Davids Celebrates Three-Year Anniversary of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

On the three-year anniversary of the bipartisan infrastructure law being signed into law, Representative Sharice Davids highlighted key ways the legislation is already improving Kansas roads, water quality, broadband access, and more. In total, approximately $3.3 billion has been announced and is headed to Kansas with more than 376 specific projects identified for support. Davids, a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, met with the President and senior White House officials multiple times to help get this legislation across the finish line.

"I was proud to help craft and vote for the bipartisan infrastructure law. Now, three years after it was signed, we’re already seeing its positive impact in Kansas," said Davids. "This law is creating good-paying jobs, strengthening our roads and bridges, expanding access to high-speed internet, and making our communities safer and more resilient. I look forward to the continued benefits that will be felt for generations to come."

By reaching communities across Kansas – including rural communities and other historically overlooked populations – the law makes critical investments that will improve lives for Kansans and position the state for success. These investments include:

• Roads and Bridges: In Kansas, there are 1,294 bridges and more than 1,967 miles of highway in poor condition. Kansas is expected to receive approximately $2.8 billion over five years for highways and bridges.
  • Highlighted Project: The bipartisan infrastructure law is helping to expand US 69, which has been a priority in Johnson County for decades. The updated interchange will help support expected growth in southern Johnson County and create a clear path for emergency vehicles to reach AdventHealth South Overland Park Hospital.
  • Announced investment to date: Kansas has been allocated $1.5 billion in highway investments and $135 million in bridge investments.
• Water: It’s estimated there are 160,000 lead water lines in Kansas – the third highest per capita nationwide. There are also 3,975 miles of wastewater pipe in the Third District and nearly $1 billion in wastewater treatment facility repairs are needed over the next 25 years to prevent overflows and failures.
  • Highlighted Project: The bipartisan infrastructure law is helping to replace lead pipes across the Kansas Third, including in Olathe, where the city’s Pipe Replacement Education Program is working to identify and replace service lines with toxic materials.
  • Announced investment to date: Approximately $257 million is available to provide clean and safe water across Kansas. Of this investment, $58 million is dedicated to lead pipe and service line replacement, with another $73 million for safe drinking water investments that can also support lead pipe replacement.
• Internet: High-speed internet is necessary for Kansans to work, go to school, access health care, and stay connected. Yet, more than 87,489 homes and small businesses in Kansas do not have access to high-speed internet infrastructure, with nearly 23 percent of Kansans not having an internet subscription. 
  • Highlighted Project: The bipartisan infrastructure law is helping to expand middle mile high-speed internet across the state, including in all five counties in Kansas’ Third Congressional District. Specifically, the project will support smaller internet service providers in rural and unserved areas.
  • Announced investment to date: Kansas has received $579 million to improve access to high-speed internet and $42.5 million to expand middle-mile infrastructure across the state. Also, before the program’s expiration, about 134,000 households in Kansas were enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program, which cut internet bills by up to $30 per month.
• Airports and Ports: According to national rankings, no Kansas airport ranks in the top 25 airports worldwide. Our ports and waterways are in need of repair and reimagination too.
  • Highlighted Project: The bipartisan infrastructure law is helping to make improvements at the Johnson County Executive Airport, where structural and safety improvements to two taxiways were recently completed. Airport improvements across Kansas’ Third District, along with port infrastructure updates, will help boost domestic supply chains and lower costs for Kansans.
  • Announced investment to date: Kansas has received more than $87 million for airports and $24 million for ports.
• Public Transit: Kansas is expected to receive $259 million over five years under the bipartisan infrastructure law to improve public transportation options across the state.
  • Highlighted Project: The bipartisan infrastructure law is helping to make structural improvements at KCATA’s bus storage and electric vehicle charging facility and strengthen access to housing, health care, employment, and education for citizens in the Kansas City metro area.
  • Announced investment to date: Kansas has been allocated more than $125 million to improve public transportation options across the state.
• Clean Energy and Resilience: In the last decade, Kansas has experienced 39 extreme weather events, costing the state up to $20 billion in damages. The bipartisan infrastructure law makes a historic investment to bolster our resilience against pressing challenges like impacts of climate change, extreme weather events, and other hazards like cyberattacks.
  • Highlighted Project: The bipartisan infrastructure law is helping to support the Kansas City Levees Project and reduce flood risks in the Argentine neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas.
  • Announced investment to date: Approximately $89 million has been allocated to Kansas for infrastructure resilience. Also, approximately $32 million has been allocated to Kansas for weatherization and $117 million to help prevent outages and make the power grid more resilient.
• Electric Vehicle Charging: Through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program alone, Kansas should expect to receive roughly $40 million over five years to support the expansion of electric vehicle charging in the state.
  • Highlighted Project: The bipartisan infrastructure law is helping to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along key roads and highways. These investments will create good-paying jobs, help protect Kansas' environment, and support American car manufacturers' rapidly growing EV production.
  • Announced investment to date: Kansas has been allocated more than $23 million to build out a network of EV chargers across the state.

The bipartisan infrastructure law, which is paid for through a combination of new revenues and savings, has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Visit here for more information on how the bipartisan infrastructure law is improving Kansas’ roads, bridges, water, and safety.