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
Pennsylvania is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Pennsylvania. For
decades, infrastructure in Pennsylvania has suffered from a systemic lack of
investment. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Pennsylvania a
C- grade on its infrastructure report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act will make life better for millions of Pennsylvania residents, create a
generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth, and position the
United States to win the 21st century.
To date, $7.9 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced
and is headed to Pennsylvania with over 150 specific projects identified for
funding. Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, Pennsylvania is set to
receive more than $6 billion for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public
transit, ports and airports and over $240 million for clean water. And, as of today,
more than 505,000 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 Pennsylvania
– including rural communities and historically underserved populations – the law
makes critical investments that will improve lives for Pennsylvanians and position
the state for success.
Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:
- Roads and Bridges. In Pennsylvania there are 3,353 bridges and over 7,540
miles of highway in poor condition. Additionally, 15% of Pennsylvania’s
bridges are in poor condition and considered structurally deficient.
Pennsylvania has a highway and bridge funding gap of $8.1 billion. Since
2011, commute times have increased by 7.6% in Pennsylvania and on
average, each driver pays $620 per year in costs due to driving on roads in
need of repair.
- Based on formula funding alone, Pennsylvania would expect to receive $11.3 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $1.6 billion for
bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act over five (5) years.
- Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, just 15 out of 67 counties are currently served
by passenger rail services. Meanwhile, much of the existing rail infrastructure
in the state is past its useful life; trains from Philadelphia to Harrisburg operates
on track built over 80 years ago. The IIJA provides $66 billion to Amtrak for
state of good repair projects as well as to expand service beyond the existing
Northeast Corridor, including to regions like Western PA which have expressed
desire for more regular passenger rail service. Residents of Pennsylvania who
take public transportation spend an extra 68.8% of their time commuting. In
addition, 25% of transit vehicles in the state are past useful life.
- Based on formula funding alone, Pennsylvania would expect to receive $2.8 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, Pennsylvania would expect to receive $171 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
- Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania households do not have an internet subscription,
and 3.1% of Pennsylvanians live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark,
there is no broadband infrastructure. Even where infrastructure is available,
broadband may be too expensive to be within reach.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pennsylvania will
receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband
coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least
394,000 residents who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act, 2,917,000 or 23% of people in Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania reports a $16.8 billion drinking water
investment gap.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, Pennsylvania will expect to receive $1.4 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. Pennsylvania is home to 16 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 Pennsylvania would receive approximately $355 million for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
- Ports and Inland Waterways. Pennsylvania is home to one five (5) major ports and 440 miles of inland waterways that will benefit from $17 billion in new infrastructure funding over 5 years from the IIJA.
