The IIJA provides $407 billion in funds for highway, bridge and transit over the next five years. That includes a 39 percent funding increase in FY 2022.
Funding for America's surface transportation needs has increased markedly over the past two years — that's due in large part to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
In 2021, approximately $53 billion in highway formula funds were made available to states. The DOT FY 2023 budget includes $68.9 billion for the Federal Highway program, representing a $19.8 billion increase from the 2021 enacted level.
"The investments in the president's budget make traveling safer, easier, cleaner and more affordable for the American people," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said of the funds.
"From roads, tunnels and bridges, to airport and port improvements, electric vehicle chargers, safe bike lanes and more, we are building a first-rate transportation system for all Americans."
The transportation research non-profit TRIP logged several key facts about the benefits of funding the U.S. surface transportation system:
- Investments in surface transportation boost the nation's economy in the short-term by creating jobs and in the long-term enhance economic competitiveness, stimulate sustained job growth, improve access and mobility, improve traffic safety, reduce travel delays and improve road and bridge conditions.
- Roads and highways allow the nation's motorists to travel 2.9 trillion miles annually and move a significant portion of the $18.7 trillion worth of commodities shipped around the country each year.
- Vehicle travel in the United States dropped by 40 percent in April 2020 due to the pandemic, but by November 2021 rebounded to 3 percent above November 2019 levels.
- The design, construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure in the United States supports approximately 4 million full-time jobs across all sectors of the nation's economy.
- Approximately 62.9 million full-time jobs in key industries like tourism, retail sales, agriculture and manufacturing are completely dependent on the transportation network.
- The IIJA, signed into law last November, will provide $407 billion in funds for highway, bridge and transit investments in the United States over the next five years, including a 39 percent funding increase in FY 2022.
- IIJA investment in the nation's roads and transit system will add an additional $82 billion in GDP per year over the next five years.
"The increased economic activity due to the IIJA will benefit U.S. residents – increasing disposable income by an average of $232 per household," according to TRIP researchers.
Recap of 2021
ARTBA reports that in 2021, states leveraged $31.4 billion in federal funds for federally supported projects.
Included were those projects covered by formula funds, discretionary grants, COVID relief funds and supplemental appropriations for years 2018 to 2021.
Basing formulas on real-world outcomes, states also obligated funds toward eligible projects already under way.
Beyond those figures, some $14 billion in more than 5,000 projects approved using future federal funds, were not included in the total.
According to the road builders association, federal investment over the past decade has accounted for more than 50 percent of state highway and bridge capital outlays.
Of those outlays, nearly half were for repair or reconstruction of highways. Existing roadway capacity was added through an additional 20 percent of funds in the form of new lane or major widening jobs.
"This investment has supported the repair and reconstruction of structures on the National Highway System [NHS], which includes the Interstate Highway System and the major roads that connect U.S. airports, ports, rail and truck terminals, pipeline terminals, and intermodal facilities," reports ARTBA.
Just 6 percent of funds were invested in new roads or bridges, stated ARTBA.
"One of the most attractive benefits of major public investments in transportation infrastructure is they foster immediate economic growth and create tangible capital assets that are long-lived," said ARTBA Chief Economist Alison Premo Black. "In addition to creating jobs and generating tax revenues throughout the economy during the construction cycle, infrastructure improvements also foster economic growth and efficiency over many years beyond the initial investment."
FHWA maintains that for every $1 billion in highway and bridge infrastructure investment at least 13,000 jobs throughout the U.S. economy are supported.
This includes work in retail, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, food services and other industries.
Missouri, with more than 1,000 projects, lead the way in highway and bridge improvements for 2021. Michigan at 903; Ohio at 796; Indiana, 731; and Tennessee, 663, followed close behind.
ARTBA's Federal Highway Investment Benefits by State dashboard data show how each state deployed federal funds. It also tracks the top projects to receive federal support.
"We expect to see even more projects in the coming year as states work to obligate the record increase in FY 2022 federal funding available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was approved by Congress earlier this month," said Premo Black.
