Infrastructure

$274 Billion Dedicated to Transportation, Buttigieg to Oversee $105 Billion

August 14, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

$274 billion in new funding will be dedicated to the transportation industry as part of a $550 billion infrastructure spending package.

This is an unprecedented amount of funding to be allocated toward American bridge, highway, road, port, rail, transit, and airport improvement projects, which comes through the latest bipartisan Senate infrastructure bill. This 2,702-page legislation will also allow Pete Buttigieg, Transportation Secretary, to have complete oversight regarding a $105 billion portion of those funds.

The bill comes after collaborative efforts between 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans have been underway and will have significant effects on EPA and Interior and Energy Department programs and the funding allotted for them. Still, though, it appears that the Department of Transportation will be coming out on top.

In fact, DOT will receive the majority of new funds, including $105 billion allocated for DOT grant programs, according to Eno Center of Transportation‘s Jeff Davis. Although all programs awarding grants must follow certain regulations, discretionary grants distributed by the transportation secretary have come out to be “way more than any other grant,” according to Davis.

The breakdown: $66 million will be dedicated to rail improvements, including $58 billion for Amtrak’s national railroad network, its federal and state partnerships regarding intercity rail capabilities, and its Northeast Corridor. The bill’s appropriations title, which is a supplemental spending fund, will distribute $1.2 billion annually to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor–coming out to $6 billion a year. Over the course of the next five years, all of Amtrak’s networks will receive around $16 billion, and intercity passenger rail capabilities will receive $36 billion.

These funds for Amtrak are “transformational,” said Rail Passengers Association president and CEO, Jim Mathews. Although the legislation did not implement a passenger rail trust fund, the policies outlined in the new bill are extremely helpful, he added.

In fact, the legislation made clear that the transportation sector wants “to see [Amtrak] do a good job with the money [they] give [it], but [they’re] not trying to make [Amtrak] have a profit,” Mathews explained, noting that the language in the bill made clear that Amtrak is indeed a service supported by the nation’s taxpayers.

Additionally, transit will be offered a $19 billion increase in contract authority as well as $10.25 billion for new transit infrastructure grant funding as part of its overall $39 billion package. $8 billion will be allocated toward Capital Investment Grants regarding improvements and upgrades within light rail, commuter rail, heavy rail, bus rapid transit and streetcar transit projects. For accessibility station capabilities for persons with disabilities and the elderly, the bill awards another $1.75 billion.

The bill indicates that $118 billion will be taken from general revenue to help projects working to repair and improve roadways across the country, and that gas tax revenue will now fund the federal Highway Trust Fund. Highway projects themselves will also be given $110 billion, with $55 billion of that dedicated to contract authority and another $55 billion for other appropriations.

A pilot program for user fee implementation regarding vehicle miles traveled will also receive funding; however, legislators will need to find methods of solving issues surrounding current federal transportation policies, as well as how to help the Highway Trust Fund become much more efficient.

Federal dollars have also been repurposed in a way to generate revenue for transportation through the bill, including the $205 billion in federal funding for the coronavirus relief bill. For that particular bill, $3 billion was also repurposed from airline payroll support, although passenger airlines used the majority of their $40 billion payroll support packages during the course of the pandemic. Of the $4 billion allocated for payroll support within cargo airlines, only $1 billion was used, leaving the $3 billion up for grabs.

Finally, airports will receive $15 billion over the course of the next five years for tower and runway projects, $5 billion for FAA equipment and facility improvements, and $5 billion for other discretionary grants.

$1 Trillion Infrastructure Package in the Works, Senators Seek Public Support

August 13, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

“The pandemic that we have endured for more than a year laid bare the disparities in access to high-speed internet,” said Senator Susan Collins of Maine this month in regards to a $65 billion broadband package.

This funding comes as part of an almost $1 trillion infrastructure package recently developed by Senators now working to gain support from American citizens ahead of a vote that would bring a major boost to the priorities outlined in the plan.

