S. 3284 — Streamline Transit Projects Act

This section establishes a new program under which the Secretary of Transportation may assign to eligible recipients—direct recipients of federal transit funds located in urbanized areas with populations exceeding 200,000 that demonstrate legal, technical, and financial capacity—responsibility for determining whether designated transit activities qualify for categorical exclusions from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessments or impact statements, per criteria in 23 CFR part 771 (or successor). (As background, NEPA requires federal review of agency actions' environmental effects; categorical exclusions apply to predefined classes of low-impact actions.) The section further authorizes assignment of related responsibilities under other applicable federal laws (except government-to-government consultation with Indian Tribes), with the recipient solely responsible and liable; requires a public-noticed memorandum of understanding (MOU) specifying terms (including 3-year term, renewable, or 5 years after 10 years of prior assumption), monitoring, technical assistance, and federal court jurisdiction; and sets termination procedures (Secretary after 120-day correction period for noncompliance; recipient after 90-day notice). (Thus, the program enables large urban transit agencies to expedite NEPA compliance and project delivery while preserving Secretary oversight and flexibility in other project methods.)