Pa. could get $13B for highway, bridge projects
Federal money to come to state over 5 years after passage of infrastructure package
HARRISBURG — The state could get $13 billion in federal highway and bridge money over five years — including $4 billion from the recently passed federal infrastructure package — prompting a trade group official to say the state’s road construction market could jump 20%.
President Joe Biden has indicated he will sign the package, known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In a news release, Gov. Tom Wolf called the funding critical to state infrastructure, economic growth and job generation.
Wolf said in the release the state expects to get about $13 billion in federal money for highway and bridge projects in the next five years, including the $4 billion.
Robert Latham, executive vice president of the 400-member Associated Pennsylvania Constructors, said, “We are looking at this as roughly a 20% increase in the market for road construction and road construction contractors.”
Latham said the money would let the state reduce its inventory of structurally unsound bridges, carry out widening projects on highways and generally improve safety.
Secretary of Transportation Yassmin Gramian, in a letter dated Tuesday, estimated the state might see combined increases in road and bridge money in each of the next five years of $639.1 million, $715.3 million, $792.3 million, $870.3 million and $949.2 million, for a total of about $4 billion.
Slightly more than half of that money, about $2.3 billion, would be for highway projects, Gramian indicated. The rest would be for bridges.
Democratic Rep. Mike Carroll of Luzerne County, minority chairperson of the House Transportation Committee,
said the extra money gives the state “assets that serve the community for decades.”
In the release, Wolf gave an overview of funds expected to come to the state following passage of the federal infrastructure package. Based on past funding through formulas — and including flows of money that already were expected to come to the state — Wolf said the White House anticipates:
$11.3 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $1.6 billion for bridge replacement and repairs over five years. Wolf indicated the repairs of roads and bridges would have “a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, equity and safety for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians.”
$2.8 billion over five years for public transportation.
$171 million over five years for expanding electric vehicle charging locations.
A minimum of $100 million for broadband coverage, including providing access to at least 394,000 Pennsylvanians who currently do not have it. Wolf said about 23% of Pennsylvanians would be eligible for a special program intended to help low-income families access the internet.
$49 million over five years to protect against wildfires and $26 million to protect against cyberattacks. The state also will benefit from weatherization funds in the federal package.
$1.4 billion over five years to upgrade water delivery infrastructure.
For airports, $355 million for infrastructure improvements.