What's in the bipartisan $1.2T infrastructure bill for NY State

WASHINGTON — The $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package passed by the U.S. House late Friday will bring tens of billions of dollars in federal money over the next five years into New York, including a major investment in the Northeast Corridor transit system.

The 2,702-page legislation combines $550 billion in new funding with the projected annual spending across the country on nuts-and-bolts projects to fix and upgrade transit systems, roads, bridges and airports while expanding broadband and electric-vehicle charging stations.

The biggest injections of federal money over the next five years into New York State will go to improve Amtrak, transit, roads and bridges, and airports.

Rail and public transportation

The Northeast Corridor high-speed rail proposals are expected to get $6.57 billion in grants for capital renewal backlog projects and for other updates, and $3.6 billion in intercity passenger rail grants, according to estimates provided by the White House.

And to cut the amount of time to commute, the infrastructure package will deliver $9.8 billion over five years to improve public transportation, according to White House estimates provided by Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove).

Highways and bridges

For repairs and rebuilding federal highways, with an eye to mitigating climate change, New York is in line for $11.6 billion, based on funding formulas, the White House estimates said. New York in 2019 reported that 46% of the surfaces of highways were rated fair or poor.

The state also is set to receive $1.9 billion for bridge replacement and repair for an estimated 1,700 bridges in poor condition.

Airports

To modernize and upgrade New York’s airports, the White House estimated that the state would get about $685 million over five years.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that Kennedy Airport could get nearly $295 million and LaGuardia Airport $150 million for upgrades and repairs, and that Long Island could benefit from nearly $31 million for its seven airports.

That includes $21.6 million for Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip; $3.7 million for Republic Airport in East Farmingdale; nearly $1.5 million each for Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, East Hampton Airport and Brookhaven Airport; and $550,000 each for Elizabeth Field Airport on Fishers Island and Bayport Aerodrome.

Water projects

New York will be able to tap into at least $90 billion for water infrastructure work, including $14.7 billion from the EPA's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for loans, $14.7 billion from the EPA's Clean Water Revolving Funds for loans and $55.4 billion in supplemental emergency appropriations for capitalization grants, according to Suozzi's office.

Electric vehicle charging stations

New York is expected to get about $175 million over five years — and will have the opportunity to apply for grants from a $2.5 billion fund — to build and expand an EV — electric vehicle — charging network across the state.

High-speed internet

New York will get a minimum allocation of $100 million to provide and expand broadband coverage across the state, and a little more than a quarter of low-income New Yorkers will be eligible for monthly stipends of $30 to pay for internet access.

Protection from cyberattacks and fires

The state also is expected to be eligible for $28 million in the next five years to protect against cyberattacks, a growing problem nationally.

New York also will be in line for $34 million over five years to protect against wildfires — last year the state had 192 wildfires that burned 12,875 acres, according to the Insurance Information Institute.