The U.S. Department of Transportation recently allocated $1.56 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Michigan.
A total of $54 million will be used on highway safety programs that improve the safety of Michigan’s transportation system; $363 million will be used for airport infrastructure development; $7.8 billion in federal funding will be used to repair and rebuild roads and bridges; $1 billion will be used to improve sustainable transportation options; and $110 million will be used to support the expansion of an electric vehicle charging network and facilitate long-distance travel.
Funding will be through 12 Federal Highway Administration initiatives for the upcoming fiscal year.
“This deeply needed funding for our roads, bridges, and tunnels that Michiganders rely on everyday will slash commute times, lower car repair costs, reduce pollution, and support good-paying, union jobs,” U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) said.
The department allocated nearly $60 billion to the states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Each state and territory will determine how these funds are distributed.
The United States ranks 13th globally in terms of infrastructure quality. Michigan has a rating of D+ from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Decades of underinvestment have caused more pollution, longer commute times, and higher car maintenance costs.