During his testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Shailen Bhatt, the administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), highlighted the substantial benefits of the federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Bhatt emphasized that the funding allocated through the IIJA goes beyond its numerical value, as it translates into tangible projects that enhance safety and significantly impact people's lives. Over $120 billion in highway formula funding has been distributed by the FHWA to states, facilitating improvements in bridges, electric vehicles, and infrastructure resilience.

 

One vital aspect of the funding is its support for programs like the Highway Safety Improvement Program which aims to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries for all road users, encompassing public roads, non-state-owned roads, and tribal lands. Bhatt stated, "That Highway Safety Improvement Program funding supported more than 5,300 projects, improving 4,515 intersections and 69,075 miles of roadway." These efforts contribute to the U.S. Department of Transportation's objective of achieving zero roadway deaths and serious injuries.

The administrator acknowledged that the success of the IIJA relies on streamlined delivery of funding and other forms of federal support. To meet these challenges, the FHWA has established a dedicated team to oversee grant management, implemented process reforms, and focused on increasing efficiency and transparency.

Bhatt emphasized several key actions undertaken by the FHWA to provide federal-level support, including technical assistance programs for local, rural, and tribal road agencies, efforts to enhance infrastructure resilience, promotion of innovation through research and technology, and a commitment to equity considerations in transportation planning and development. The IIJA funding and the FHWA's comprehensive approach aim to create a modern transportation system that prioritizes safety, sustainability, innovation, and equitable access for all communities.

https://aashtojournal.transportation.org/fhwas-bhatt-iija-funds-improve-safety-peoples-lives/