President Joe Biden and the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Thursday that Puerto Rico and four U.S. territories – American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands – will receive more than $1.14 billion in infrastructure investment funds.
The money, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help repair and rebuild roads and bridges in the territories. Of the funds, $219 million will be included as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations. The funding represents a 14 percent increase in funding to the territories.
“This funding will help Puerto Rico and the territories improve their highway networks, stimulate economic opportunity, and increase highway safety,” Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack said. “Today’s funding will help move forward major repairs to highways and bridges and improve transportation systems on these islands.”
Over the next five years, Puerto Rico will receive more than $900 million in infrastructure funding, while the four territories will receive $240 million. Funding for roads and bridges in Puerto Rico and the territories was established as part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century of 1998, which established the Puerto Rico Highway Program; and the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1970, which created the Territorial Highway Program.
In Fiscal Year 2022, the Federal Highway Administration will provide $173 million in funding for Puerto Rico and a total of nearly $46 million for the four territories. The administration said the money will help repair and rebuild roads and bridges while addressing climate change mitigation, resilience, equity, and safety for all transportation users.