Upgrade nation's infrastructure through new partnership with state and local government

Transportation Department kicks off collaboration with states, localities

Updated: Monday, December 14th, 2009 | By Louis Jacobson

During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama said that he would "enter into a new partnership with state and local civic, political, and business leaders to enact a truly national infrastructure policy that recognizes that we must upgrade our infrastructure to meet the demands of a growing population, a changing economy, and our short- and long-term energy challenges."

The economic stimulus bill that was signed in February allotted $26.6 billion to the states for highway investments, plus $8 billion in funding for high-speed intercity rail, among other allocations. Spending this money almost by definition puts the federal government into partnership with state and local officials.

Of special interest to state and local officials will be Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grants. The government will make $1.5 billion available in TIGER grants through Sept. 30, 2011. They are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that are deemed to have "a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or a region." Among those eligible for the grants are state and local governments, transit agencies, port authorities and metropolitan planning organizations.

In the meantime, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has begun a nationwide "listening tour" on transportation policy to engage state and local leaders on the next transportation reauthorization bill. The first in a series of town meetings was held Dec. 1 in New Orleans, with other cities and dates to be announced soon.

It will take years and billions of dollars to fully update the nation's infrastructure, but these efforts show that the administration is working toward that goal. We rate this promise In the Works.

Sources:

Transportation Department, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ( web page ), accessed Dec. 14, 2009

Transportation Department, "DOT Information Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)" ( web page ), accessed Dec. 14, 2009

BayouBuzz.com, " Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood To Visit New Orleans Tuesday ," Nov. 30, 2009

E-mail interview with Olivia Alair, Transportation Department spokeswoman, Dec. 7, 2009