What Washington Can Expect From $1T Infrastructure Bill

Seattle WA

08 November, 2021

12:43 PM

Description

SEATTLE — The U.S. House of Representatives voted late Friday to pass the $1 trillion infrastructure bill, one of two key parts of President Joe Biden's domestic agenda. The House voted 228-206 to pass the bill, which now goes to Biden's desk for his signature. The bill had already cleared passage in the U.S. Senate in August. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes key investments in the nation's ailing infrastructure, providing funding for public transit, federal railways, roads, bridges, clean drinking water, high speed internet, investment in electric vehicles and more, according to a fact sheet provided by the White House. Biden hailed the bill's passage on Saturday, calling it a "monumental step forward." Members of Washington's congressional delegation agreed, highlighting more than $8.6 billion in funding headed to the Evergreen State. "This popular legislation delivers on our promise to provide a historic, deeply necessary, and long overdue investment in our state's roads, bridges, waterways, and public transit systems that will directly impact our communities while taking a first step to address the climate crisis and creating millions of good paying, union jobs," said Congresswoman Jayapal. "There is still more work to be done to invest in families, and I will continue fighting for them while ensuring that this new infrastructure funding reaches projects throughout Washington." Among the funds earmarked in the bill, here's what Washington can expect to receive: $4.7 billion earmarked for Washington highways and $605 million for bridge replacement projects. The White House estimates more than 400 bridges and nearly 5,500 miles of Washington's roadways are in poor condition. $1.79 billion to support public transportation projects over the next five years. $380 million for Sound Transit's ongoing light rail expansion projects, along with $559 million for King County Metro to help electrify its fleet and expand bus service. $882 million to improve water infrastructure across the state. $384 million for Washington airports to maintain runways, build new terminals and invest in low emission ground vehicles. That includes $228 million headed to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. $100 million to boost broadband coverage across the state, aiming to connect nearly a quarter-million Washingtonians who lack access. $71 million to expand the state's electric vehicle charging network.$39 million for wildfire efforts and $18 million to help protect against cyberattacks. Some progressives in the House broke with the Democrats and voted against the bill, calling the legislation insufficient without a guarantee that its $1.75 trillion companion, the Build Back Better Act, would pass with sufficient investments to combat climate change, address child care costs and boost paid family leave. The latter piece of legislation remains before the House after a procedural vote late Friday.