Chao announces $906M investment in U.S. infrastructure

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao revealed the Trump Administration intends to invest $906 million in America’s infrastructure through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program. The proposed funding will be awarded to 20 projects in 20 states.

“This administration is focused on infrastructure improvements and this $906 million in federal funding will improve major highways, bridges, ports, and railroads across the country to better connect our communities, enhance safety, and support economic growth,” said Chao.

In addition to providing direct federal funding, the INFRA discretionary grant program aims to increase the total investment by state, local, and private partners. INFRA advances a grant program established in the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. Project applications were evaluated by a team of more than two dozen career staff in the department and selected based on established criteria to align them with national and regional economic vitality goals. 

Additionally, the program promotes the incorporation of technology aimed to improve the nation’s transportation system. The department also stated that it will  hold INFRA grant recipients accountable for their performance in project delivery and operations.

Consistent with ongoing efforts to re-balance underinvestment in rural America, 53% of proposed funding will be awarded to rural projects. Demand for INFRA grants far exceeded available funds. DOT evaluated 173 eligible applications from 47 states, as well as U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, who collectively requested approximately $7.4 billion in grant funds—more than eight times the funding available.

As required under the FAST Act, Congress will have 60 days to review the department’s proposed project awardees. After the 60-day review period, the department is free to begin obligating funding.

The full list of proposed awards is below:

• Arkansas Department of Transportation: $40 million to reconstruct and improve two sections of U.S. 67 northeast of Little Rock.
• Colorado Department of Transportation: $60.7 million to implement a series of safety improvements to I-70 between mile post 180 and 190 in Eagle County.
• Delaware Department of Transportation: More than $56.8 million to construct a redesigned interchange at I-95 and State Route 896 in New Castle County.
• Port Tampa Bay in Florida: More than $19.8 million to improve capacity at Port Tampa Bay’s Hooker’s Point container facility to accommodate an additional 150,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually.
• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: $55.15 million to widen 11 miles of the Mountain Parkway from two to four lanes between the KY 191 overpass and the KY 205 interchange.
• Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development: $135 million to construct 8.3 miles of elevated highway from Leeville Bridge to Golden Meadow.
• Maine Department of Transportation: More than $38 million to replace seven structurally deficient bridges and make related improvements in five locations in four counties.
• Michigan Department of Transportation: $25 million to replace and expand an existing land port of entry at the U.S.-Canada border.
• Anoka County, Minn.: $40 million to construct two new grade-separated county highway overpasses of U.S. Highway 10/169 and the parallel freight and commuter rail line.
• Mississippi Department of Transportation: More than $71.4 million to complete the construction of the 15.6-mile Greenville Bypass, which will carry US 82 from near the Greenville Bridge over the Mississippi River to Leland, east of Greenville.
• Nevada Department of Transportation: $50 million to reconstruct the Tropicana Avenue and I-15 interchange with a longer and wider overpass over I-15, and construct a high-occupancy-vehicle ramp at Harmon Avenue, approximately half a mile to the north.
• North Carolina Department of Transportation: $25 million to complete a series of highway improvements on the U.S. 74 corridor in southern North Carolina between Asheville and I-40 near Wilmington.
• City of Tulsa-Rogers County Port Authority: More than $6.1 million to upgrade an industrial park in Inola, Okla., with new structures and rail, and construct a three-mile rail spur connecting the park to the freight mainline
• Rhode Island Department of Transportation: $65 million to complete multiple safety and state of good repair improvements to the RI-246 corridor.
• South Carolina Department of Transportation: More than $34.5 million to construct a new interchange on I-77 near mile marker 81 to facilitate access to a 234-acre development site.
• Tennessee Department of Transportation: $11.2 million to install approximately 143 miles of fiber optic communications and deploy ITS devices on I-40 between Memphis and Nashville.
• Port of Houston Authority in Texas: More than $79.4 million to restore and strengthen approximately 2,700 linear feet of wharf and upgrade approximately 84 acres of yard space at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal.
• Washington State Department of Transportation: More than $73.6 million to complete 12 miles of highway projects in the Puget Sound region, including the SR 509 Completion Project, the SR 167 Completion Project, improvements to I-5, and improved connectivity to I-90
• West Virginia Department of Transportation: $12 million to construct 3.1 miles of grade and drain pavement improvements on Corridor H from US 219 to the WV 72 interchange.
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation: $6.75 million to complete the last phase of the Merrimac Bridge rehabilitation to accommodate 286,000 lbs. railcars at 25 miles per hour on the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad’s freight rail bridge over Lake Wisconsin.