The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is one of the largest long-term investments in our infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century. The need for action in Maryland is clear. For decades, infrastructure in Maryland has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Maryland a C grade on its infrastructure report card. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make life better for millions of Maryland residents, create a generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win the 21st century.
Here in Maryland, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will:
Repair and rebuild our roads and bridges with a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, equity, and safety for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians.
In Maryland, there are 273 bridges and over 2,201 miles of highway in poor condition. Since 2011, commute times have increased by 5.1 percent in Maryland, and on average, each driver pays $637 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system. Based on formula funding alone, Maryland would expect to receive $4.1 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $409 million for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five years. Maryland can also compete for the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program for economically significant bridges and nearly $16 billion of national funding in the bill dedicated for major projects that will deliver substantial economic benefits to communities.
Improve healthy, sustainable transportation options for millions of Americans.
Marylanders who take public transportation spend an extra 66.3 percent of their time commuting and non-White households are 2.7 times more likely to commute via public transportation. Twenty-three percent of transit vehicles in the state are past useful life. Based on formula funding alone, Maryland would expect to receive $1.7 billion over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve public transportation options across the state.
Build a network of EV chargers to facilitate long-distance travel and provide convenient charging options.
The U.S. market share of plug-in electric vehicle (EV) sales is only one-third the size of the Chinese EV market. The President believes that must change. The bill invests $7.5 billion to build out the first-ever national network of EV chargers in the United States and is a critical element in the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan to accelerate the adoption of EVs to address the climate crisis and support domestic manufacturing jobs. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Maryland would expect to receive $63 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state3. Maryland will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill.
Help connect every American to reliable high-speed internet.
Broadband internet is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected. Yet 11 percent of Maryland households do not have an internet subscription, and two percent of Marylanders live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark, there is no broadband infrastructure. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Maryland will receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least 148,000 Marylanders who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 1,042,000 or 17 percent of people in Maryland will be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.