States Under Pressure to Spend Taxpayer Money for Infrastructure
On Jan. 4, President Joe Biden will visit Covington in Kentucky to announce the launch of the Ohio River Bridge Project. The project will receive a $1.64 Billion federal funding boost thanks to the $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Congress adopted in November 2021.
Biden will be joined by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Kentucky’s Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, and Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine at a ceremony to commemorate the U.S. Department of Transportation’s approval of the IIJA allocation for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.
Brent Spence Bridge, a 60-year-old bridge that spans the river connecting the Cincinnati metropolitan region and northern Kentucky is a double-decked and cantilevered bridge.
The total $3.6 billion project is jointly managed by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Ohio Department of Transportation and will improve existing spans and create a new one. “companion bridge.” Construction is expected to begin by the end of 2023 and will be completed by the end of 2029.
Both states had been seeking federal funding for the construction of a new bridge for years. “This project will not only ease the traffic nightmare that drivers have suffered through for years, but it will also help ensure that the movement of the supply chain doesn’t stall on this nationally significant corridor,” DeWine was reelected for a second term in November.
According to a White House Jan. 1 statement, Biden will use his Ohio River trip to highlight how the IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will combine federal money and state and local funds to fuel the economy. “infrastructure decade” All across the country
As state legislatures nationwide prepare for 2023 sessions—45 convene in January, including 35 by Jan. 11—allocating federal IIJA funds for often long-planned infrastructure projects will be among the top issues discussed by lawmakers.
The American Society of Civil Engineers, National Homebuilders Association and Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA), are just a few of the industry groups that lobby state legislators to quickly allocate federal funds to help projects move.
‘Get Projects Done’
Maria Lehman from ASCE told The Epoch Times that the organization is encouraging legislators to follow her lead. “Get it in, get projects done. The potholes aren’t waiting, the bad bridges aren’t waiting. It is possible to move projects quickly. [State lawmakers] have to embrace” Federal funding “proactively push” In many cases, money has been spent on projects that have been in the books for years.
She stated that time is everything. “That’s one of the things I’m saying. If we don’t spend this on the right projects” She stated that the costs of a move now will only increase in the future.
“We have been underfunding infrastructure for a long time,” Lehman stated, citing state and federate “independent failure to act” Funding infrastructure has been a major source of funding for the nation’s $12.6 trillion backlog. This is due to the focus on needed projects.
State legislature 2023 sessions will be the second round in which lawmakers will be allocating IIJA monies since the bill’s November 2021 adoption. Federal agencies “have been delivering, the states have been slow in getting [money] out the door quickly enough,” She spoke.
“States that have passed their own revenue streams,” Such as the 40 states with increased gas taxes from 2020 to 2022. “are ahead in infrastructure development,” Lehman expressed gratitude for the availability of plans and match money from the states/localities to help move projects forward quickly in metropolitan planning agencies all across the country,
Agencies ‘Contributing’ To Delay
Brian Turmail, spokesperson at the AGCA, told The Epoch Times that infrastructure delays are caused by federal agencies.
“The biggest challenge that we see, this follows from the federal level down to the states, continues to be confusion and uncertainty in how each federal agency will interpret the new rules and regulations in the infrastructure bill,” He pointed out that there have been changes in the “longstanding Buy American program” Among bottlenecks
“Among the issues is determining [if] any manufactured components must be entirely sourced and assembled in the United States,” Turmail stated. “What is a manufactured product? The administration has not clarified those [terms] but has already required federal agencies to enforce ‘Buy American; requirements.”
He said that the undefinable devil is all about the details. “There is a lot of confusion on how to proceed. Do we allow this water system to go through knowing there are components not made in the USA?”
That “confusion equals inaction,” Turmail said, noting another issue in moving forward with projects is “Permitting reform is supposedly part of the bill. The legislation … codified what the Trump administration did by executive order that reduced the permitting process from years to months.
“The administration is ignoring the right parts of the legislation and paying copious attention to the wrong parts and just pretending [permitting reform] is not in the bill. We need the federal government to move forward so states can apply” Allowing project approvals to be modified.
“We haven’t seen any movement” He spoke out about reforming the permitting system.
