The transportation secretary shares how he's overseeing one of the most significant investments in America's roads, bridges and rails in over 50 years.
Three years ago, Pete Buttigieg was the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, a city with only about 160 traffic lights. Today"Mayor Pete" is"Secretary Pete," head of the United States Department of Transportation. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed last year, he's overseeing one of the most significant investments in America's bridges, roads and rails in more than half a century.
When grading the overall state of this country's infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers recently gave the U.S. a C-minus. Anderson Cooper: When was the last time that the country invested this amount of money in infrastructure? Anderson Cooper: In a lot of communities, when they get money, their emphasis is on building new roads. You're trying to emphasize fixing existing roads. That's not always popular.
Anderson Cooper: There's research showing that historically more of the grant money goes to states that voted for the party in power. Under Obama it went to blue states, under President Trump it went to-- to red states. Is that gonna happen again?Anderson Cooper: But no administration says,"Yeah, that's what we're doing." But historically that is what happens.
Pete Buttigieg: Yeah. And we're going deep into the 21st century still depending on that hundred-year-old infrastructure. The tunnel's so badly damaged crews have to work on it at night so pieces of it don't fall on the tracks during the day. If an expected infrastructure grant comes through, construction of a new tunnel could finally begin next year.
The passage of the infrastructure bill in the Senate was the result of some serious bridge-building. Five Republican and five Democratic senators negotiated the deal and convinced their colleagues to support it. In the House of Representatives, 200 Republicans and six Democrats voted against the legislation, but that didn't stop many of them from later claiming credit for the money it gave to their districts.
Pete Buttigieg: it's amazing. Right? The-- you've experienced this too. Your friends try to tell you, and-- you try to understand. And then it actually happens, Pete Buttigieg: Yeah, it's way better, and-- and way harder than you can imagine, right? I mean, the sleep deprivation alone. Yeah, I've run for president, I've served in a war, I've never been through this kinda sleep deprivation.
The infrastructure law includes an unprecedented $66 billion over five years for Amtrak to improve its existing rails and tunnels and expand its service. There's also $5 billion to help build a network of charging stations across the country for electric vehicles. But most of the transportation money is going to roads, highways, and bridges.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Thousands of travelers face flight delays and cancellations over holiday weekendPete Buttigieg has said the Transportation Department may take enforcement actions if flight disruptions continue.
Read more »
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg: US may act against airlines on consumers' behalfTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he's pushing airlines to hire more customer-service agents and take other steps to help travelers this summer.
Read more »
Buttigieg: US may act against airlines on consumers' behalfTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he's pushing airlines to hire more customer-service agents and take other steps to help travelers this summer
Read more »
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg: US may act against airlines on consumers' behalfTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he's pushing airlines to hire more customer-service agents and take other steps to help travelers this summer.
Read more »
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg: US may act against airlines on consumers' behalfFLIGHT CANCELLATIONS: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he's pushing airlines to hire more customer-service agents and take other steps to help travelers this summer.
Read more »
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg: US may act against airlines on consumers' behalfTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he's pushing airlines to hire more customer-service agents and take other steps to help travelers this summer.
Read more »