The five largest projects were earmarked by federal, state, local and private funds, including $3.8 billion in Georgia for the SR 400 North Sprints Marta Station to McFarland Road Express Lane; $899 million in Arizona for the I-17 Split; $715 million in Texas to construct new roadway lanes on IH 35E, and $524 million to Louisiana for Phase 2 of the LA 1: Leeville to Golden Meadow project.
State transportation departments have until Sept. 30 to obligate the highway funding, according to ARTBA. Bridge formula funds can be spent over five years.
Status Report for 2022
The $52.5 billion earmarked for FY 2022 is an increase of more than 20 percent over 2021 for federal highway apportionments.
Distributed annual by FHWA for the Federal-aid Highway Program, the funds are based on a statutory formula contained in the IIJA.
"We are committed to delivering on the promise of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and putting people to work modernizing our infrastructure and making it safer, more sustainable, and more efficient," said Buttigieg.
Through IIJA's implementation, the Department of Transportation and FHWA believe the apportionments, additional Highway Infrastructure Program monies, and grants will address critical safety and performance needs of America's roads, bridges and highways.
"Today's funding will help reduce the backlog of major repairs for highways and bridges and increase the number of communities that have strategies to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries," according to a DOT announcement.
Additional funding to be announced in 2022 will contribute to:
- fixing up to 10 of the most economically significant bridges and more than 15,000 smaller bridges across the country;
- reconnecting as many as 20 communities by removing portions of interstates and redesigning rural main streets; and
- spurring the creation of a nationwide network of 500,000 electronic vehicle chargers by 2030.
"Providing states with information on their apportioned funds today is an important first step in using the resources provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make transportation systems across the country safer and more resilient," said Stephanie Pollack, deputy federal highway administrator. "We look forward to working with transportation agencies and the communities they serve to use these resources to build a better America."
DOT explained that Federal-aid Highway Program funds are authorized periodically by Congress in multi-year laws "to assist the states in providing for construction, reconstruction, and improvement of highways and bridges on eligible Federal-aid routes and for other special purpose programs and projects."
The IIJA establishes or continues FHWA programs and authorizes funding for those programs from the Highway Trust Fund.
FHWA is distributing funds through the apportionment process, using a statutory formula to determine the amount available to each state.
The agency also issued obligation limitation, allowing states to commit part of their apportioned funding, for the period through Feb.18, 2022, when the current Continuing Resolution for Federal Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations ended.
"Obligation limitation represents the ability of a state or other entity to enter into a project using Federal funds, with the federal government making a binding promise to pay or reimburse the state or other entity for the Federal share of the project's eligible costs," according to the DOT.
Wish List for 2023
In late March, the Biden administration submitted to Congress its FY 2023 proposed budget. Including $27 billion in guaranteed IIJA advanced appropriations, the DOT reports its total budget will be $142 billion.
The department noted that FY 2023 will be the second year of the implementation of the IIJA, which "provides a once in a generation opportunity to modernize our transportation infrastructure and build the foundation the American people need to compete and win in the 21st Century."
The president's budget makes critical investments in the American people that will help lay a stronger foundation for shared growth and prosperity for generations to come, stated the department.
Advance safety on highways is an aim of the Biden administration, which has earmarked funds accordingly. Some $3 billion is set aside for FHWA's Highway Safety Improvement Program, which seeks to reduce the number of lives lost on our nation's highways, bridges, and roads.
The DOT budget also supports transportation projects designed to lower commute times, improve safety, reduce freight bottlenecks, connect communities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Those investments include $4 billion for the National Infrastructure Investments grant program to support transportation projects with significant benefits across multiple modes. This figure is $3 billion above the 2021 enacted level.
The budget also earmarks $1.64 billion for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant program, which has a focus on reducing freight and highway bottlenecks. CEG
Lucy Perry
Lucy Perry has 30 years of experience covering the U.S. construction industry. She has served as Editor of paving and lifting magazines, and has created content for many national and international construction trade publications. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she has a Journalism degree from Louisiana State University, and is an avid fan of all LSU sports. She resides in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, who has turned her into a major fan of the NFL Kansas City Chiefs. When she's not chasing after Lucy, their dachshund, Lucy likes to create mixed-media art.
Read more from Lucy Perry here.
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