“We have to do right by our Native people,” said Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, who explained that the legislation would help Native Alaskans in rural regions of the state gain more access to running water. The bill itself would allocate around $55 billion for wastewater and water systems in those areas.

“It is critically important we keep our aging bridges and roads and airports up to snuff,” said Senator Jon Tester regarding Montana’s piece of the pie, as $110 of the package’s funds would be dedicated to Montana road and bridge projects working to improve access to farms across the state.

“My state has lost as much land as in the entire state of Delaware,” added Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy. “But other states are losing land, too.” For Louisiana projects aiming to reduce coastal erosion, the bill would offer around $16 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be able to see such efforts through.

The G-10 group of lawmakers that consists of five Democratic and five Republican senators has been working to address the concerns of citizens across the country in regards to improved internet service, road construction, and airports. Additionally, the group has been pushing for bipartisan efforts on Capitol Hill, although many interest groups within both parties have been targeting aspects of the package with which they don’t agree.

Still, though, package supporters have been confident the legislation will be approved by the Senate, although it doesn’t check all of everyone’s boxes.

“It is clear that the deal does not meet the moment on climate or justice,” said League of Conservation Voters’ senior vice president, Tiernan Sittenfeld.

In addition to concerns around climate change, other political leaders have argued that the package will move too far away from utilizing user fees like gas taxes or tolls to be easily able to fund highway projects. Additionally, some say the legislation will require further federal spending even after the $5 trillion government package allocated for coronavirus relief efforts.

This month, the Treasury Department made clear that Congress had been getting very close to the country’s overall debt limit.

“Every single time we add an enormous sum to our national debt, there is bipartisanship behind it,” said Utah Senator Mike Lee.

60 votes are needed for the smaller infrastructure bill to be amended and passed by the Senate, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is determined to quickly pass the bill so that the Senate will be able to focus on the budget plan for the fall’s $3.5 trillion package. This Democratic bill will focus on spending in regards to environmental efforts, healthcare, and social programs.

Politicians working to allow further debate over the package have received support from Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell. Still, though, McConnell has not made clear which way he will vote, but has referred to the legislation as having the potential to become a “bipartisan success story for the country,” although he is wary about Democrats working to expedite its amendment.

“Like a lot of us, I’m interested in what it looks like in the end,” he said, adding that “the past two administrations tried to do it, [and] were unable to. The American people need it. I think it’s one of those areas where there seems to be broad, bipartisan agreement.”

Senators did in fact approve three of the non-controversial amendments–and rejected three others–as they continued to work to determine in what manner the package should be changed and how much effort should be dedicated to doing so with the 60-vote threshold at hand.

The bipartisan package is likely to allocate not only $110 billion in new road and bridge project spending as well as $55 billion for wastewater and water infrastructure, but also $66 billion for rail improvements and $38 billion for public transit projects.

Further spending will be dedicated to projects regarding the improvement and upgrading of broadband internet, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, ports, and airports.

Kentucky, Wisconsin Issue Boosted Funding for Major Transportation Projects

July 28, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

$500,000 in grants to boost river port equipment replacement and other critical repairs is in the works to help the state of Kentucky’s freight movement, announced Governor Andy Beshear this month.

These grants will be allocated to give particular river port operators–those in Louisville, Owensboro, Hickman, Paducah, and Eddyville–funds that will be matched by port authorities and will aid in funding bulk material-processing equipment.

“Kentucky’s river ports play a vital role in the flow of freight across our waterways,” said Jim Gray, Transportation Cabinet Secretary. “These funds will go a long way to upgrade daily operations and spur economic opportunities.”

The Louisville-Jefferson County Riverport Authority was granted the largest award of $178,803 to help in a rail line construction project that will reach a length of 1,775 feet and bypass the highly-congested outer rail loop in the area. This new rail line will hopefully boost rail traffic movement, efficiency, and safety.

