Sneak Preview: New Program Provides States, Tribes Bridge Repair Funding

(The following was excerpted from a recent Federal Grants Compliance Expert article.) States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as selected tribal governments, will receive more than $27 billion in Department of Transportation (DOT) funding over the next five years under the newly created Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, Preservation, Protection and Construction Program (i.e., the Bridge Formula Program (BFP)). The need for such a program became even more critical following the January bridge collapse in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Allocated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Pub. L. 117-53), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the funds represent the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system. For federal fiscal year (FY) 2022, states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will receive about $5.3 billion, while tribal transportation facilities will receive $165 million. The funds will be overseen by DOT’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

According to program statutes, FHWA is distributing funding under a statutory formula based on the relative costs of replacing all highway bridges classified in poor condition in a state (75%) and the relative costs of rehabilitating all highway bridges classified in fair condition in a state (25%). Each state is receiving at least $225 million for FY 2022.

FHWA explained in a recent guidance document that the funds should be directed toward addressing existing bridges. “The construction of a new highway bridge on a new alignment is an eligible project under the BFP, but FHWA encourages states to first focus their BFP funding on projects that improve the condition of in-service highway bridges classified in poor condition and that preserve or improve the condition of in-service highway bridges classified in fair condition,” it said. “FHWA considers the construction of a new highway bridge in a new location, in connection with replacement of an existing highway bridge in poor condition, to be improving the condition of an in-service highway bridge.”

(The full version of this story has now been made available to all for a limited time here.)

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