Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) and a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve $21,901,000 in direct funding for Iowa infrastructure improvements included in the House’s surface transportation authorization legislation.
The projects receiving direct funding through Rep. Axne’s advocacy include a bridge replacement in Red Oak, a Traffic Incident Management Center at Camp Dodge, and bus facility improvements for transit agencies which cover all sixteen counties of Iowa’s Third District.
All six projects secured by Rep. Axne are included the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act, legislation that authorizes spending highway and transit projects that advanced out of the House earlier today.
“Repairing our bridges and roads, improving commuter routes, and upgrading our mass transit systems are all critical to ensuring Iowa has the infrastructure it needs to grow and thrive for decades to come,” said Rep. Axne. “This year, I had the chance to bring Iowa’s tax dollars directly back to our communities to fund the projects we need – and I’m proud to help see funding for projects that will impact all 16 counties of Iowa’s Third District approved by the House today. ”
Rep. Axne successfully pushed to include six projects for Iowa’s Third Congressional District in the INVEST in America Act:
- $7,000,000 for upgrades to the Southeast Connector connecting SE 30th Street to US Route 65 near Des Moines and Pleasant Hill
- $5,000,000 for bus and bus facility upgrades at the Southwest Transit Agency, Western Iowa Transit, Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency, Southwest Iowa Trolley, and the Des Moines Regional Transit Authority
- $4,880,000 for Phase 1 of construction on a Traffic Incident Management Center at Camp Dodge in Johnston
- $2,321,000 for construction of a new Regional Transit Facility for the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency in Waukee
- $2,000,000 for improvements to the Mills Civic Parkway at S. 91st Street and S. Grand Parkway in West Des Moines
- $700,000 for the replacement of the Red Oak Creek Bridge in Red Oak
Axne’s measure would protect local workers from having their wages undercut by “fund swapping,” a practice where city and county governments move federal dollars out of a roadway project in exchange for state funds.
While the Senate and House will continue to deliberate on securing investments in infrastructure beyond the investments made in this bill, the current authorization for surface transportation funding expires later this year – making this bill the likely foundation for any final agreements on infrastructure.
“While there is a long way to go before this funding is officially signed into law, I believe this week represents a big step forward by seeing these projects written directly into the legislation that will form the basis of Congress’ infrastructure agreement this year,” said Axne. “There are still plenty of details to work out – and other portions of an infrastructure deal like biofuels and child care to settle – but this funding shows that our agenda for infrastructure will directly and undeniably help Iowa and improve the lives of Iowans across our state.”
The INVEST in America Act provides $715 billion to repair our nation’s roads, bridges, transit facilities, rail, and water infrastructure. The legislation, a five-year reauthorization of surface transportation programs and investment in water infrastructure, would provide over $3.5 billion directly to Iowa for transportation projects.
The package of legislation passed today also includes $32 billion to repair deficient bridges, including a new $1 billion grant program called Rebuild Rural Bridges. Iowa currently has the highest number of structurally deficient bridges in the country with nearly 4,500 bridges rated “poor” by the Iowa Department of Transportation. The bill also provides $37 billion in the Surface Transportation Program, a federal program for state and local transportation projects, including new allocations based on population to ensure smaller communities receive the funding they need.
Earlier this year, Rep. Axne requested funding for transportation projects from throughout the Third District and formally submitted requests for these six and other projects to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I). The requested projects are posted publicly on her website.
All of Rep. Axne’s requested projects were listed on the Iowa Department of Transportation’s state, tribal, or territorial transportation improvement program (STIP) list – a designation highly recommended by the T&I Committee to ensure the projects were supported at the local level – and were submitted to the committee with letters of support by local and state sponsors.
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