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
Florida is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Florida. For decades,
infrastructure in Florida has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact,
the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Florida a C grade on its infrastructure
report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make life
better for millions of Florida residents, create a generation of good-paying union
jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win the 21st century.
To date, $8.1 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced
and is headed to Florida with over 175 specific projects identified for funding.
Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, Florida will receive approximately
$6.3 billion for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public transit, ports and
airports and roughly $275 million for clean water. And, as of today, more than
1,186,000 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 Florida – including rural communities and historically underserved
populations – the law makes critical investments that will improve lives for
Floridians and position the state for success.
Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:
- Roads and Bridges. In Florida there are 408 bridges and over 3,564 miles of
highway in poor condition. More than 3% of Florida’s bridges are in poor
condition and considered structurally deficient. Florida has just approved
more than $1.8 billion in interstate construction funds to expand the state’s
highway system, improving the efficiency of travel for freight, daily
commuters, and tourists. Since 2011, commute times have increased by
11.6% in Florida and on average, each driver pays $425 per year in costs due
to driving on roads in need of repair.
- Based on formula funding alone, Florida would expect to receive $13.1 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $245 million for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five (5)
years.
- Florida 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. Florida’s public transit systems serve a vital role in connecting
the state’s residents to jobs, health care, and other critical services. Residents
of Florida who take public transportation spend an extra 77.9% of their time
commuting. 20% of transit vehicles in the state are currently past their useful
life.
- Based on formula funding alone, Florida would expect to receive $2.6 billion 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, Florida would expect to receive $198 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
- Florida 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 Florida households do not have an internet subscription, and 22%
of Florida residents live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark, there is
no broadband infrastructure.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Florida will receive a
minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage
across the state, including providing access to the at least 707,000
residents who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act, 6,465,000 or 30% of people in Florida 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. Florida reports a $22 billion drinking water
investment gap.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, Florida will expect to receive $1.6 billion 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. Florida is home to 23 major airports that will benefit from the $25 billion in increased airport infrastructure funding provided over five (5) years from the IIJA. FDOT has identified $2.2 billion in funding needs for airports
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, airports in Florida would receive approximately $1.2 billion for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
- Ports and Inland Waterways. Florida is home to eight (8) major ports and 1,540 miles of inland waterways that will benefit from $17 billion in new infrastructure funding over 5 years from the IIJA.
- 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, Florida 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.
