Statement: YIMBY Action and its fifty Chapters support the Build Housing Near Transit Act

SAN FRANCISCO, CA— YIMBY Action and its 50 chapters across the country applaud Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5), and Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Mike Braun (R-IN) for reintroducing the bipartisan Build More Housing Near Transit Act to encourage construction of new homes, including low- and middle-income homes, in transit-served, walkable communities. This bill aims to facilitate the construction of more housing, increase transit ridership, and maximize federal investments while slowing the effects of climate change.

The Build More Housing Near Transit Act would incentivize local governments to promote building new homes in and around transit corridors of future New Starts projects. The bill adds pro-housing policies to existing law so local governments will be incentivized to make the following changes near transit corridors

• Eliminate parking minimums
• Establish by-right permitting for projects that meet objective standards
• Reduce minimum lot sizes
• Create and preserve affordable homes
• Raise or eliminate height limits

“YIMBY Action and our chapters across the country call for the swift introduction and passage of the Build More Housing Near Transit Act,” said Laura Foote, Executive Director of YIMBY Action. “Housing and transit go together, and this commonsense approach will help us build more housing in walkable, transit-served areas. The national housing shortage has dramatically driven up the cost of living, eroding the middle class and driving millions of Americans into poverty. The Build More Housing Near Transit Act takes critical steps to help us build more sustainable communities, rich with opportunity for all.”

“The Build Housing Near Transit Act is a necessary step toward building dense, walkable neighborhoods across the country, which is one of the most impactful ways to fight climate change,” said Joanna Gubman, Executive Director of Urban Environmentalists and Environmental Director at YIMBY Action.

“This bill will add significant support for SF YIMBY’s efforts to make San Francisco affordable for people at all income levels,” said Jane Natoli, Organizing Director of SF YIMBY. “We need a lot more housing, and this bill will help incentivize key pro-housing policies we fight for at the local level.”

“YIMBY Denver is thrilled to support the Build Housing Near Transit Act,” said Connor Riley, Organizer for YIMBY Denver. “These incentives for investing in pro-housing policies will boost our local efforts and help make Denver neighborhoods affordable, equitable, and sustainable. Denver is not full.”

Chapters:

Abundant Housing Atlanta

Asheville for All

Bend YIMBY

CUrbanism Club

Dallas Neighbors for Housing

DC YIMBYs

East Bay YIMBY

Evolve Tri-Valley

Gainesville is for People

Grow The Richmond

Hawai'i YIMBY

Housing Now Nashville

Live TC

Madison is for People

More Homes Miami

Mountain View YIMBY

Napa-Solano for Everyone

NEOurbanism

Northern Neighbors

Orlando YIMBY

Palmetto YIMBY

Peninsula for Everyone

Pro-Housing Pittsburgh

Progress Noe Valley

RVA YIMBY

San Francisco YIMBY

Santa Cruz YIMBY

Santa Rosa YIMBY

Seattle YIMBY

SLOCo YIMBY

South Bay YIMBY

Southside Forward

Spokane Housing for All

Streets for People

Tucson for Everyone

Twin Cities YIMBY

Urban Environmentalists CA

Urban Environmentalists Illinois

Ventura County YIMBY

YIMBY Delaware

YIMBY Denver

YIMBY Fort Collins

YIMBY Hampton Roads

YIMBY Jewish

YIMBY Latinx

YIMBY Louisville

YIMBY Maryland

YIMBY Oakland County

YIMBY Tampa

YIMBYs of NoVA