Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law led by Sinema and shaped by Kelly makes $2.9 billion in transportation grants available to transportation projects
WASHINGTON – $2.9 billion in new grant funding will be made available for Arizona transportation projects thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly.
The Department of Transportation announced that $2.9 billion of funding is now available for major infrastructure projects such as highway, bridge, freight, port and public transportation extensions and repairs, with an emphasis on rural communities, through a new Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant opportunity.
“Our bipartisan infrastructure law’s new $2.9 billion grant opportunity helps Arizona communities, large and small, fund critical transportation projects that will create jobs and expand opportunities for our state. My team and I will keep working hand in hand with Arizona cities and towns to get our historic infrastructure investments to the projects that need them across our state,” said Senator Sinema, co-author and negotiator of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law.
“These new grants from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help move major Arizona projects for roads, bridges and public transportation systems forward, all while creating good-paying jobs across the state — projects like expanding I-10 and building I-11. I look forward to working alongside the state and local leaders to make sure Arizona sees its share of investments that will lay the foundations for our growing state and economy,” said Senator Kelly.
Sinema led bipartisan Senate negotiations with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio that included Senator Kelly and senators from both parties.
Today’s $2.9 billion funding opportunity combines three grant opportunities created and improved by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly—the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (MEGA) program, the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program, and the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (RURAL). Combining these projects makes it easier for Arizona cities and towns to apply for grants with a single application and common set of criteria.
The MEGA program was created in the bipartisan infrastructure law to fund major projects that are too large or complex for traditional funding programs. The program will provide grants on a competitive basis to support multijurisdictional or regional projects of significance that may also cut across multiple modes of transportation. Eligible projects could include highway, bridge, freight, port, passenger rail, and public transportation projects of national and regional significance. These could be bridges or tunnels connecting two states; new rail and transit lines that improve equity and reduce emissions; and freight hubs integrating ship, train and truck traffic while improving environmental justice.
The INFRA program is an existing competitive program that will see more than 50 percent increase in this year’s funding due to the bipartisan infrastructure law. These grants help fund highway, multimodal freight, and rail projects. Projects will improve safety, generate economic benefits, reduce congestion, enhance resiliency, and hold the greatest promise to eliminate supply chain bottlenecks and improve critical freight movements.
The RURAL program was created in the bipartisan infrastructure law and will support projects to improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas to increase connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of the movement of people and freight, and generate regional economic growth and improve quality of life. Eligible projects for grants include highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that help improve freight, safety, and provide or increase access to an agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities that support the economy of a rural area.
The bipartisan infrastructure law was supported by groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, National Association of Manufacturers, AFL-CIO, National Retail Federation, Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, Outdoor Industry Association, American Hotel and Lodging Association, National Education Association, as well as hundreds of mayors across all 50 states.