BOSTON—Federal money for big transit projects is on its way, and with it a new problem for transit agencies: balancing the need to repair with demands to expand service, while ensuring a windfall doesn’t go to waste.
The $1 trillion infrastructure law has raised hopes among the agencies for new railcars, new buses and new lines stretching into underserved communities. But figuring out what to invest in could be harder than ever, with generations of neglect to address and commuter habits warped by the pandemic.