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
North Carolina is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for North Carolina. For
decades, infrastructure in North Carolina has suffered from a systemic lack of
investment. While the nation’s infrastructure earned a C- in the 2021 Infrastructure
Report Card, North Carolina faces infrastructure challenges of its own. The historic
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make life better for millions of North
Carolina residents, create a generation of good-paying union jobs and
economic growth, and position the United States to win the 21st century.
To date, $4.3 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced
and is headed to North Carolina with over 143 specific projects identified for
funding. Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, North Carolina will receive
approximately $3.5 billion for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public
transit, ports and airports and roughly $199 million for clean water. And, as of
today, more than 673,000 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 North Carolina – including rural communities and historically
underserved populations – the law makes critical investments that will improve
lives for North Carolinians and position the state for success.
Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:
- Roads and Bridges. In North Carolina there are 1,460 bridges and over 3,116
miles of highway in poor condition. Over 9% of North Carolina’s bridges are
in poor condition and considered structurally deficient. Since 2011, commute
times have increased by 10.7% in North Carolina and on average, each
driver pays $500 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair.
North Carolina’s DOT executes an annual budget of $6 billion to operate,
maintain, and improve its roads.
- Based on formula funding alone, North Carolina would expect to receive
$7.2 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $457
million for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act over five (5) years.
- North Carolina 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. North Carolina’s public transit systems serve a vital role in
connecting the state’s residents to jobs, health care, and other critical
services. Residents of North Carolina who take public transportation spend an
extra 59.9% of their time commuting. 15% of trains and other transit vehicles in
the state are past useful life.
- Based on formula funding alone, North Carolina would expect to receive $910 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, North Carolina would expect to receive $109 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
- North Carolina 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 14% of North Carolina households do not have an internet subscription,
and 4% of North Carolinians live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark,
there is no broadband infrastructure.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, North Carolina will
receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband
coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least
424,000 residents who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act, 3,219,000 or 31% of people in North Carolina 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. North Carolina reports a $16.8 billion drinking water investment gap.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, North Carolina will expect to receive $1.1 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. North Carolina is home to 14 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 North Carolina would receive approximately $460 million for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
- Ports and Inland Waterways. North Carolina is home to two (2) major water ports and 1,150 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, North Carolina 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.
