More Than $2B Announced Local Infrastructure Projects Across the Unites States
U.S. transportation officials announced $2.2 billion for local infrastructure projects on Thursday, with a focus on new bridges, roads, bike lanes, railways and ports across the United States.
Backed by President Joe Biden, The influx comes from a $1 trillion infrastructure law which provided an additional $7.5 billion over five years for the grants. The competitive grants are more than double the amount awarded the previous year under the same program.
Modernizing Transportation Systems
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that the projects would help modernize America’s transportation systems. “This is a program that recognizes many of the most interesting and compelling ideas and designs and plans aren’t going to come from Washington, but more of the funding should,” Buttigieg said. “That’s what we’re delivering here.”
Buttigieg highlighted projects in Phoenix and Tucson, each of which are receiving the maximum $25 million. In Phoenix, the money will help build a new bike and pedestrian bridge over the Rio Salado, connecting the city’s southern area with downtown.
Another project in Tucson will add a separate bicycle and pedestrian bridge as part of what Mayor Regina Romero called “a transformative investment in Tucson’s infrastructure.” The money will also go to help revamp a prominent street and replace a 1960s-era vehicle bridge that’s in poor condition.
Some projects elsewhere will reduce expansions. For instance, in an effort to decrease traffic crashes, a $17 million grant will help narrow a five-lane road to three lanes in the Chicago suburb of Munster. The money also will fund a pathway along the street and plant more than 250 trees. For many road improvement grants, “we’re doing it in mind of also benefitting the bike and pedestrian side,” Buttigieg said.
Not Just Roads And Bridges
Bicycle and pedestrian paths are also included in the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program. Texas and Kansas are each receiving about $25 million for hiking and biking trails. Alabama, is getting $20 million to improve a pedestrian corridor linking downtown to isolated neighborhoods in Huntsville. Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. also received $20 million is helping finance a new bike and pedestrian bridge over the Potomac River. Buttigieg said the USDOT received about $13 billion in grant applications.
New Jersey is also getting $20 million to elevate a roadway that serves as a main evacuation route for Atlantic City and its casino industry. $20 million will also go toward two train stations along a planned route between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Related Articles: