Anzhe Zhang
Thanks to the Biden Administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Arizona is set to receive significant federal funding over the next five years. The nationwide investment plan serves as a major funding underpin to the state’s infrastructure commitments.
Arizona is now seeing those federal funds being put towards addressing some of the state’s most urgent issues, including updating our water infrastructure, increasing broadband access, and addressing road disrepair.
According to a fact sheet provided by the White House, Arizona will receive $619 million over the next five years to improve water infrastructure and access to drinking water for residents. With reports of water supply being cut in some parts of our state raising tensions between communities, and farmers facing the impact of the drought, fixing our water supply issues remains a key issue within the state.
In other sectors, Arizona is set to receive $5 billion over the next five years for highway repairs with an emphasis on climate mitigation.
The IIJA also sets aside $884 million over the next five years towards improving public transportation.
This is an area in need of improvement in Arizona, as it’s estimated that non-White Arizonan households are twice as likely to rely on public transportation as their white counterparts.
The Infrastructure plan will also provide $38 million towards wildfire management and protection. Additionally, Arizonans will benefit from the national $3.5 billion investment plan that aims to provide weatherization to homes, which will reduce energy costs for families across the state.
To continue environmentally conscious investments, Arizona is also expected to see $76 million dedicated towards expanding the state’s electric vehicle charging networks.
