After the President approved the long-awaited infrastructure bill, the White House released a more detailed breakdown of what the bill might bring to Indiana.
The updated information makes it clearer how much is new expenditures, rather than expenditures that Indiana has already received through existing federal programs. However, it is not yet clear when the money will penetrate the local level and produce results.
Read: What does Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure bill mean for Indiana, beyond the road
Usually, the bill allocates some funds to support existing federal programs, while other funds are used for new programs. Some use federal formulas, some use competitive grants.
Formula funding allocates funds proportionally based on community characteristics such as population, while competitive and discretionary funds are obtained through the application process.
Of the US$154 billion in grant funds covered by the law, approximately one-third will be allocated through formulas, and two-thirds of the remaining US$100 billion will be used in the competition process. This means that the decision on who gets the $100 billion lies with the U.S. Department of Transportation, led by Indiana’s own Pete Buttigieg.
"This is a large number of new resources in competitive grants, and the agency needs a large number of personnel to ensure that these funds start to be distributed to states and localities in a timely manner," the analysis of the National Association of Regional Committees wrote. "This also raises concerns about the performance of traditionally underserved communities and other communities in such a competitive funding environment."
In a regional news conference call earlier this month, US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm (Jennifer Granholm) said that when residents will see ground impact is very dependent on the plan. Some have short-term strategies, and some have long-term strategies.
Existing plans for formula-based expenditures, such as weathering and federal aid highway funding, may produce results faster than new plans involving competitive grants, such as the reconstruction of economically meaningful bridges.
"Hopefully in the next six months, you will start to see some activity on roads and those formula dollars, and then some of them will be long-term," she said.
A spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Transportation said that state and local governments are still awaiting guidance from the federal government on the application procedures and project eligibility for these discretionary grants.
The following are some highlights of the major expenditures that Indiana will receive and the expenditures it can receive through the bidding process. Everything will unfold in five years.
This is a 30% increase over the current federal government’s allocation of highway and bridge repair and reconstruction funds. According to INDOT, Indiana typically receives approximately US$1 billion in road and bridge formula funding each year, but the bill allocates an additional US$200 million in the first year and increases year by year thereafter. Approximately 75% of the original funding will remain in INDOT for national projects, and the other 25% will be used for municipalities, towns and counties for local projects.
Spokesperson Mallory Duncan (Mallory Duncan) said that since INDOT plans and funded projects for seven years, its additional funding plan is to speed up the projects already in the window and may add some projects outside the window.
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Highway Traffic Safety Plan: US$38 million
This is an increase of 29% over current federal funding used to improve driver behavior and reduce fatalities and injuries in car accidents.
Car carrier safety assistance program: US$54.1 million
This is an increase of 47% over the current funds used to improve the safety of commercial vehicles through data collection and equipment maintenance and replacement.
Improving public transportation options: $673 million
This is a 32% increase over current federal funding used to improve healthy, sustainable transportation options (such as replacing old public buses).
Indiana will receive $170 million in formula funding for airport infrastructure development, such as improvements to runways, taxiways, and airport-owned towers, terminal development projects, and noise reduction projects. It is not clear how much this increase, but the bill allocates 15 billion U.S. dollars for the federal program, and the FAA regularly allocates about 3 billion U.S. dollars for airport infrastructure every year.
Formulated plans aimed at reducing traffic-related emissions, such as through traffic congestion management, support for the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles, and diesel retrofits.
Promoting Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Grant Program Flexible Operation: $178 million
This part of the formula and part of the competitive grant plan will target flood control and water ecosystem restoration projects related to highway projects, public transportation facilities, intercity railways or port facilities.
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure: $100 million or more
The ground transportation block grant program was expanded to include electric vehicle charging infrastructure projects. Through this formula funding, Indiana will receive $100 million. The bill also has a new competitive grant program, of which $2.5 billion can be used to help communities deploy this infrastructure, which is expected to be launched next year.
Intercity passenger railway: US$12 billion available
These are competitive federal-state cooperation grants to support or establish intercity rail services, including high-speed rail.
Bridge investment plan: US$27.5 billion available
Indiana can compete for US$12.5 billion in competitive grants for economically significant bridges and US$15 billion for “large-scale projects that will bring substantial economic benefits to the community”.
Safe Streets for All Program: $6 billion available
A competitive grant program subsidizes entities' efforts to achieve the "Vision Zero" program, which aims to eliminate fatal crashes, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. Indianapolis identified "Indy Vision Zero" as the target of Indy Moves, which is the transportation component of its 2018 comprehensive plan.
Indiana can compete for $5 billion in rail improvement and safety grants, and $3 billion in level crossing safety improvements.
Airport terminal plan: $5 billion available
This is the disposable funding available for terminal development projects that can be used to address aging infrastructure and improve accessibility, energy efficiency and airport safety.
Pilot program to reconnect communities: $1 billion available
This new plan will provide funding for the planning and reconstruction of street power grids, parks or other infrastructure.
It is expected that a more competitive grant program will be launched next year. See the full list here.
Contact Kayla Dwyer, an IndyStar traffic reporter at kdwyer@indystar.com, or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.