Mid-Missouri areas begin discussions on how federal infrastructure funds will be used as Biden could sign the bill sometime next week
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
On Friday, the House passed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill. If signed by President Biden, Missouri is set to receive around $9 billion, meaning that cities have begun discussions on how this money will be used.
MoDOT director, Patrick McKenna, says there are thousands of projects in the works across the state that these funds are needed for.
McKenna says with Gov. Mike Parson passing the increase of the gas tax, that will enable the state to match all of federal funds that are in this bill.
Jefferson City Mayor, Carrie Tergin, says a lot of the infrastructure topics have been discussed already in the city. "I think we would be very well positioned to move forward as we get more direction on what those could be used for," Tergin said.
Principal Deputy press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said Monday that President Biden is waiting to sign the federal infrastructure bill until Congress is back in session in one week on Nov. 15.
"He wants to make sure the congressional members who worked very, very hard on this, when they come back, then we'll figure out a time to sign it," Jean-Pierre said. "But you're right. It's urgent, but we also want to make sure that the people who spent the last couple of weeks last couple of months just all in delivering on this promise are here for the signing as well."
If signed by the President, McKenna says that will kick into about a 30 day period where Federal Highway Administration will do all the final calculations for allocating those funds and then they will be available in the state.
Tergin said Jefferson City has repairs that need to be made across the area. "We have some that need to be either widened or better access, and as we open up the access it provides an opportunity for commercial growth and development in some areas and it also opens up some residential. As we make those improvements, it makes those areas better accessible and better places to do work/business and to live," Tergin said.
Columbia Mayor Brian Treece says the city has already been in contact with MoDOT about accelerating the Highway 63/I-7 interchange project.
According to the White House, there are 7,576 miles of highway in poor condition in Missouri. Not only can these funds go towards road and bridgework, but it can support things like broadband access. The White House also says that 330,000 Missourians do not have access to broadband access.
According to a map from the United States Department of Commerce and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, counties such as Howard, Montgomery, Osage, Maries, and Cooper all have more than 20% of its population without internet access.
Cole County is not far above that at 18%. Tergin says the city has been working with JC Rep to find solutions between companies that provide broadband services on how improvements can be made.
More details from Mayor Treece can be found on our website.
