Advocates for highway construction are concerned their projects are getting shortchanged in the competition for grant money under the new infrastructure law.
Traffic moves along the notoriously congested stretch of I-10 through tribal land called the Wild Horse Pass Corridor, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 in Chandler, Ariz. With the Gila River Indian Community's backing, Arizona allocated or raised about $600 million of a nearly $1 billion plan that would widen the most bottleneck-inducing, 26-mile section of I-10 on the route between Phoenix and Tucson.
The historic federal investment in infrastructure has reenergized dormant transportation projects, but the debate over how to prioritize them has only intensified in the 14 months sinceThe law follows decades of neglect in maintaining the nation’s roads, bridges, water systems and airports. Research by Yale University economist Ray Fair estimates a sharp decline in U.S. infrastructure investment has caused a $5.2 trillion shortfall.
Jeff Davis, senior fellow at the Eno Center for Transportation, said it’s already clear that the Biden administration plans to direct a greater share of its discretionary transportation funding to “non-highway projects” than the Trump administration did. However, with so much more total infrastructure money to work with, Davis said, “a rising tide lifts all boats.”
Arizona state Rep. Teresa Martinez, a Republican who represents Casa Grande at the southern end of the corridor, said she was livid when she heard from a congressional office that the administration might have turned down the I-10 project because it didn't have enough “multimodal” components. Although administration officials dismissed the memo as an internal communication, not a policy decision, critics alleged they were trying to circumvent Congress and influence highway construction decisions traditionally left to states under their formula funding.
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.
Advocates say migrants, asylum seekers were excluded from Mayor Eric Adams' State of the CityAdvocates say immigrants and asylum seekers were excluded from Mayor Eric Adams' vision for New York City.
Read more »
Federal grants prompt fight between advocates of fixing highways or building new onesThe historic federal investment in infrastructure has reenergized dormant transportation projects, but the debate over how to prioritize them has only intensified in the 14 months since President Joe Biden signed the measure.
Read more »
After Roe, March for Life advocates in Mobile take aim at abortion pillsA March for Life rally in downtown Mobile Friday drew a large crowd of anti-abortion advocates who praised the Supreme Court's ruling in June to end Roe v. Wade. But advocates also acknowledged that other battles remain in the ongoing struggle over abortion access.
Read more »
Should federal grants favor highway repair over expansion?Advocates for highway construction are concerned their projects are getting shortchanged in the competition for grant money under the new infrastructure law
Read more »
Should federal grants favor highway repair over expansion?Advocates for highway construction are concerned their projects are getting shortchanged in the competition for grant money under the new infrastructure law.
Read more »
Should federal grants favor highway repair over expansion?Advocates for highway construction are concerned their projects are getting shortchanged in the competition for grant money under the new infrastructure law.
Read more »