President Joe Biden this week unveiled an ambitious, $2 trillion infrastructure proposal that aims to make massive investments in America’s roadways, bridges, public transit, ports, and airports.
“The American Jobs Plan will invest in America in a way we have not invested since we built the interstate highways and won the Space Race,” said President Biden in a press release.
The plan includes $115 billion to address crumbling roads and bridges, chosen by those in most need of repair. That covers 20,000 miles of highways and roads, the 10 most “economically significant” bridges in the U.S., as well as 10,000 smaller bridges. Another $85 billion is set aside for improving and modernizing transit systems. The plan also dedicates significant funds to airports, ports, and waterways.
The proposal also calls for building “future proof” broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas in order to reach 100 percent high-speed broadband coverage. It also prioritizes support for broadband networks owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, non-profits, and co-operatives — providers with less pressure to turn profits and with a commitment to serving entire communities.
According to a fact sheet on the American Jobs Plan:
One in five miles, or 173,000 total miles, of our highways and major roads are in poor condition, as well as 45,000 bridges. Delays caused by traffic congestion alone cost over $160 billion per year, and motorists are forced to pay over $1,000 every year in wasted time and fuel.
The President is proposing a total increase of $115 billion to modernize the bridges, highways, roads, and main streets that are in most critical need of repair. This includes funding to improve air quality, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce congestion. His plan will modernize 20,000 miles of highways, roads, and main streets, not only “fixing them first” but “fixing them right,” with safety, resilience, and all users in mind. It will fix the most economically significant large bridges in the country in need of reconstruction, and it will repair the worst 10,000 smaller bridges, including bridges that provide critical connections to rural and tribal communities.
The plan includes $20 billion to improve road safety for all users, including increases to existing safety programs and a new Safe Streets for All program to fund state and local “vision zero” plans and other improvements to reduce crashes and fatalities, especially for cyclists and pedestrians.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
