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
Texas is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Texas. For decades,
infrastructure in Texas has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact, the
American Society of Civil Engineers gave Texas a C grade on its infrastructure
report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make life
better for millions of Texas residents, create a generation of good-paying union
jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win the 21st century.
To date, $14 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced
and is headed to Texas with over 328 specific projects identified for funding. Since
the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, Texas will receive approximately $12.2
billion for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public transit, ports and airports
and roughly $529 million for clean water. And, as of today, more than 1,178,000
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 Texas – including
rural communities and historically underserved populations – the law makes
critical investments that will improve lives for Texans and position the state for
success.
Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:
- Roads and Bridges. In Texas there are 818 bridges and over 19,400 miles of
highway in poor condition. Only 1.3% of Texas’s bridges are in poor condition
and considered structurally deficient. Since 2011, commute times have
increased by 11.4% in Texas and on average, each driver pays $709 per year
in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair. Given Texas’ projected
population growth, there is a $15 billion annual transportation gap through
2040.
- Based on formula funding alone, Texas would expect to receive $26.9 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $537 million for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five (5)
years.
- Texas 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. Texas’s public transit systems serve a vital role in connecting
the state’s residents to jobs, health care, and other critical services. Residents
of Texas who take public transportation spend an extra 80.8% of their time
commuting. 12% of trains and other transit vehicles in the state are past useful
life.
- Based on formula funding alone, Texas would expect to receive $3.3 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, Texas would expect to receive $408 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
- Texas 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 Texas households do not have an internet subscription, and 4% of
Texans live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark, there is no
broadband infrastructure.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Texas will receive a
minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage
across the state, including providing access to the at least 1,058,000 residents who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act, 8,381,000 or 29% of people in Texas 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. Texas reports a $45.1 billion drinking water
investment gap.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, Texas will expect to receive $2.9 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. Texas is home to 30 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 Texas would receive approximately $1.2 billion for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
- Ports and Inland Waterways. Texas is home 11 major water ports and 830 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, Texas 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.
