One year later, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments begin to pay off in Washington state

President Joe Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law one year ago, the single largest investment in public transit, passenger rail, clean water, affordable internet, or electrical grid resiliency in national history. It’s also the single largest investment in the national highway system since the Eisenhower administration. The legislation was signed one year ago, and now $3.7 billion in federal funds are on the way to Washington state to expand and rebuild critical infrastructure.

More than 1 million Washington households may benefit from the legislation’s affordable internet program. A new $161 million fund is already helping Washington communities remove lead pipes and replace service lines. The state network of electric vehicle charging stations got a boost with $70 million will be invested over the next five years to increase their numbers.

Washington state has 416 bridges and 5,469 miles of roadway in poor condition. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide $5.3 billion in guaranteed formula money over the next five years to address aging infrastructure. The state has already received $2.2 billion in formula and discretionary grant awards from the legislation, and is putting that to work.

Major projects supported by the legislation include:

• Repairs to the Grays Harbor north jetty, a critical navigation channel
• Terminal replacement at the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport
• Post-wildfire habitat revitalization and sagebrush conservation in Douglas County
• Replacement of an obsolete ferry with a hybrid-electric model to serve the Lummi Island community
• Repairs to the Salmon Bay Bridge to extend its lifespan by 50 years

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