The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the largest long-term investment in
our infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century. The need for action in
Arizona is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Arizona. For decades,
infrastructure in Arizona has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact,
the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Arizona a C grade on its
infrastructure report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will
make life better for millions of Arizona residents, create a generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win
the 21st century.
To date, $3.4 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced
and is headed to Arizona with over 250 specific projects identified for funding.
Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, Arizona will receive approximately
$2.5 billion for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public transit, ports and
airports and roughly $508 million for clean water. And, as of today, more than
347,000 households across the state are receiving affordable high-speed internet
due to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Many more projects will be added in the
coming months, as funding opportunities become grant awards and as formula
funds become specific projects. By reaching communities all across Arizona –
including rural communities and historically underserved populations – the law
makes critical investments that will improve lives for Arizonans and position the
state for success.
Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:
- Roads and Bridges. In Arizona there are 132 bridges and over 3,100 miles of
highway in poor condition. More than 1.6% of Arizona’s bridges are in poor
condition and considered structurally deficient. Arizona DOT predicts a
funding gap of $30.5 billion between now and 2040. Since 2011, commute
times have increased by 11% in Arizona and on average, each driver pays
$614 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair.
- Based on formula funding alone, Arizona would expect to receive $5 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five (5)
years.
- Arizona can also compete for the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program
for economically significant bridges and nearly $16 billion of national
funding in the bill dedicated for major projects that will deliver substantial
economic benefits to communities.
- Rail and Transit. Arizona’s public transit systems serve a vital role in connecting
the state’s residents to jobs, health care, and other critical services. There are
a multitude of existing public transit programs, such as: local and express
buses, light rails, streetcars, neighborhood circulators and shuttles, rural
connector buses, dial-a-ride, and vanpools. However, a large proportion of
the state’s population does not have reasonable access to public transit.
Arizona has local and regional transit systems in 13 of the state’s 15 counties
with a total of five urbanized and 22 rural transit systems. Nine of these
counties are in rural Arizona and provide essential services to residents
throughout the state. Arizona’s transit systems, though, are mainly focused in
the four largest urbanized areas: Phoenix metro area, Tucson, Flagstaff, and
Yuma. In 2015, Proposition 104 passed in Phoenix which is meant to be the
foundation of a plan to invest over $31 billion across 25 years in the
metropolitan public transit system through various sources, including federal
grants. Residents of Arizona who take public transportation spend an extra
90% of their time commuting. In addition, 6% of transit vehicles in the state are
past useful life.
- Based on formula funding alone, Arizona would expect to receive $884 million over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve public transportation options across the state.
- Electric Vehicle Infrastructure. The IIJA invests $7.5 billion to build out the first-ever national network of EV chargers in the United States.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Arizona would expect to receive $76 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
- Arizona will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill.
- Broadband. Broadband internet is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected. Yet 13% of Arizona households do not have an internet subscription and 5%
of Arizonians live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark, there is no
broadband infrastructure. Even where infrastructure is available, broadband
may be too expensive to be within reach.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Arizona will receive a
minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage
across the state, including providing access to the at least 353,000
residents who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act, 1,756,000 or 24% of people in Arizona will be eligible for
the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families
afford internet access.
- Clean Water/Wastewater. The law contains nearly $44 billion to strengthen the
nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems, remove lead pipes and
service lines, and eliminate harmful contaminants through the EPA’s State
Revolving Funds programs. These programs, administered by the states, make
grants and loans eligible to communities for drinking water and wastewater
infrastructure investments. Much of Arizona’s water infrastructure is over 30
years old. This is not near the end of its life cycle but presents the state’s water
utilities with the perfect opportunity to implement asset management so they
can get the maximum life from their systems. Arizona reports a $9.1 billion
drinking water investment gap.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, Arizona will expect to receive $619 million over five (5) years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.
- Airports. Arizona is home to 13 major airports that will benefit from the $25 billion in increased airport infrastructure funding provided over five (5) years from the IIJA. Historically, investment in Arizona’s airport system has been
approximately $149 million per year when all federal, state, and local sources
are combined. However, the Airport Council International – North America
estimated that approximately $438 million is needed annually to complete
each airport’s capital improvement projects, planning projects, and
maintenance projects. This results in a shortfall each year of nearly $289
million. Impacted communities include rural Arizonans who remain
dependent on the federal Essential Air Services program to subsidize
commercial carriers continuing to serve three small airports; Page Municipal
Airport, Prescott Regional Airport and Show Low Regional Airport. Lastly,
during the last 20 years, over $100 million dollars were diverted away from the
aviation system to other state budget items.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, airports in Arizona would receive approximately $348 million for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
- Grid and Clean Energy Infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),
through the Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure, is focused on
working across the public and private sectors to help the U.S. transition to the
clean energy economy. With more than $75 billion in investments through the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Arizona will benefit from multiple opportunities
focused on the rapid commercialization, demonstration, and deployment of
clean energy technologies. DOE is playing a critical role in efforts to rapidly
lower energy costs, slash carbon emissions, and create new industries with
the high-quality union jobs that are guaranteed to boost domestic
manufacturing capabilities while strengthening U.S. global competitiveness.
