Keystone Today

Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA) met with White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landreiu to celebrate various federal investments made possible through the Biden Infrastructure Law.

According to a release on August 24, Wolf and Landrieu were joined by Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-Reading), PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian, Coatesville City Council President Linda Lavender-Norris and stakeholder group For Our Future.

“There is no question that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a game-changer for Pennsylvania’s transportation,” said Gramian. “An investment in a safe and reliable transportation network is an investment in ourselves and in each other, and we’re grateful for what these new federal funds will bring to our commonwealth.”

Wolf said that infrastructure affects everything from where people work and live, to how they visit family and friends, and even what people eat and what they drink.

“An investment in infrastructure is an investment in our communities and the people who live there,” Wolf said. “The Biden Administration has made historic investments in infrastructure, including here in Pennsylvania, and we will continue to capitalize on this historic opportunity by working with local communities to identify needs and build solutions that work for our people.”

According to data from historic formula funding, Pennsylvania should be receiving several types of infrastructure improvements through federal funding.

One is the repair and rebuilding of roads and bridges with a focus on mitigating climate change, as well as resilience, equity and safety for all users. This includes cyclists and pedestrians. It is expected that Pennsylvania will receive $11.3 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $1.6 billion for bridge repairs and replacements. 

Another is to improve public transportation options through $2.8 billion over five years. Pennsylvania also expects to receive $171 million over five years to expand EV charging networks statewide.

Pennsylvania is also expected to receive a minimum of $100 million for broadband coverage. This includes providing access to at least 394,000 people who lack coverage. 

Other aspects include delivering clean dining water to Pennsylvanians through $1.4 billion over five years; improving the commonwealth’s airports through $355 million over five years for infrastructure improvements; and preparing for climate change, cyber-attacks and extreme weather through funding of $49 million over five years to protect against wildfires, $26 million for cyber-attacks and $3.5 billion in weatherization to reduce energy costs.