ICYMI: Biden-Harris Administration Announces $4.9 Billion Investment in American Infrastructure Projects
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg traveled to Pittsburgh to celebrate the Steel City’s grant
WASHINGTON — Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined President Biden in announcing $4.9 billion in funding for 37 infrastructure projects across the country, made possible by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and a part of the Investing in America agenda.
President Biden announced the investments on Thursday in Superior, WI, at the Blatnik Bridge, a project that will receive over $1 billion to replace the aging bridge that connects Wisconsin and Minnesota. Without these investments this bridge would have to be shut down by 2030.
The next day Secretary Buttigieg celebrated Pittsburgh’s $142 million grant that will prevent flooding on I-376 that locals call “the bathtub.” The federal funding will also improve a key bus route and replace 10 bridges.
The grants came out of the Mega and INFRA grant programs, which were designed to fund some of the nation’s largest and most challenging infrastructure projects.
See below to see what’s being said about the grant announcements:
Associated Press: Biden revisits decaying Wisconsin bridge to announce $5 billion for infrastructure in election year pitch
More than 33,000 vehicles travel on the Blatnik Bridge every day, but heavy trucks are barred because of its decaying condition and that has caused lengthy detours. Without additional federal dollars, the bridge would have had to shut down by 2030, according to the White House. It is getting $1 billion for upgrades and repairs, with construction set to begin in 2025.
CBS News: Biden to unveil nearly $5 billion in new infrastructure projects
The investment targets 37 major infrastructure projects throughout the country across at least 12 states, with much of the funding going toward repairing and building new bridges. Among the investments is $600 million to replace the I-5 bridge that connects Washington and Oregon; $372 million for the Sagamore Bridge in Cape Cod, Massachusetts; and $1.06 billion to replace the Blatnik Bridge that runs between Wisconsin and Minnesota, near where Mr. Biden appeared for the announcement on Thursday.
The Hill: Biden heads to swing state Wisconsin to announce investment to replace bridge
Overall, the investments will help build 37 projects across the country, including in Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Georgia. The bipartisan infrastructure law has led to 40,000 infrastructure projects across the country so far, according to senior administration officials
Axios: Buttigieg: We need more workers to build billion-dollar projects
President Biden announced nearly $5 billion in funding for major transportation projects during a visit Thursday to Superior, Wisconsin — part of an effort to tout his administration’s investments in long-overdue infrastructure projects. The largest is a $1 billion effort to replace the Blatnik Bridge, a major connection between Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota. Nearly 40 projects were announced, including a new bridge between Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon; an offshore wind terminal off California; and a new container terminal for the Port of New Orleans.
UPI: Biden visits Wisconsin to announce $5B for new infrastructure projects across U.S.
Earlier Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg issued a statement praising key provisions of Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that were providing the latest funds, including the National Infrastructure Project Assistance grant program and the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant program.
“With this announcement, we are advancing projects so large, complex, and ambitious that they could not get funded under the infrastructure programs that existed prior to the Biden administration,” he said. “Our INFRA and Mega programs are helping build the cathedrals of American infrastructure: truly transformative projects that will change entire regions and our entire country for the better.”
DC Velocity: Intermodal freight groups cheer latest round of federal infrastructure funding
Intermodal transportation industry groups are cheering the latest round of infrastructure funding dispatched from Washington to repair the nation’s bridges, highways, and freight terminals.
The Drive: Feds Grant Nearly $300M to Aid Semi-Truck Parking Crisis Nationwide
COVID closed down rest stops nationwide, and with only one parking spot for every 11 tractor-trailers, it’s turned into a serious problem. That’s why the United States Department of Transportation is issuing $292 million in grants to add and improve accessible truck parking along the country’s busiest freight routes… They’ve been working to shine a light on the dire need for better related infrastructure, and the USDOT wrapped it into $4.9 billion of spending announced on Jan. 25.
Route Fifty: Biden unveils $4.9B in big-ticket infrastructure grants
An effort to replace an aging bridge connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin received $1 billion from the Biden administration Thursday, as federal transportation officials announced major grants to three dozen big-ticket infrastructure projects across the country. Other major winning projects include the Cross Bronx Expressway in New York City, the replacement of an interstate bridge between Oregon and Washington state, the rehabilitation of I-70 across Missouri, the building of a new railroad bridge for Brightline trains in Florida and a massive expansion of on-dock rail loading at the Port of Long Beach, California.
Transport Topics: USDOT Gives Truck Parking Projects $292 Million in Grants
Infrastructure projects aimed at expanding and improving truck drivers’ access to safe parking are receiving $292 million in federal funding, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced. The four projects, which will add spaces in Florida, Wisconsin and Missouri and deploy a regional West Coast system to connect drivers with available parking spots along Interstate 5, were included among 37 infrastructure initiatives totaling $4.9 billion that President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced jointly Jan. 25.
Progressive Railroading: USDOT awards nearly $5B in Mega, INFRA grants
Grants were awarded to 11 projects through the 2024 Mega program and 28 projects through fiscal-year 2023 and 2024 INFRA program, USDOT officials said in a press release. Two of those projects received grants from both programs. The Mega program, which was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, provides $5 billion in funding through 2026 and is focused on projects that are large, complex and difficult to fund under traditional grant programs.
The Trucker: Feds doling out more than $300M to address truck parking
“I often hear directly from truck drivers on the serious challenge of finding safe parking, and today, we are answering those concerns with more action,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This major investment from President Biden’s infrastructure law will build new truck parking facilities and create smart systems to give drivers better information about available spots.”
The funding stems from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and was allocated through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Program. Combined with previous awards to Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Wyoming and Iowa, the announcement brings the total number of truck parking projects supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to 11, encompassing roughly 2,000 additional spaces.
Land Line Magazine: Nearly $300M in truck parking projects included in latest round of infrastructure funding
The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced billions of dollars in infrastructure project funding, including funding for four truck parking projects.
Stemming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the nearly $5 billion in funding will go to nearly 30 projects. Among those are four projects totaling nearly $300 million specifically to expand the availability and accessibility of safe, dedicated truck parking.
Trains Magazine: Nine rail projects included in Mega, INFRA grant awards
Nine rail-related projects were included among the 37 receiving funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation through Mega Grant and INFRA Grant program funding announced on Friday. Two projects — including one from the rail-related group — received grants under both programs. The Mega Grant program — formally the National Infrastructure Project Assistance program, is for projects that are large, complex, and difficult to fund under traditional grant programs. The INFRA program, or Infrastructure for Rebuilding America, also is intended to fund large projects.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburg Union Progress: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Pittsburgh Friday to push $142.3 million on Parkway East, East Busway projects
Pittsburg Tribune Review: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to visit Pittsburgh to announce federal infrastructure funds
CBS Pittsburg: Parkway East to get $142 million in federal funding to fix “bathtub” and other issues
