It’s been more than 100 days since Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and his administration is eager to show taxpayers what they’ve gotten so far for all those billions in public money. Distributing more than half-a-trillion dollars is no small task, so in January the White House released a guidebook to the law and a webinar series for “state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and other partners” who want a share of the bounty. Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, whom Biden has tapped as his “infrastructure czar,” has asked each state to name an infrastructure coordinator, and according to CNN at least half have already complied.
Where specific 2022 funding initiatives are concerned, in addition to cash for airports, bridges, and highways, some $615 million for electric vehicle charging stations will be available this year, and at least $241 billion for port improvements. How inflation and the high cost of labor and materials will affect efforts remains to be seen.