What Colorado Can Expect From $1T Infrastructure Bill

COLORADO — The U.S. House of Representatives voted late Friday to pass the $1 trillion infrastructure bill, one of two key parts of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda. The House voted 228-206 to pass the bill, which now goes to Biden’s desk for his signature. The bill had already cleared passage in the U.S. Senate in August.

The bill makes key investments in the nation’s ailing infrastructure, providing funding for public transit, federal railways, roads, bridges, clean drinking water, high speed internet, investment in electric vehicles and more, according to a fact sheet provided by the White House.

Biden hailed the bill’s passage on Saturday, calling it a “monumental step forward.”

Gov. Jared Polis was one of the first governors in the country to support the federal infrastructure framework.

“Let’s fix the roads and reduce traffic! This is a win for our country and a win for Colorado! I’m thrilled that Congress has passed with bipartisan support this once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve our roads, create new jobs, improve our drinking water, and tackle climate change,” Gov. Polis said.

“Paired with our state’s historic bipartisan infrastructure plan that I signed this summer, Colorado will see a transformation across all four corners of our state to make our roads safer and better for all Coloradans. Thank you, President Biden and Congress for your bipartisan work to bring real change across our country’s entire infrastructure system.”

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Among the funds earmarked in the bill, here’s what Colorado can expect to receive:

• $3.7 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five ears under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
• $916 million over five years to improve public transportation options across our state.
• $57 million over five years to support the expansion of an electric vehicle charging network in our state. Colorado will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to electric vehicle charging in the bill.
• $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the
  state, including providing access to the at least 85,000 Coloradans who currently lack it. And 1,282,000 Coloradans will be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.
• $35 million over five years to protect against wildfires and $16 million to protect against cyberattacks. Colorado will also benefit from the bill’s historic $3.5 billion national investment in weatherization, which will reduce energy costs for families.
• $688 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across
  our state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.
• $432 million for infrastructure development for airports over five years.

"The need for action in Colorado is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Colorado," the White House said in its fact sheet.

"For decades, infrastructure in Colorado has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Colorado a C- grade on its infrastructure report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make life better for millions of Colorado residents, create a generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win the 21st century."