Administration Proposes Trillion Dollar Infrastructure Budget

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Earlier this week, the Fiscal Year 2021 proposed budget submitted to Congress by the White House requests $1 trillion over 10-years in Direct Federal Investments to support the rebuilding and modernizing of the nation’s infrastructure. The proposal includes two major components that combined would focus on roads, bridges, improvements to existing rail and bus systems, and providing high-speed internet to rural areas.

The principal component is a request for $810 billion to support a 10-year reauthorization of surface transportation programs. Within this amount is $602 billion for highway infrastructure, $155 billion for transit infrastructure, $20 billion for traffic and motor carrier safety, $17 billion for rail infrastructure, $16 billion for Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loans and Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants, and about $1 billion for pipeline and hazardous materials safety.

The second component requests $190 billion for a wide range of infrastructure sectors that include broadband and water. More specifically it proposes $60 Billion for a new Building Infrastructure Great grants program, $50 billion for a new Moving America’s Freight Safely and Efficiently program, $35 billion for a Bridge Rebuilding program,  $25 billion for a new Revitalizing Rural America program, and $20 billion for a Transit State of Good Repair Sprint program.

The budget request also includes $6.5 billion for a Public Lands Infrastructure Fund to address the deferred maintenance backlog in national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other public lands, along with the Bureau of Indian Education schools.

Similar to the recently proposed House Democratic infrastructure plan, the Administration’s request would also require approval by the House, Senate, and White House. However, it serves as another indicator of the importance of addressing infrastructure.