act will unlock additional financing and cut red tape to deliver more in-demand housing in well-connected neighborhoods, ensuring more people and businesses can share in the benefits of transit-connected communities.”
“The bipartisan Build HUBS Act by Sen. Blunt Rochester and Sen. Curtis expands local government tools to meet both our housing and transportation needs quickly and affordably,” said Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities. “The National League of Cities is committed to supporting federal legislation like the Build HUBS Act that enhances local connectivity and economic capacity across the country through expanded federal-local partnership for national results.”
“NAA applauds Senators Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Curtis (R-Utah), as well as Representatives Friedman (D-Calif.-30) and Lawler (R-N.Y.-17), for introducing the Build Housing, Unlock Benefits and Services Act (Build HUBS Act), which cuts years of unnecessary federal red tape that delays multifamily housing, lowering costs and accelerating the construction,” said Bob Pinnegar, President and CEO of the National Apartment Association. “By reducing red tape in development, this bill increases housing supply, helps ease the affordability crisis, and delivers more apartments faster where communities need them most. We look forward to working with the sponsors to help address the critical lack of housing supply at all price points in the U.S.”
“The National Multifamily Housing Council commends Senators Blunt Rochester and Curtis and Representatives Friedman and Lawler for introducing the Build Housing, Unlock Benefits and Services Act (Build HUBS Act) to update the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) programs to ensure that housing providers can access critical funding sources to spur the development of much-needed housing across the country,” said Sharon Wilson Géno, President of the National Multifamily Housing Council. “These critical modifications could facilitate the production of more than 100,000 new rental units. The TIFIA and RRIF programs play an important role in financing transportation projects; however, until now it has been impossible for housing providers to access and use them for transit-oriented development. As Congress considers the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization, we look forward to working on legislation that makes it easier for housing providers to utilize DOT funds provided by the TIFIA and RRIF programs.”
“The Build HUBS Act is an important step to address the nation’s housing crisis,” said Jeffrey D. DeBoer, President and CEO of The Real Estate Roundtable. “By expanding the Department of Transportation’s low-interest TIFIA/RRIF loan programs to finance housing in transit-oriented development projects this bill will increase the supply of housing in America, and bring more affordable housing options to communities across the country. We look forward to working with Congress to enact this legislation.”
“The housing shortage has made high-opportunity communities unaffordable for far too many people,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth Action. “The Build HUBS Act strengthens federal investment by making TIFIA and RRIF work better for housing near transit, where access to jobs and services already exists. By modernizing and aligning these programs with housing production, the bill helps unlock new housing supply in the transit-served places people want to live and work.”
“The Build HUBS Act empowers regions and MPOs to create vibrant, connected communities where housing, jobs, and transit work together,” said Erich Zimmermann, Executive Director of the National Association of Regional Councils. “By reforming federal financing tools for transit-oriented development, this legislation helps local leaders provide attainable housing and improve quality of life in their regions.”
“I want to thank Senators Blunt Rochester and Curtis and Representatives Friedman and Lawler for their leadership on this important reform,” said Sarah Brundage, President & CEO, National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders. “The Build HUBS Act makes critical improvements to existing federal loan programs, including by creating opportunities for more public-private partnerships, that would result in significantly more affordable housing near transit at no additional cost to the federal government.”
“NAHB commends Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and John Curtis (R-Utah), as well as Reps. Friedman (D-Calif.-30) and Lawler (R-N.Y.-17), for introducing the Build HUBS Act, bipartisan legislation that retools key Department of Transportation loan programs so they can be used for workforce housing,” said Buddy Hughes, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders. “Connecting housing and transportation options are fundamental for thriving communities. Offering improved, low-cost financing tools will add more funding options for builders to increase housing supply near transit routes.”
The Build HUBS Act is endorsed by Smart Growth America, American Planning Association, Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Center for Community Progress, Enterprise Community Partners, Inclusive Abundance Action, LOCUS, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Mortgage Bankers Association, National Apartment Association, National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders, National Association of Regional Councils, National League of Cities, National Leased Housing Association, the National Association of REALTORS, National Multifamily Housing Coalition, National NeighborWorks Association, The Real Estate Roundtable, and Up for Growth Action.