The Hickman-Fulton County Riverport Authority will receive $136,265 to replace a bulk material-loading, 40-year-old front-end loader with a new model accessible between barges and trucks. The Eddyville Riverport and Industrial Development Authority has also been granted around $126,500 for main loading dock reparations in order to help prevent corrosion-related issues pertaining to the dock’s steel components; efforts will include adding new concrete fenders, installing new steel plates, replacing currently-eroded dock tieback rods, and grouting any empty spaces in the dock itself.

$34,807 will be allocated to the Owensboro Riverport Authority to buy a new bulk product-handling compact track loader, and $23,625 will be granted to the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority to buy a bulk product-transferring clamshell bucket to replace its currently aging equipment.

“From roads to river ports, quality transportation systems are vital to support a thriving economy,” said Beshear. “This investment in our river ports will improve operations to move cargo more efficiently and safely.”

The Kentucky Water Transportation Advisory Board recommended these particular awards, and the board not only assesses requests for river port grants themselves, but also suggests future economic growth-enhancing steps to boost the state’s waterways and river ports in general.

Also announcing financial assistant grants is the state of Wisconsin, which recently expressed its intent to distribute $160.2 million throughout the state for transportation projects.

This is the third quarterly transportation fund allocation offered to local government agencies this year; Wisconsin sites and towns have been receiving quarterly payments every three months throughout 2021.

“Support for local governments’ transportation projects keeps goods and services moving throughout Wisconsin,” said Craig Thompson, Secretary-Designee for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. “We are committed to investing wisely and working cooperatively to build good transportation solutions that support safety, economic development, and our quality of life.”

The General Transportation Aids program is an effort to offer state aid in response to county and municipal road construction, traffic operation, and maintenance costs. Typically, this funding comes from state vehicle registration fees and fuel taxes.

$156.9 million of these funds were granted to local government groups as General Transportation Aids, $3 million was granted to 116 eligible cities through Connecting Highway Aids, and $255,975 was granted for Expressway Policing Aids in Milwaukee County.

Now, the Connecting Highway Aids program helps with maintenance costs regarding segment-connecting roads throughout Wisconsin’s highway system. Specifically, the program is able to offer funds to local governments for municipal street-routed traffic costs. These “connecting highways” are explained by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation as consisting of the local roads and streets routing state highway traffic through state towns and cities.

This boost in assistance funding comes as part of $465 million in new transportation project funding allocated through the 2019-2020 Wisconsin state budget. This budget, in addition to the General Transportation Aids Assistance’s 10% increase, included $320 million in State Highway Rehabilitation program funding as well as an additional one-time grant of $90 million for the state’s Local Roads Improvement Program.

Senate Prioritizes Freight Policy Legislation

July 26, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Funding and policy updates in relation to federal freight programs are under discussion as U.S. Senate leaders deliberate a multi-trillion dollar infrastructure bill.

The consideration of a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package has received strong backing from President Joe Biden as well as from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The deliberation of the package has also brought with it Schumer’s leadership team’s goal to begin the debate over a $3.5 trillion budget plan on the Senate floor. This plan would focus upon tax policy change and the climate crisis.

A major part of the Biden Administration’s efforts in modernization are boosting severe-weather resilience and improving overall connectivity along the nation’s freight corridors. This kind of infrastructure and social program modernization, along with the infrastructure bill and policy package themselves, are key components of Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan.

“We’re going to get something done,” said Biden in a White House meeting with local and state officials. “And that’s why I think that my ‘Build Back Better’ agenda is all about not just building back, but [building] back better than what we inherited. Mayors and governors, you know how to get this done and what we have to do. It’s time to stop talking about it and time to get you the resources.”

The bipartisan infrastructure package is likely to include legislation like the highly-prioritized, $78-billion measure that will upgrade trucking, freight, and rail safety programs across the country, senior congressional staffers and transportation policy experts claim. Freight network improvements are a main focus of Schumer and other Democratic Leaders throughout the House and the Senate.

Through reconciliation, a budget bill like this could advance with a simple majority vote, although an infrastructure policy bill would need high levels of bipartisan Senate support to override debate filibuster policies. Congress is also likely to halt August recess legislative action.

