U.S. Reps. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) announced Tuesday they would be introducing legislation to dedicate federal funds to maintain rural bridges across America.
The Support for Community Bridges Act would allocate more dedicated funds for bridge repair in states with bridges that are not part of the federal highway system. These bridges, called “off-system,” account for about 50 percent of the nation’s bridges and often do not meet the criterion for federal grants, which puts a strain on state, city and county budgets to maintain them.
“The safety and quality of our Nation’s roads and bridges is paramount, which is why Senator Blunt and I are committed to ensuring dedicated federal set-aside funding to repair off-system bridges. This legislation will provide a much-needed funding increase for bridge maintenance and help local governments get back on their feet after the financial challenges of the pandemic,” Casey said.
Based on 2020 funding, off-system bridges would receive about $1.2 billion, up from nearly $776 million. That funding comes from a combination of highway trust fund and general treasury funds that go to the highway aid program through Congressional appropriations. As federal investment in infrastructure increases, so would the amount for off-system bridges.
“Repairing and upgrading our transportation network is especially important here in Missouri, where location is one of our biggest competitive advantages,” said Senator Blunt. “I’m proud to join Senator Casey in introducing this bill to provide much-needed support to off-system bridges throughout Missouri, especially in our rural communities. This bill will ensure state and local governments get additional resources to modernize their infrastructure and create a stronger foundation for economic growth.”
The legislation is supported by the National Association of Counties and the National League of Cities.