Maximizing Transportation Efficiency Act
Download template email and call scripts to get involved
The Maximizing Transportation Efficiency Act (H.R.7301/ S.3694), sponsored by Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), will modernize federal transportation policy by ensuring that TDM strategies are recognized, funded, and available to communities of all sizes.
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How You Can Help
To make these proposals a reality, we need your support. ACT members are encouraged to reach out to their Members of Congress to support the Maximizing Transportation Efficiency Act to ensure its inclusion in the surface transportation reauthorization bill.
- Use our call and email scripts to contact your Senators and Representatives. Please contact Emma (ewasserman@actweb.org) for the correct e-mail contact.
- Reach out to the Members representing the states or districts where your company has offices or does business.
- Don’t forget your personal representatives. You are encouraged to advocate as both a constituent and a professional.
- Sign on to our letter of support.
👉 Find your Members of Congress here.
Your outreach matters. With your voice, we can ensure that every community has access to the tools needed to reduce congestion, expand mobility options, and build a more efficient transportation system.
Sign on to our letter of support
The Bill Includes Four Key Provisions:
Currently, there is no standard definition of TDM in federal law. This has created a patchwork system, where regional FHWA offices interpret TDM differently, leading to inconsistent funding eligibility across the country. Codifying a clear definition will streamline funding and project delivery nationwide.
The bill explicitly confirms that TDM strategies are eligible under Title 23 programs, including the Mega Grant Program, BUILD, CMAQ, Congestion Relief Program, and SS4A. This clarification will ensure federal programs are administered consistently and efficiently, giving communities more certainty as they plan mobility solutions.
Rural communities often face unique mobility challenges. This provision establishes a set-aside within the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program to fund pilot projects that bring TDM strategies to rural areas. These grants will help improve mobility, expand access to jobs, and provide more affordable, reliable transportation options for families and workers.
Currently, high grant minimums and population requirements exclude most communities from accessing Congestion Relief Program (CRP) funds. The bill fixes this by creating a set-aside for projects between $500,000 and $10 million and eliminating population thresholds, ensuring communities of all sizes can benefit.
Questions can be directed to Emma Wasserman, ACT's Government Affairs & Policy Manager.