Up to 90% of total new federal highway funding will go directly to the states for individual projects, as defined by legislation just introduced in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
The legislation is a step in the direction of passing the massive Surface Transportation Act of 2021, which has a 5-year life, and increases funding by some 22% above current levels.
The legislation, notes the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, not only supports highway work for urban and rural communities, it also stands to improve project delivery, and provide “flexibility necessary for states to maintain and improve their roads and bridges.”
As proposed, the bill establishes a baseline funding level of around $303 billion for highway, road, and bridge projects.
The legislation also aims to increase the number of miles designated by a state, and subject to funding, as a critical rural freight corridor from 150 to 300 miles, while increasing from 75 miles to 150 miles roadways defined as critical urban freight corridors.
The current Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act was signed into law in 2015 and given a one-year extension in 2020.
That extension is scheduled to expire on September 30.
By Garry Boulard
