Biden FY 2023 budget calls for full funding of IIJA programs.

RI forecasted to receive billions in funding across multiple modes.

Signed into law on November 15, 2021 by President Biden, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — aka the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) — authorizes transportation and infrastructure spending of $1.2 trillion, with $550 billion of that earmarked for new investments and programs.

During his March 1 State of the Union address to Congress, President Biden said: “We’re done talking about infrastructure weeks. We’re now talking about an infrastructure decade. This was a bipartisan effort, and I want to thank the members of both parties who worked to make it happen.”

The single biggest investment in history to rebuild America, the Biden administration blueprint released on March 28 calls for spending levels that would increase core highway and transit spending by 2% — the continuation of supplemental spending for highway, transit and airport capital construction — and continuation of the full set of investments at FY 2026 levels through FY 2032.

Included in the IIJA is the Buy America, Build America Act (BABA), which aims to prioritize and incentivize the usage of goods, products, materials and services that are made or provided for in the United States

What’s in the IIJA/BIL for Rhode Island.

According to the IIJA state fact sheets released in November 2021 and updated this April 11, based on formula funding alone, Rhode Island is expected to receive approximate funding over the next five years in the amounts of:

• $1.8 billion in federal highway and bridge funds — about 15.5% more than current highway formula funding on an average annual basis
• $15 million in FAST Act formula funding to improve highway safety — about a 29% increase over current levels
• $292 million to improve public transportation options across the state — representing about a 38% first-year increase over 2021 FAST Act transit funding levels
• $23 million to support the expansion of an EV charging network. RI will also have the opportunity to apply for grants from the $2.5 billion available for EV charging.
• $45 million for airport infrastructure development

An organization-wide call for support.

In anticipation of the new fiscal year beginning on October 1, the annual federal appropriations process is now underway. Final investment decisions will be negotiated by Congress and the administration in coming months, after hearings to lay out individual budget requests for each department, at which time legislators will begin crafting spending bills for FY 2023.

CIRI urges all our members to communicate their support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to legislative leaders, among industry peers and associates, and within their respective companies.

For more information on the IIJA (aka BIL), visit the ARTBA website at:
www.artba.org/economics/iija-impact/