May 31, 2024
Learn how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act/Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (IIJA/BIL) enacted in 2021 significantly increased federal transportation funding to the DVRPC region.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act/Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (IIJA/BIL) enacted in 2021 significantly increased federal transportation funding to the DVRPC region. The $1.2 trillion legislation provided $351 billion over five years for highway and bridge programs nationally, and $91 billion for transit programs. The bill also introduced an additional $550 billion in funding for new programs in transportation, energy transmission, resilience, broadband, and others. It included $110 billion in new spending from the General Fund for highways and bridges, primarily for a special bridge investment program, electric vehicle charging, and several discretionary programs. Several new programs were created, including one to support replacement, rehabilitation, and maintenance projects for bridges that are not located on the federal aid network. DVRPC staff is currently working with county partners in both NJ and PA to identify and advance eligible bridge projects for these funds.
As a result of the IIJA/BIL, funding for the DVRPC Regional FHWA-funded Program and FTA-funded Program in the Draft FY2025 TIP is the highest it has been in recent memory. The DVRPC-PA and NJ regions are set to receive more Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding than in past TIPs. High priority projects in both states are advancing thanks to new funds from the IIJA/BIL, such as the Carbon Reduction Program, Bridge Investment Program, and the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program.
The Draft DVRPC FY2025 TIP for Pennsylvania contains 351 projects (including the Interstate Management Program), totaling over $8.1 billion for the phases to be advanced during the next four years, an average of close to $2.03 billion per year. [Learn more about how the TIP is funded]. The DVRPC FY2024 TIP for New Jersey contains 153 projects to advance over Federal Fiscal Years 2024 to 2027 totaling $2.327 billion, which averages almost $582 million per year. View more details on the FY2024 TIP for New Jersey.
The IIJA/BIL has allowed the DVRPC region to fund hundreds of projects that will improve safety, connectivity, accessibility, resiliency, walkability, asset condition, and system efficiency, reflecting the goals of the long-range plan, Connections 2050. The increased funding to the region helps maintain existing infrastructure, but also encourages innovative approaches to safety, resilience, and active transportation. Some projects to highlight include:
- The Camden County LINK Trail is a nearly $30 million project, including $19 million from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) competitive grant program. It will construct important City of Camden segments of this planned 34-mile multi-use trail extending through 16 municipalities. The trail will serve as the southeast spine for the larger 800-mile Circuit Trails Network. Working with partners in South Jersey, DVRPC is supporting development of a cross state trail corridor stretching from the City of Camden to Cape May.
- The City of Philadelphia recently was awarded a $76 million MEGA Grant to fund critical near-term safety improvements along Roosevelt Boulevard, an extremely dangerous road and the source of dozens of fatalities. This funding, complemented by significant local funding from the City of Philadelphia and additional federal funds, makes it possible to quickly implement near-term recommendations from the Roosevelt Boulevard Route for Change study, including additional speed cameras, improvements to bus stops and amenities, and pedestrian-oriented infrastructure, such as raised crosswalks, while large-scale long-term solutions continue to be studied.
The increased funding in the IIJA/BIL enables additional support for priority projects across the region, and the state of Pennsylvania also provides funding beyond the federal resources. These projects are designed with widespread collaboration and public input, and address the specific needs of the community. While they require less funding than other major projects in the region, it’s important to emphasize their benefits and positive impacts within each community. Two local-scale projects to highlight include:
- The Kennett Greenway Project is a planned 14-mile bike and pedestrian trail that includes the construction of a railroad underpass to connect the residential side of town with the businesses, schools, parks, jobs, and events in the town’s center. The project was awarded a nearly $1.5 million PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund grant to support the municipality’s efforts in transforming Birch Street to be a complete street by introducing green stormwater management infrastructure, new sidewalks, ADA curb ramps, and crosswalks.
- The Woodbury Pedestrian Path Network was awarded $1.5 million of Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) funding in 2023 to aid in the construction of a pedestrian path network. The walkway will stretch along Hester's Branch’s three lakes, and includes two footbridges over the Woodbury Creek that will connect to existing lakeside pathways. It will also provide increased recreational access to the area’s lakes and parks, and bike/pedestrian access to local amenities and businesses.
See the Draft FY2025 PA TIP for more information.
If you want to learn more about the Transportation Improvement Program, or “TIP,” check out the informational articles: What is the TIP?, How Does a Project Get on the TIP?, and How is the TIP Funded?