At Interstate Signways, we care about transportation and the news surrounding it. That’s why we’ve done so many updates on the Infrastructure bill. We want to remind people that there are funds that have been allotted for the updating and upgrading bridges, harbors, roadways, etc. if the city and overall commerce will benefit. We’ve written about small towns getting new bridges and ice-resistant roads so that business doesn’t stop during the winter season. We’ve talked about major cities organizing mass improvements to their interstates and harbors. All of these efforts are being made to provide energy efficient, sustainable, and fruitful progress to our nation for a better supply chain and to decrease energy costs and waste.
All of this is being headed by our U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. The department of transportation has five main policy goals: safety, jobs, equity, climate, and innovation. This means that our transportation system isn’t strictly about efficient road travel but also boosting jobs and commerce, decreasing energy emissions, and lowering the rate of accidents and fatalities on the road. After the pandemic, the nation’s supply chain issues became a priority as well.
Most recently, Buttigieg joined Southern California officials at the Port of Long Beach to break ground on “America’s Green Gateway.” This is one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the country, at 1.5 billion, linking the on-dock rail to the national and regional rail system to move cargo more efficiently, while causing less pollution. This project will not only create jobs but will also lower costs for consumers: a huge win-win for the nation. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation,
“The Port of Long Beach handles $200 billion of trade annually, including American-made manufacturing exports that are being boosted by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The port alsoand supports 2.6 million jobs across U.S. including 575,000 in Southern California making it one of the most significant nodes in America’s supply chains, having just recorded its busiest June on record.”
The infrastructure bill doesn’t just focus on major $200 billion trade ports. On July 20th, Buttigieg was in East LA celebrating a pedestrian crosswalk and on July1st, broke ground on a project in North Carolina for a new rail line between Raleigh and Richmond.
As of November 2023, $492 billion remained in funds for the nation’s infrastructure. (Please click here to find a list of trackers and more info on remaining funds.) Public officials are encouraged to compete for the remaining funds by applying for these grants toward transportation, energy, energy, watersheds and coastlines, broadband, and environmental programs. Anything that can benefit the surrounding community is viable for a grant and we’ll be here, ready to make your signs when your project is underway!
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