Blog
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSES
- By: admin
- On: 11/08/2021 17:33:50
- In: Legislative News
Bipartisan bill to spend $1.2 trillion on rebuilding the nation's roads and bridges, expanding internet access and other projects to upgrade the nation's infrastructure passes.
AGC Arkansas has long advocated for real, impactful, and long-term infrastructure funding program, at both the state and federal level. In Arkansas, and with your help, we were able to get Amendment One passed a year ago. Now, a bipartisan bill to spend $1.2 trillion on rebuilding the nation's roads and bridges, expanding internet access and other projects to upgrade the nation's infrastructure will add millions of jobs over the coming decade, proponents of the measure say. Here's a breakdown of what is included in the infrastructure measure and means to you:Roads and Bridges
The bill provides $110 billion to repair the nation's aging highways, bridges and roads. According to the White House, 173,000 total miles of America's highways and major roads and 45,000 bridges are in poor condition. And the almost $40 billion for bridges is the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system, according to the Biden administration.
Public Transit
The $39 billion for public transit in the legislation expands transportation systems, improves accessibility for people with disabilities and provides dollars to state and local governments to buy zero-emission and low-emission buses. The Department of Transportation estimates that the current repair backlog is more than 24,000 buses, 5,000 rail cars, 200 stations and thousands of miles of track and power systems.
Passenger and Freight Rail
To reduce Amtrak's maintenance backlog, which has worsened since Superstorm Sandy nine years ago, the bill provides $66 billion to improve the rail service's 457-mile-long Northeast Corridor, as well as other routes, is the largest federal investment in passenger rail service since Amtrak was founded 50 years ago.
Electric Vehicles
The bill spends $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations, which are critical to accelerating the use of electric vehicles. It also provides $5 billion for the purchase of electric school buses and hybrids.
Internet Access
The legislation's $65 billion for broadband access aims to improve internet services for rural areas, low-income families and tribal communities. Most of the money would be made available through grants to states.
Electric Grid
To protect against the widespread power outages that have become more frequent in recent years, the bill spends $65 billion to improve the reliability and resiliency of the nation's power grid. It also boosts carbon capture technologies and more electricity sources like clean hydrogen.
Airports
The bill spends $25 billion to improve runways, gates and taxiways at airports and to improve terminals. It would also improve infrastructure at air traffic control facilities.
Water and Wastewater
To improve the safety of the nation's drinking water, the legislation will spend $55 billion on water and wastewater infrastructure. The bill includes $15 billion to replace lead pipes and $10 billion to address water contamination.