By: Rhett Buttle
November will mark the second anniversary of the signing into law of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. This once-in-a-generation investment in our country’s infrastructure is helping to rebuild and modernize many sectors, including transportation. Even though the law is almost two years old, there are still many opportunities for small businesses to participate in this historic effort.
The law provides $1.2 trillion, including $550 billion in new spending to target areas such as highways and mass transit from 2022 to 2026, as well as the largest dedicated investment in bridges since the development of the interstate highway system. States in the 1950s. Ongoing efforts include rehabilitating bridges in critical need of repair and removing barriers to connecting communities.
Since work began in 2022, funds have been administered to states and municipalities to focus on their areas of greatest need. There are too many successes to count, but here are a few that provide an example of the scope of this work.
California: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $400 million to replace, upgrade and install critical structural elements on the Golden Gate Bridge to improve its earthquake resilience. An estimated 37 million vehicles cross the bridge each year, including 555,000 freight trucks, and it provides a vital link to bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Texas: The city of Houston received nearly $21 million to revitalize 2.8 miles of its infamous Telephone Road. The project will improve faded markings and crumbling or non-existent sidewalks. It will also improve options for pedestrians and cyclists and lay the foundation for other transportation alternatives.
Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation received $20.2 million to design and construct central bus lanes, improved bus stops, a two-way separated bike lane and sidewalk improvements on Massachusetts Route 1A. This will help residents in an area with high housing and transportation costs use active transportation to improve the experience of what can be a very long commute between Lynn and Boston.
Tennessee: Smith County, located near the Kentucky border, will receive $22.6 million to upgrade welcome center ramps to meet current standards, add approximately 125 truck parking spaces and upgrade adjacent bridges on I-40 over the Caney Fork River. This will reduce illegally parked commercial vehicles that pose safety risks and improve operations on one of the nation’s most critical freight corridors.
The Biden-Harris administration has also directed that small businesses, particularly those in underserved communities, participate in much of this work. For example, the DOT is working with the U.S. Small Business Administration to ensure this happens, with the former setting a goal that 20 percent of its federal contracts be awarded to disadvantaged small businesses. Additionally, the White House has also created a one-stop shop where small businesses can learn about the law and apply for financing from Build.gov. Furthermore, BuildupLocal.org aims to close the racial wealth gap by helping small businesses access inclusive infrastructure contracts made available by law.
Ultimately, the bipartisan infrastructure bill could be one of the most important pieces of legislation of the 21st century. If you are a small business owner, you have the opportunity to help give our country a much-needed upgrade and prepare for future contracting opportunities.