“If we pass this, this is the most profound change to help American families in generations,” said Schumer.

In general, democratic goals will comprise many of the Senate’s budget this year, added Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“The Senate budget will contain many of House Democrats’ top priorities, including transformative action on the investments needed to confront the climate crisis, to transform the care economy, and to expand access to health care,” she said..

Still, many Senate Republican leaders oppose these proposals due to their focus outside of what typically encapsulates the infrastructure system–such as health programs, social care, and methods of addressing the climate crisis.

“Our colleagues need to take this summer and think very carefully about what they’re discussing.” said Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell. “It would be hard to imagine a proposal less suited to the conditions our country is facing. Americans cannot afford another socialist borrowing, taxing, and spending spree that will kill jobs and raise costs for working families.”

Through the Commerce Committee’s highway policy bill, $4.6 billion would be offered to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to fund safety initiatives, law enforcement training, and human trafficking education programs for commercial vehicle companies and drivers. It would also set forth around $1.2 billion annually for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grants program, and allow an additional $1.5 billion each year for the Department of Transportation’s infrastructure grant program. Another $2 billion would be dedicated to other nationally significant transportation projects.

Additionally, the bill would implement an apprenticeship program to help commercial driver license holders under the age of 21 to be able operate commercial motor vehicles within interstate commerce operations.

“This important bipartisan legislation makes a $78 billion down payment on rebuilding and revamping our nation’s critical infrastructure, a key to our economic future and creating jobs,” noted Maria Cantwell, Commerce Committee Chairwoman. “Together, this committee succeeded in passing legislation that makes [an] infrastructure investment that we need to be competitive in a global marketplace.”

Racial Equity and Environmental Justice Key Focus in Latest Grant Program

July 23, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Projects focusing on “racial equity, environmental justice, and access to opportunity” have been requested by a Federal Highway Administration grant program–a particular course of action that hasn’t been taken until now.

Specifically, the FHWA’s Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment program is planning to allocate $60 million in funding for these kinds of projects, and, in its recent announcement, noted that it has strong backing for technologies working to lower fuel emissions, like electric-vehicle charging technology and infrastructure.

Now, projects working with these kinds of innovations will be highly considered for this grant funding.

“The department has added areas of interested to the [Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment] program application process to be more aligned with administration priorities that include building equity into the transportation system, increasing access to jobs, schools, and businesses, and tackling the climate crisis,” explained a spokesperson for the FHWA.

These new areas of focus come in alignment with President Joe Biden’s recent executive order that requested an overall review of the regulations set forth in regards to the environment during Donald Trump’s presidential term, as Biden now plans to move forward with the intention of placing heavier focus upon environmental justice, and especially upon lowering amounts of greenhouse fuel emissions within the country’s minority and low-income communities and regions.

Biden’s latest sweeping executive order will aim to make “environmental justice a part of the mission of every agency by directing federal agencies to develop programs, policies, and activities to address the disproportionate health, environmental, economic, and climate impacts on disadvantaged communities.”

These efforts are only the beginning of actions being taken in regards to tackling the climate crisis, especially in regards to the transportation industry, noted American Trucking Associations’ environmental affairs council, Glen Kedzie.

“This is just another example of what federal agencies are planning on doing going forward to address environmental justice,” he said. “This is not the last.”

To follow in line with President Biden’s order in relation to boosting environmental justice and racial equity, Kedzie believes many federal agencies will be finding more innovative and creative ways to approach these efforts.

“Obviously, one of the key areas the agency will probably look at will be those frequented by trucking,” he explained. “They include the areas around ports [and] the areas around rail yards and warehouses. The housing stock around industrial-zoned areas is not the same as living in the suburbs.”

Originally, the innovative grants program through the FHWA–established under 2015’s Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act–aimed to boost public travel safety, improve transportation system performance, and lower overall traffic congestion. Since 2016, the grant program has offered more than $256 million to these kinds of projects across the United States.

