U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said President Joe Biden’s 2023 Budget Request includes an additional $37 billion to make transportation safer, more reliable, and more affordable.
The Biden administration submitted the President’s Budget on Monday, outlining his vision to expand on the progress made over the last year and build a better America for families. The additional money is part of the total $142 billion budget the administration said would increase access to safe, clean, and reliable transportation, create jobs, and strengthen the economy.
“The investments in the President’s Budget make traveling safer, easier, cleaner, and more affordable for the American people,” Buttigieg said. “From roads, tunnels, and bridges, to airport and port improvements, electric vehicle chargers, safe bike lanes, and more, we are building a first-rate transportation system for all Americans.”
The 2023 budget will be the second year of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which officials call a once-in-a-generation opportunity and is anticipated to modernize the country’s transportation infrastructure and build a foundation for Americans to compete globally in the 21st century, officials said.
Buttigieg’s office said the budget would allow the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to advance safety and modernize the country’s infrastructure while meeting the needs and challenges of the future. The budget proposal will address the long-standing maintenance needs of bridges, ports, highways, roads, and railroads, the department said.
The budget request includes $4.45 billion to advance 15 transit projects in seven states that are part of the Gateway Program, including the Hudson Tunnel commuter rail projects along the Northeast Corridor; $230 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to improve port infrastructure and facilities; and $23.6 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration to modernize facilities and operations.