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
Louisiana is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Louisiana. For decades,
infrastructure in Louisiana has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact,
the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Louisiana a D+ grade on its
infrastructure report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will
make life better for millions of Louisiana residents, create a generation of goodpaying union jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win
the 21st century.
To date, $4.1 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced
and is headed to Louisiana with over 160 specific projects identified for funding.
Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, Louisiana will receive
approximately $3.2 billion for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public
transit, ports and airports and roughly $101 million for clean water. And, as of
today, more than 372,000 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 Louisiana – including rural communities and historically underserved
populations – the law makes critical investments that will improve lives for
Louisianians and position the state for success.
Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:
- Roads and Bridges. In Louisiana there are 1,634 bridges and over 3,411 miles
of highway in poor condition. Louisiana is home to 5 of the 8 longest highway
bridges in the world. 13.5% of bridges in Louisiana are structurally deficient,
which means they have been rated as being in poor condition due to
structural flaws that affect the load carrying capacities or the waterways that
frequently overtop the bridges during floods. Louisiana ranks 2nd in the nation
in number of structurally deficient bridges based on square footage of bridge
deck. Since 2011, commute times have increased by 9.3% in Louisiana and
on average, each driver pays $667 per year in costs due to driving on roads
in need of repair. In 2017, a $10.1 billion backlog in funding for state roads
was identified.
- Based on formula funding alone, Louisiana would expect to receive $4.8 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $1.013 billion for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five (5)
years.
- Louisiana 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. Louisiana’s public transit systems serve a vital role in
connecting the state’s residents to jobs, health care, and other critical
services. Residents of Louisiana who take public transportation spend an extra
61.1% of their time commuting. 25% of trains and other transit vehicles in the
state are past useful life.
- Based on formula funding alone, Louisiana would expect to receive $470 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, Louisiana would expect to receive $73 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
- Louisiana 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 19% of Louisiana households do not have an internet subscription, and
10.1% of Louisiana residents live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark,
there is no broadband infrastructure.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Louisiana will receive a
minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage
across the state, including providing access to the at least 470,000
residents who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act, 1,698,000 or 37.2% of people in Louisiana 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. Louisiana reports a $7.3 billion drinking water
investment gap.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, Louisiana will expect to receive $580 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. Louisiana 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. At ATL, a $6 billion expansion plan has been underway
since 2016 that will result in updated terminals, increased capacity, and other
benefits for travelers.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, airports in Louisiana would receive approximately $179 million for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
- Ports and Inland Waterways. Louisiana is home to 11 major water ports and 2,820 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, Louisiana 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.