Now, with President Biden’s mandate aiming to bring justice to the the low-income and minority communities that disproportionately endure living in areas with large sources of pollution, this kind of racial equity is a major priority for the program.

“The federal government has failed to meet that commitment in the past; it must advance environmental justice,” said the executive order.

In 2021, two of the seven areas with grant opportunities will prioritize technologies in the transportation industry that include “climate change and environmental justice impacts,” as well as certain investments that “proactively address racial equity and barriers to opportunity.”

Projects that are successful in proposing their intentions and plans to focus on these topics have a high chance of being awarded significant funding.

“Projects should directly support climate action plans or apply environmental justice screening tools in the planning stage,” said the program’s announcement statement. “Projects should reduce emissions, promote energy efficiency, incorporate electrification or zero emission vehicle infrastructure, increase resiliency, or recycle existing infrastructure.”

Those eligible to apply include transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, state departments of transportation, and local government groups. Partnerships within private sector groups are also encouraged, and the closing date for application is August 23rd, 2021.

State-by-State Infrastructure Guides Released by White House

July 20, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

By focusing on state-by-state cases of bridges and roads in dire need of reparations, the Biden Administration is working to urge republicans to ease their opposition to a bipartisan infrastructure plan. If such an agreement is reached, the administration says, its funding could help rebuild what is needed in these areas, as well as boost their broadband internet capabilities and water quality.

For the bipartisan agreement made by a group of senators, the White House is looking to achieve public backing and to convince lawmakers of the necessity of such a deal by detailing the amount of infrastructure repair needed in so many individual states across the country. Over the next few weeks, House Democrats are working to make informal negotiations to reach agreements on potential changes to be made, while Republicans are still likely to be in opposition of this bill due to its high costs.

The bipartisan bill agreement reached by the senate initially gained enough support to pass by regular order, although it saw later opposition from Republican senators after it was connected to a Democrat-backed budget bill by Biden. Still, the bill originally received backing from 21 total senators, which included 11 Republicans, and came out to propose $579 billion in new spending (or $973 billion when adding in regular maintenance spending costs).

Currently, the White House has not been able to identify the particular projects in each state that would be acted upon once that plan is officially set forth, as its framework still doesn’t have funding levels depicted on a state-by-state basis. Because of this, Congress is still negotiating specific details within each of the program’s categories.

“These state-by-state fact sheets will help folks localize the impact of these dollars, and better understand how these investments will make life better for their communities across the country,” said Emilie Simons, a spokeswoman for the White House.

“There is more work to do” to help improve living standards, reduce pollution, heal the economy, and create more jobs through the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan, according to the fact sheets. Although this new framework is a “critical step,” the fact sheets still point to the Democrats’ second bill as being a method of bringing these goals to the next level.

According to the documents, President Biden “will work with Congress to build on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework in legislation that moves in tandem, laying the foundation for a robust and equitable recovery for all Americans.”

The bipartisan Senate proposal includes $312 billion for countrywide transportation infrastructure projects–with $110 billion specifically allocated for bridges and roads. In California, 14,220 miles of highway need reparation as well as 1,536 bridges, and the state may need $51 billion to spend on drinking water infrastructure upgrades over the next two decades. Some of the framework’s funding could help cover these costs.

According to the fact sheets, Kentucky has 1,322 miles of highway needing reparations along with 1,033 bridges–and for costs in relation to roads needing repair, drivers pay around $444 a year. Still, the plan doesn’t explain exactly how much funding would be dedicated to Kentucky’s reconstruction projects.

“The need for action in Kentucky is clear” said the document. “For decades, infrastructure in Kentucky has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Kentucky a C- grade on its infrastructure report card.”

7,292 miles of highway and 1,702 bridges in New York are currently considered as being in poor condition, with commute times rising by 7.4% and drivers paying around $625 annually in road repair costs. Between 2010 and 2010, the state of New York endured 31 events of extreme weather that cost around $100 billion in damages, and the plan now details its intent to allocate $47 billion to boost infrastructure updates throughout the country in areas healing from natural disasters.