Delaware’s Congressional delegration joined state govenment leaders and a Biden Administration official in highlighting $2 billion in projects from the recently signed infrastructure bill.
“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that President Biden signed last week, we will be able to repair the transportation system Americans rely on today – and build a transportation system that empowers Americans to thrive for generations to come,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg. “Under the leadership of Senator Carper, Delaware’s Congressional delegation wrote some of the most important parts of the law, and helped secure bipartisan votes for it, and I’m thrilled to join them today.”
Delaware Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski said, “These projects are critically important not only to the traveling public but the thousands of people employed in the construction industry across our state. Having this bill finalized gives DelDOT and our contractor community certainty that we will continue to make needed infrastructure investments in the years ahead.”
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s impact on Delaware
- Repairing and rebuilding roads and bridges: The IIJA will invest roughly $1.2 billion in Delaware’s highways and $225 million in bridge replacement and repairs. These investments would focus on addressing climate change, enhancing equity, and improving safety for all Delawareans, including cyclists and pedestrians.
- Building a network of EV chargers: Delaware will receive an estimated $18 million to support the expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure.
- Improving healthy, affordable transportation options: The IIJA will invest roughly $220 million to improve public transportation options in the First State.
- Connecting more Delawareans to high-speed internet: The IIJA will invest at least $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the First State. One in five Delawareans will be eligible for assistance to make internet access affordable.
- Delivering clean drinking water to families: The IIJA will invest more than $355 million to upgrade water systems across Delaware, including critical resources to remove lead pipes and clean up contaminants like PFAS (forever chemicals)
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), Delaware U.S. Sen. Tom Carper crafted two pieces of legislation – The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021, which passed the Senate by a vote of 89-2 in April, and the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021, which the EPW committee unanimously reported out of committee in May.
