U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently announced actions the U.S. Department of Transportation is taking to improve infrastructure on tribal lands.
“After decades of harmful underinvestment in infrastructure, we now have a tremendous opportunity to modernize transportation in Tribal communities,” Buttigieg said at the Biden-Harris Administration’s second Tribal Nations Summit. “We’re proud to team up with tribal leaders to announce important steps to improve roads, bridges, aviation, ports, transit, electric vehicle infrastructure, and transportation safety in tribal communities now and in the years ahead.”
Programs include:
The Regional Tribal Technical Assistance Program re-established six regional centers and will fund a seventh that will assist communities as they use federal funding.
The Electric Vehicle (EV) Initiative for Tribal Nations will map the proposed deployment of EV infrastructure and prioritize projects that serve rural and underserved areas.
The Tribal Transit Symposium, scheduled for 2023, will provide tribes the opportunity to meet with Federal Transit Administration leadership, learn about funding opportunities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and more.
The Tribal Aviation Symposium will cover grant applications, tribal access to airports, and commercial seaplane access.
The Tribal Maritime Roundtable will update tribes on the port and marine programs and workforce development opportunities in the maritime sector.