Courtney Welcomes Home First Installment of Increased Federal Highway Funding for Connecticut Under the New Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) welcomed the U.S. Department of Transportation's announcement of the first round of new Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding for states under the new, bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Under the bipartisan infrastructure bill, FHWA announced that Connecticut will receive $665 million in FY 2022 to help begin work on and complete some of our state's most important surface transportation projects—like completing work on the Gold Star Bridge, upgrading the historic Haddam Swing Bridge, repairing the I-84/I-91 interchange in Hartford, completing the Downtown Pedestrian Loop in Mansfield, and lots more.

Courtney voted to pass the IIJA on November 5^th, and the bill included a substantial increase in Connecticut's annual federal highway and transit funding over the next five years—a total increase of $1.2 billion over five years, 32% more as compared to Fiscal Years 2017-2021. Under the IIJA, Connecticut will continue to receive increased FHWA investments through FY 2026.

"I hosted a telephone town hall with more than 6,000 people across eastern Connecticut after we passed the bipartisan infrastructure deal," said Rep. Courtney, "and just about everyone I spoke with had a road, highway, or bridge in their community they wanted to see upgraded or repaired. The bipartisan infrastructure deal finally gave our state the kind of resources we need to kick our biggest transportation projects into high-gear, and to really expand the pool of ‘what's possible' on what sorts of projects we can do—from big-ticket items, to smaller local projects, and lots more in between. Now those resources are on the way, and people are going to see them in action. When we see repair work moving forward on the Gold Star Bridge, when we notice construction gearing up for the new Enfield Train Platform or for work on the Haddam Swing Bridge, remember: the IIJA is what's helping us get it done."

"This is the first installment of a series of significant opportunities to begin rebuilding Connecticut under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Congressman Courtney advocated for this funding for years, and now it's time for Connecticut to realize the benefits of his dedication and hard work," said Don Shubert, President of the Connecticut Construction Industries Association.

Highlights of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

Roads, Bridges, and Eastern Connecticut Infrastructure Projects

In Connecticut, there are 248 bridges and over 2,100 miles of highway in poor condition. In 2018, the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers graded the state's overall infrastructure at a disappointing C-, while wastewater and roads were graded at a dismal D+.

The IIJA invests in new funding for roads, bridges, and major projects. The bill is projected to result in a $1.2 billion, or 32% increase in Connecticut's annual federal highway and transit funding over the next five years, as compared to 2017-2021. The bill enables states and municipalities to target resources towards their most important local infrastructure projects, with a focus on resiliency, safety, and climate change. In eastern Connecticut, these projects include important infrastructure like repairs to the Gold Star Bridge, construction of a new train platform in Enfield, upgrades and repairs to the historic Haddam Swing Bridge, upgrades to the I-84/I-91 interchange in Hartford, and lots more.

Improvements to Water Infrastructure

In 2018, the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers graded the state's roads and wastewater infrastructure at a D+. Over the next 20 years, Connecticut's drinking water infrastructure is projected to require $4 billion in additional funding.

The IIJA would eliminate America's lead service lines and pipes, address wastewater repair backlogs, and contains new resources help communities in eastern Connecticut protect clean drinking water for decades to come.

• Improving Local Drinking Water and Wastewater Facilities—increases resources for states over the next five years to support the construction or improvement of local drinking water and wastewater facilities, to replace lead drinking water pipes, and to remove or reduce emerging contaminates in drinking water, like PFAS "forever chemicals"
• Increasing Resiliency Against Climate Change and Drought—provides new resources to improve water infrastructure relied on by the western United States, and for the Army Corps of Engineers to address water project backlogs, including projects damaged by natural disasters

Broadband and High-Speed Internet

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted just how important broadband and high-speed internet access is to rural communities. However, a 2018 survey found that 23% of Connecticut residents did not have internet access.

The IIJA makes historic and long-awaited investments over the next five years to improve access to broadband in underserved communities, and to fund improvements to America's cybersecurity capabilities.

• USDA Rural Broadband—authorizes new resources for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to greatly expand rural broadband services
• Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program—creates a new program for states to deploy high-speed internet services to houses and businesses in underserved areas that lack service
• Internet Service for Low-Income Households—makes permanent a CARES Act program that helps low-income households access internet service, and expands the program to reach a larger number of American households

Public Transit and Railways

The IIJA would help expand public transit routes and cut down on commuting time. It would provide a 41% increase in the state's mass transit fund, enabling improvements in rail service, safety, speed, and accommodations that have been out of reach for decades.

In addition to providing more resources to state mass transit funds, the IIJA authorizes new programs for the next five years that will:

• Make improvements to Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and National Network. In particular, it will ensure long-overdue replacement of the Old Saybrook Rail Bridge, which is 114 years old.
• Support the development of new intercity passenger rail routes
• Help replace aging railway vehicles and railcars
• Improve access to rail transit systems for Americans with disabilities
• Support safety improvements to passenger and freight rail services

Electric Vehicles

The IIJA supports America's transition to renewable energy, ensures our energy independence, and reduces our dependence on fossil fuels. Investing in nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure through the IIJA will make driving electric vehicles a more convenient and feasible choice—in addition to a smart one.

The IIJA contains several provisions to improve America's EV capabilities and infrastructure, including:

• Electric Charging and Fueling Infrastructure—authorizes new grant funding over five years to support the deployment of infrastructure for charging electric vehicles that use alternative fuels. These grants must be used to deploy EV charging infrastructure that is open to the general public, work for multiple brands of vehicles, and located along designated alternative fuel corridors
• Clean and Zero Emission School Buses—authorizes a new grant program to help replace existing school buses with clean, zero-emissions school buses.
• Electric and Low-Emission Ferries—creates a new pilot program to provide grants to purchase electric or low-emitting ferries, and to electrify or otherwise reduce emissions from existing ferries

Airports, Ports, and Waterways

For a region with a rich and historic maritime culture and economy, the IIJA would mean transformative improvements to our waterways and coastal infrastructure. The bill also contains new resources to make improvements at airports across the country.

• Port Infrastructure Development—new resources to improve America's ports, with a focus on projects that improve the resiliency of ports to address sea-level rise, flooding, and extreme weather events
• Airport Improvements—authorizes a five-year reauthorization of the Airport Improvement Program, as well as new funding to repair and upgrade American airport terminals, air traffic control towers, and other facilities and equipment

###