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
Maine is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Maine. For decades,
infrastructure in Maine has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact, the
American Society of Civil Engineers gave Maine a C- grade on its infrastructure
report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make life
better for millions of Maine residents, create a generation of good-paying union
jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win the 21st century.
To date, $966 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced
and is headed to Maine with over 80 specific projects identified for funding. Since
the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, Maine is set to receive more than $823
million for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public transit, ports and
airports and over $68 million for clean water. And, as of today, more than 59,000
households across the state are receiving affordable 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 Maine – including
rural communities and historically underserved populations – the law makes
critical investments that will improve lives for the people of Maine and position
the state for success.
Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:
- Roads and Bridges. Maine’s state highway infrastructure has an annual
funding gap of $165 million. In addition, Maine there are 315 bridges and over
1,438 miles of highway in poor condition. Nearly 13% of Maine’s bridges are
in poor condition and considered structurally deficient. Since 2011, commute
times have increased by 1.9% in Maine and on average, each driver pays
$543 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair.
- Based on formula funding alone, Maine would expect to receive
$1.3 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.
- Maine 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. In 2020, Maine reported that nearly 45% of the state’s railgrade crossing were passively protected only with signage. Maine residents
who take public transportation spend an extra 85.8% of their time commuting.
Also, it is worth noting that 49% of trains and other transit vehicles in the state
are past useful life.
- Based on formula funding alone, Maine would expect to receive $234 million over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve public transportation options across the state.
- Under the IIJA, the railroad crossing elimination program would receive
$2.5 billion, an additional $1.2 billion from previous years.
- 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, Maine would expect to receive $19 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
- Maine 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 Maine households do not have an internet subscription, and 3% of
Maine residents live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark, there is no
broadband infrastructure.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Maine will
receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband
coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least
42,000 residents who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act, 310,000 or 23% of people in Maine 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. Maine reports a $800 million drinking water
investment gap.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, Maine will expect to receive $390 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. Maine is home to four (4) 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 Maine would receive approximately $74 million for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
- Ports and Inland Waterways. Maine is home to two (2) major ports and 70 miles of inland waterways that will benefit from the $17 billion in new infrastructure funding over 5 years from the IIJA.
