Kansas and Missouri could get $14 billion from the new federal infrastructure bill

Kansas and Missouri could get $14 billion from the new infrastructure bill passed by Congress. Congresswoman Sharice Davids says it could affect our area for a generation.

The plan has money for roads, bridges, even water quality improvements. Davids, the democrat from the Kansas side of the Kansas City metro is the vice chair of the House Transportation Committee. She's worked on the infrastructure project all year.

"I just think we're going to see inter-generational change in our infrastructure," Davids said.

Kansas is set to receive $3.9 billion, mostly for highways. However, there is money in the plan to increase brand ban internet coverage. Internet accessibility is a problem in the rural and poor areas of both states. The bill will add plans for widening the 167th street interchange to the Kansas state plan. The widening is needed to accommodate the rising volume of traffic on highway 69.

"We project more than 30,000 vehicles will be using it by 205. That's a 450% increase," Kansas Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz said.

Missouri gets around $9 billion. Again, much of it for highways, bridges and flood control.

Davids and democrats say much of the bill is paid for by raising taxes on the wealthy, people making more than $400,000 a year. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the CBO, says the huge plan will add $256 billion to the budget deficit over 10 years.

Davids says that doesn't include some unspent money they're using, which isn't reflected in the CBO score. She says this plan isn't perfect, but it is necessary.

The widening of the 167th street interchange was in one version of the federal infrastructure bill, but it didn't make it through. Now, the state and Overland Park will build the $30 million project.