Brown, U.S. Dept. of Transportation Host Briefing for Ohio Officials on Funding Opportunities from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a briefing with the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs, Charles Small, for Ohio local government officials on the funding opportunities available to Ohio communities as a result of the bipartisan infrastructure law. Local officials had the opportunity to engage with Mr. Small, learn about ways to take advantage of the programs now available to states and communities for transportation infrastructure, and how to secure funding for projects in their communities.

"The bipartisan infrastructure law will bring enormous opportunities for job creation and critical transportation upgrades to Ohio. I want our state to get as many projects off the ground and create as many jobs as possible," said Brown at the briefing. "These opportunities are a long time coming for your communities and I will continue working with USDOT and other federal agencies to help Ohio projects move forward."

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help rebuild Ohio's roads, bridges and rails?while also driving the creation of good-paying union jobs and grow the economy sustainably and equitably. Senator Brown has been instrumental to the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and we look forward to working with him and his office on the deployment of critical infrastructure projects that will benefit millions of Ohio residents for decades to come," said Charles Small, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs, USDOT.

The final bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was signed into law in November and passed with several key provisions Brown secured for Ohio communities. As the Chairman of a key committee on infrastructure legislation, Brown delivered big investments for Ohio. The historic, bipartisan law includes Brown's Bridge Investment Act, which will put Ohioans to work repairing, replacing and upgrading outdated infrastructure throughout the state. It also includes Brown's Build America Buy America Act, which will ensure American labor, iron, and steel are used for these publicly funded bridge, broadband, waterway, and public transit projects.

Today, Brown announced approximately $73.5 million in transit funding for public transit agencies across Ohio. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide a record investment in public transit funding over the next five years. Ohio will receive $1.3 billion of guaranteed transit formula funding over the next 5 years. In fiscal year 2022, the state's urban and rural transit providers will receive $260 million, with the $73.5 million available immediately and the remainder delivered later this year. This critical down payment on Ohio infrastructure will help public transit agencies invest in expanding service for Ohioans, job training, and new low- and no- emission buses.

Brown recently announced that the Ohio Department of Transportation received nearly $100 million in bridge formula funding, and will receive nearly $500 million in bridge formula funding over the next five years. This is just the first of many funding announcements to come.

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