Modal Parity in Permitting Act

The Modal Parity in Permitting Act aims to streamline the acquisition of land for federally funded transit and passenger rail projects, directly affecting transit agencies and rail entities. It updates existing law by broadening the term "right-of-way" to "real property interests" for what federal transit funds can acquire. For passenger rail projects, the bill specifically allows recipients of federal aid to acquire or secure real property interests before or during environmental reviews. However, it explicitly prohibits any physical development or improvement on these properties until all required environmental reviews for the project are completed. The Federal Transit Administration is also directed to update its guidelines to reflect these changes.