New Jersey leveraged $1.2 billion in federal highway and bridge formula funds in FY 2022 to help jumpstart 468 new improvement projects across the state during the first year of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a review of U.S. Treasury Department data shows.
Nationwide, states have committed $53.5 billion in highway and bridge formula funds to support projects that made possible by the IIJA, the largest year-to-year increase in federal highway investment since the late 1950s. Economists at the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) used federal and state data in a new report to quantify highway, bridge and safety improvements underway as a result of the landmark law.
“A key takeaway from the Treasury data is that the bipartisan infrastructure law is working in year-one as intended, with state transportation departments disbursing funds and projects breaking ground,” said American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Chief Economist Alison Premo Black, Ph.D., who prepared the report.
“The economic and quality of life benefits of the infrastructure law will become even more apparent as funding continues in coming years,” added ARTBA Chair Paula Hammond, a WSP USA senior vice president. “The beneficiaries of these long-term investments will be the American traveling public in their communities.”
President Joe Biden signed the IIJA into law Nov. 15, 2021. Nearly 90% of IIJA’s highway funds are dispersed by existing formula to states, with the remainder distributed through discretionary grant awards and other allocated programs.
Nationally, over 29,000 IIJA projects were launched through the end of September. The five largest projects supported by formula funds in New Jersey are:
- RT 18 East Brunswick, East Brunswick, Middlesex County, Drainage & Pavement Rehabilitation Project ($91.8 million)
- RT 9, Indian Head Rd. to Central Ave/Hurley Ave., Toms River & Lakewood Twps., Ocean County, Highway Reconstruction Project ($57.6 million)
- RT 20, City of Paterson & Clifton, Passaic County, Safety, Drainage & Resurfacing Project ($55.9 million)
- RT 29 Cass Street to Calhoun Street Drainage, City of Trenton, Mercer County, Drainage Improvement Project ($37.0 million)
- RT 3 & RT 46 Valley & Notch Rifle Camp Rd., Contract B, Little Falls, Woodlawn, Clifton, Passaic County, Interchange Improvements/Bridge Replacement ($32.3 million)
To access national and state project data, go to artbahighwaydashboard.org.
About the ARTBA
Established in 1902, the Washington, D.C.-based ARTBA advocates for infrastructure investment and policy that meets the nation’s need for safe and efficient travel.