An October White House Fact Sheet This provides a state-by–state overview of which projects have received IIJA allocations. The ASCE, which produces an Infrastructure Report Card every four years—most recently in 2021—also maintains an updated roster of state-by-state infrastructure projects Charting priorities and needs
According to the White House Infrastructure Implementation Team (WIIT), more than $185 Billion in IIJA funding has been distributed to more than 6,900 projects across 4,000 communities in all 50 States, the District of Columbia and the territories. The funds have been divided into dozens of categories that range from roads and bridges to wildlife conservation to broadband expansion. Here’s a quick summary of the highlights:
Roads and bridges According to the U.S. The U.S.DOT estimates that $120 billion has been allocated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), for more than 2,800 bridge-related projects. This includes the Brent Spence Bridge Project, Ohio-Kentucky.
Other important road and bridge constructions include the East River Tunnel in New York and the Connecticut River Bridge.
Rail: Federal Railroad Administration estimates that the IIJA provides $66 billion in new funding for freight and passenger trains, with $43.5 billion for Federal State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grants.
The $105 billion California High-Speed Rail Project is one of the beneficiaries. It has been in the planning stages since Gov. Jerry Brown advocated for it back in the 1980s.
California voters approved a $10 Billion funding measure in 2008 In 2008, California voters approved a $10 billion funding measure. Lines have been built in sections since 2015. The San Joaquin Valley, which runs from Merced through Bakersfield, is the first section that will be operational by 2029.
The high-speed rail line, which spans 800 miles, will be completed with 24 stations. Passengers will be able to travel up to 220 mph on trains that run between Los Angeles, California and San Francisco in just two hours and forty minutes.
Local Projects The U.S. DOT, it has issued $1.5 billion in IIJA allocations for 26 projects requested by local planning agencies and $2.2 billion for 166 projects “that will allow urban and rural communities to move forward on projects that modernize roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports, and intermodal transportation and make our transportation systems safer, more accessible, more affordable, and more sustainable.
Transit for the Public: The DOT reported October that it had allocated $20.4 Billion in transit funding, and recommended $4.45 Billion in Capital Investment Grants. “to advance public transit projects” Arizona, California. Illinois. Indiana. Minnesota. New York. Pennsylvania. Tennessee. Washington.
CapMetro in Austin (Texas) launched Project Connect Texas, worth $7.1 billion, in February 2022. This program taps into IIJA funding to accelerate projects.
Austin voters approved this massive project in November 2020. It will expand one MetroRail rail line, add two lightrail lines, a bus rapid transport line, one commuter line, a tunnel beneath the center of the city and purchase an all-electric fleet buses and trains.
Airports: Federal Aviation Administration and DOT have earmarked over $3 billion for 30775 airports nationwide to upgrade their technology, and $1 billion for 85 airports to modernize their terminals.
John F. Kennedy International Airport, Queens, N.Y. is one of the beneficiaries. It will tap into IIJA to accelerate its $4.2B Terminal 6 project. The first phase is set to begin in early 2023.
Ports and Waterways The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorized $3.9 billion in IIJA funding for 16 waterway and harbor construction projects in 10 states and Puerto Rico.
The federal Maritime Administration and DOT also issued $700,000,000 in federal matches under IIJA to finance 41 port projects in 22 US states and one territory in order to improve port infrastructure.
Land ports of entry: The U.S. General Services Administration reported that it has provided $3.4 billion in IIJA funding for 26 land ports of entrance across the country.
The $4.4 billion Gordie-Howe International Bridge, which links Detroit, Mich. and Windsor, Ont., will be one of the projects that will receive IIJA funding.
The six-lane span will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America when finished, increasing the Detroit River bridge’s capacity from 18,500 cars per day to 26,500 by 2025.
New entry points will also be constructed in Canada and the U.S. as part of the project. It will be the largest Canadian port-of-entry at the border. The 167-acre border entrance on the U.S. side will remain. “will be one of the largest border facilities in North America.”
Infrastructure for electric vehicle (EV). The Biden administration approved the submissions of all 50 states for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plans. $1.5 billion was allocated to build EV chargers along approximately 75,000 miles highway.
Water Infrastructure The IIJA has allocated $55 billion to the improvement of water infrastructure. The Environmental Protection Agency reports allocating more than $9 billion to improve and repair water systems through the agencies’ State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs.
Also distributed was the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers $200 million will be spent on water infrastructure projects for 26 states and 3 tribes. These projects will include installing backup generators, upgrading existing water and wastewater infrastructures, and stormwater improvement projects.
John Haughey, a working journalist, has been in the field since 1978. His background includes state legislatures, local government, growth and development, as well as experience in local government. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming and a Navy veteran, having fought fires at sea in three deployments aboard USS Constellation. He’s been a reporter for daily newspapers in California, Washington, Wyoming, New York, and Florida; a staff writer for Manhattan-based business trade publications.
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