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
Tennessee is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Tennessee. For decades,
infrastructure in Tennessee has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact,
the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Tennessee a C grade on its
infrastructure report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will
make life better for millions of Tennessee residents, create a generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win
the 21st century.
To date, $3.7 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced
and is headed to Tennessee with over 128 specific projects identified for funding.
Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, Tennessee will receive
approximately $2.8 billion for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public
transit, ports and airports and roughly $121 million for clean water. And, as of
today, more than 317,000 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 Tennessee – including rural communities and historically underserved
populations – the law makes critical investments that will improve lives for
Tennesseans and position the state for success.
Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:
- Roads and Bridges. In Tennessee there are 881 bridges and over 270 miles of
highway in poor condition. Over 4% of Tennessee’s bridges are in poor
condition and considered structurally deficient. Since 2011, commute times
have increased by 7.7% in Tennessee and on average, each driver pays $209
per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair. In 2017, TDOT was
facing a 10-year funding shortfall of $2.9 billion for highway construction.
- Based on formula funding alone, Tennessee would expect to receive
$5.8 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $302 million
for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act over five (5) years.
- Tennessee 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. Tennessee’s public transit systems serve a vital role in
connecting the state’s residents to jobs, health care, and other critical
services. Residents of Tennessee who take public transportation spend an
extra 67.9% of their time commuting. 21% of trains and other transit vehicles in
the state are past useful life.
- Based on formula funding alone, Tennessee would expect to receive $630 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, Tennessee would expect to receive $88 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
- Tennessee 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. 5.9% of Tennesseans 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. 17% of Tennessee
households do not have an internet subscription.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Tennessee will receive
a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband
coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least
402,000 Tennesseans who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act, 2,009,000 or 30% in Tennessee 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. Tennessee reports a $8.7 billion drinking water
investment gap.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, Tennessee will expect to receive $697 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. Tennessee is home to eight (8) major airports that will benefit from the $25 billion in increased airport infrastructure funding provided over five (5) years from the IIJA. According to the Airports Council International, airport
infrastructure needs of Tennessee airports from 2019-2023 face a funding gap
of approximately $3 billion.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, airports in Tennessee would receive approximately $300 million for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
- Ports and Inland Waterways. Tennessee is home to three (3) major water ports
and 950 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, Tennessee 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.
