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
Kansas is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Kansas. For decades,
infrastructure in Kansas has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact,
the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Kansas a C grade on its
infrastructure report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will
make life better for millions of Kansas residents, create a generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win
the 21st century.
To date, $1.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced
and is headed to Kansas with over 121 specific projects identified for funding.
Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, Kansas will receive approximately
$1.3 billion for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public transit, ports and
airports and roughly $94 million for clean water. And, as of today, more than
85,000 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 Kansas –
including rural communities and historically underserved populations – the law
makes critical investments that will improve lives for Kansans and position the state
for success.
Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:
- Roads and Bridges. In Kansas there are 1,321 bridges and over 1,995 miles of
highway in poor condition. Since 2011, commute times have increased by
6.6% in Kansas and on average, each driver pays $509 per year in costs due
to driving on roads in need of repair. Today, Kansas ranks first in the nation for
the highest percentage of “good” condition National Highway System (NHS)
bridges and has the third fewest in “poor” condition. The 10-year KDOT TWORKS program, which distributed $5.8 billion in state and local highway
funding from 2011 to 2020 helped repair or replace nearly 600 bridges, has
been especially successful at improving the overall condition of the state’s
bridges. Today just over 5.1% of Kansas’s bridges are in poor condition and
considered structurally deficient.
- Based on formula funding alone, Kansas would expect to receive $2.6 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.
- Kansas 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. Kansas’s public transit systems serve a vital role in connecting
the state’s residents to jobs, health care, and other critical services. Residents
of Kansas who take public transportation spend an extra 65.7% of their time
commuting. 12% of trains and other transit vehicles in the state are past useful
life.
- Based on formula funding alone, Kansas would expect to receive $272 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, Kansas would expect to receive $40 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
- Kansas 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 15% of Kansas households do not have an internet subscription, and 2%
of Kansas residents live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark, there is
no broadband infrastructure.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Kansas will receive a
minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage
across the state, including providing access to the at least 71,000
residents who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act, 669,000 or 24% of people in Kansas 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. Kansas reports a $5.3 billion drinking water
investment gap.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, Kansas will expect to receive $454 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. Kansas is home to nine (9) major airports that will benefit from the $25 billion in increased airport infrastructure funding provided over five (5) years from the IIJA.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, airports in Kansas would receive approximately $109 million for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
- Ports and Inland Waterways. Kansas is home 120 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, Kansas 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.