Louisiana to receive nearly $6 billion from Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Published 9:00 am Saturday, November 6, 2021

Baton Rouge – Today, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced that the state is slated to receive nearly $6 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) after the United States House of Representatives passed the bipartisan bill, which was passed by the U.S. Senate this past August. The IIJA is the largest dedicated highway and bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system. In addition, Louisiana is well positioned to compete for billions more with the Bridge Investment Program and other major projects that will deliver substantial economic benefits to communities across Louisiana, including broadband, resiliency, ports and rail.

“Over the next five years, this nearly $6 billion federal investment will have a significant impact on major projects allocated to highways, bridges, public transportation, electric vehicle infrastructure, ports, and airports, and it will create a more resilient transportation system that can withstand disruptions from extreme weather,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “Louisiana’s aging infrastructure will receive improvements that will create a better overall quality of life for all users, help build the economy, and provide a more reliable transportation system for citizens and businesses in Louisiana. In addition, it will go a significant way in addressing broadband issues around access, affordability and digital literacy. This will directly impact farmers, teachers, small businesses, healthcare professionals and many others. The historic investment levels of the IIJA provide a unique opportunity to improve and transform our state now and for generations to come.”

“The IIJA is crucial for Louisiana, as it will allow the state to advance several much-needed major road and bridge projects in which funding has not yet been fully identified,” said DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D., President of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. “Our state’s infrastructure system is relying solely on a fuel tax that’s over 30 years old; as a result, we have a backlog of $15 billion in road and bridge repairs that will never be eliminated with the current gas tax. In recent years we’ve relied heavily on federal dollars and innovative funding methods, such as public-private partnerships, to continue investing in our aging transportation system. Not only will this act benefit infrastructure projects, but it will also greatly help our multimodal system such as our waterways, ports and rail programs. With this funding, DOTD will be able to close the gap in funding on major projects and implement more projects to help slow the backlog of growing needs. I applaud Senator Bill Cassidy of our state who was instrumental in gathering bipartisan support for this bill in the Senate, and we are grateful for his hard work. I would also like to thank Congressman Troy Carter for his vote and continued support to improve Louisiana’s infrastructure.”

Statewide, funding from the IIJA will be allocated to:
o $4.8 billion to highways
o $1.01 billion to bridges
o $470 million to public transportation
o $73 million to Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
o $179 million to airports
o And $20 million to a more resilient transportation system that has the capability to recover from disruptions such as extreme weather

This is the largest federal investment in public transit and clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in history, as well as the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the interstate highway system was constructed and the largest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak. Funding is also provided for power infrastructure, additional protection from droughts and floods, reconnecting communities divided by transportation infrastructure, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, electric buses, environmental remediation, and high-speed internet.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.

For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please let us know how we may better serve you: Customer Service Survey.