Davids Celebrates Two-Year Anniversary of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

On the two-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 $3.1 billion has been announced and is headed to Kansas with more than 258 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 multipletimes to help get this legislation across the finish line.

“I voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law to bring Kansas’ infrastructure into the 21st century and to create good-paying jobs across our state,” said Davids. “In the two years since it was enacted, this historic law has made getting to work and school faster and safer, improved access to broadband, made strides against climate change, and cleaned up our drinking water. I am excited to see how these investments benefit future generations of Kansans and will keep working for you in Congress.”

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 1,321 bridges and more than 1,995 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 $194 million is available to provide clean and safe water across Kansas. Of this investment, $61 million is dedicated to lead pipe and service line replacement, with another $44 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, nearly 23 percent of Kansans do not have an internet subscription. Additionally, experts estimate that as many as 412,000 households in Kansas are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which cuts internet bills by up to $30 per month.
  • 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 $451.7 million to improve access to high-speed internet and $42.5 million to expand middle-mile infrastructure across the state. Also, about 125,000 households in Kansas are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program, an increase of 47,000 from one year ago.

• 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 $58 million in 2022 for airports and $23 million in 2022 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 $101 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 $86 million has been allocated to Kansas for infrastructure resilience. Also, approximately $32 million has been allocated to Kansas for weatherization and $110 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 $22 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.