USDOT Issues Grants for Resilient Transportation Infrastructure

A new round of grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) targets projects that build resilience and make transportation infrastructure more resistant to the impacts of climate change, reports Susan Carpenter for Spectrum News. “The grants will go to 80 projects in 39 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands to address geographically specific issues, including $56 million to build a taller bridge in a flood-prone area of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and $33 million to install a new drainage and sewer system to protect a subway line in New York City that serves one million riders daily.”

This marks the first time the federal government has partnered with local and state governments to specifically address the resilience of transportation infrastructure. According to the article, “The United States received a C- grade overall on the most recent American Society of Civil Engineers Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. While rail received a B, bridges received a C, roads and dams received a D and transit received a D-.”

In announcing the grants, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “It’s not an exaggeration to say that extreme weather driven by climate change is one of the biggest threats to our infrastructure, to quality of life and safety in our community.”