The 2019 package of spending bills recently passed into law by Congress includes significant funding for infrastructure development in the United States, including rural water and wastewater infrastructure, capital infrastructure projects, and more.
“Congress voted to release the hostages, and fund one of the top priorities for Oregonians—infrastructure,” U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) said. “These bipartisan spending bills include a significant increase in funding for rural water and wastewater infrastructure, which is one of the top issues I hear from small communities across Oregon. And, with more than $2.5 billion in funding, the legislation supports new roads, bridges and rail lines in both urban and rural Oregon.”
The bill includes around $41 million in transportation grants for Oregon specifically. An additional $550 million is being used to fund grants and loans to expand broadband access into rural areas. Another $548.7 million was granted to rural waste and waste disposal systems, to help communities maintain clean water and disposal systems.
Heavy rail, streetcars and other major transit capital investments stand to gain more than $2.5 billion in grants. Water infrastructure will be financed with $68 million, while the BUILD program, which invests in road, railways, transit systems, airports and ports, gained almost $2 billion. Another $9.93 billion was put into Transit Improvement Grants, including millions for bus and bus facilities. Even air projects benefited, thanks to more than $300 million put up for small communities to guarantee they are serviced by commercial air services. FAA Contract Towers have also been funded with $168 million.
Lastly, the bill funds a series of rail programs authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and helps to support their capital investment and maintenance.
“One of the top frustrations I have heard consistently from Oregonians in town halls and grocery store checkout lines is that recent uncertainty over government funding leaves key infrastructure needs in their communities to languish,” U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said. “I am glad Congress has finally passed the bipartisan spending so Oregon can build capacity for rural broadband, invest in mass transit and make needed improvements in roads, rail and smaller airports.”