The bipartisan infrastructure law carries a price tag of more than $1 trillion, but it could be worth every penny if the money is spent wisely. Consider the $1.5 billion allocated to Kansas in the first year – with more to come – and what it will mean to the Sunflower state.

Most of the first year’s money – $1.1 billion – is earmarked for roads and bridges. In Kansas, there are 1,321 bridges over 1,995 miles of highway in poor condition. Kansas is expected to receive approximately $2.8 billion over five years in federal funding for highways and bridges.

At least $100 million will go for high-speed internet coverage. The lack of this service has been an issue for years. Now that internet is needed for work and school in many cases, it needs to be readily available and affordable. To date, about 66,200 Kansas households are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Kansas airports have received more than $29 million to date.

The Environmental Protection Agency will provide $33 million for lead pipe and service line replacement and $21 million for safe drinking water investments that can also support lead pipe replacement.

Kansas will receive more funding for public transportation. And, with the increased use of electric vehicles, we’re getting $14.3 million to help create a network of EV charging stations. Old school buses  – as well as public transit vehicles – can be replaced with low-emission or no-emission models.

Environmentalists weren’t happy with some of the provisions in the bill that help the oil and gas industry but let’s face it, oil and gas are important to Kansas. So are alternative fuels. This bill has provided more than $38 million for capping orphaned oil and gas wells and reclaiming abandoned mine lands. 

Climate change and extreme weather resilience go hand in hand with clean energy and protecting the environment. We’re also getting about $61 million for flood mitigation through the Army Corps of Engineers. Remember that winter storm that cost everyone so dearly? Kansas is getting $6.9 million to prevent power outages and make the power grid more resilient. 

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Kansas-BIL-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Even though there are things we wish were different, the bipartisan infrastructure law has much that is good and it is delivering for Kansas.