By Adam Pagnucco.
Data released by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) shows that the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has generated billions of dollars in funding for projects in Maryland. The law, passed a year ago, provides an extra $550 billion for highways, transit, broadband, utilities and other infrastructure around the country. Every member of Congress from Maryland voted for the law except for Republican Andy Harris.
GSA has posted a map and dashboard showing the allocation of $186 billion, about a third of the total approved, as of October 2022. Maryland’s share is $2.6 billion, which will increase. The largest expenditures in Maryland are for highways ($887 million), surface transportation block grants ($411 million), bridges ($177 million) and drinking water ($165 million). There are many smaller amounts for items of interest to transit supporters and environmentalists, including weatherization assistance ($46 million), low and no emission bus grants ($42 million), carbon reduction ($37 million), electric vehicle infrastructure ($23 million) and clean school buses ($9 million).
Most of the line items do not specify cities or counties. I asked the office of Congressman David Trone how that money would be distributed. Trone’s communications director, Sasha Galbreath, provided this response.
The money will be/has been distributed to the states, and they have the jurisdiction to allocate where necessary. The money can also then be distributed among counties to execute on certain projects. It’s a collaborative process. I will add that the allocation of money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to states was based on formulas to consider need, population, etc. Ultimately, Maryland is expected to receive over $7 billion from the Law.
Seven billion dollars is a nice shot in the arm for our infrastructure. Thank you to Congressman Trone and everyone else who supported this bill, and especially to President Joe Biden, who worked for it relentlessly early in his term.