After decades of underfunding, the infrastructure of this country is about to be seriously improved.
We often take for granted that the roads and bridges that connect us to work, play and family are going to be there when we need them. But that takes smart, targeted investments in order to keep America moving. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a bipartisan bill signed into law by President Biden, will do just that.
Here is how that legislation will have a concrete impact on North Carolina:
Roads and bridges are the fundamental pieces of infrastructure that connect our country. North Carolina was an early investor in highways and that played a major role in turning our rural state into an economic powerhouse over the past century. But right now we have nearly 1,500 bridges and more than 3,100 miles of highway in poor condition. Over the past decade, that has contributed to a rise in commute times by more than 10%. That means more time away from our families and less time being productive at work. The new infrastructure bill will bring an estimated $7.2 billion for our highways and almost $460 million for bridge upgrades over five years. Taken together, this is going to save people time and money, all while making our state more productive.
Public transportation is another key investment this bill makes. Not everyone has or needs a car, but they still need to get around. Estimates suggest that North Carolinians who use public transportation spend significantly more time commuting. People of color are far more likely to use public transportation. By dedicating more money to public transportation, North Carolinians will have more and better options to get where they need to go. More than $900 million is estimated to be heading our way to build up our public transportation options and connect people to opportunity.
Our understanding of infrastructure has evolved over time, just like our economy. Today, we need to make investments in digital infrastructure as well. Too many North Carolinians struggle with high-speed internet access — a necessity in the 21st century. Broadband connects us to work, health care, schooling and more. Despite its importance, 14% of North Carolina households do not have an internet subscription and 4% of our state lacks any broadband infrastructure. The bipartisan infrastructure bill will ensure North Carolina receives at least $100 million to improve broadband coverage, helping connect more than 400,000 people. Access is not enough, though, and the bill also allows about one-third of North Carolinians to use the Affordability Connectivity Benefit to help low-income folks afford high-speed internet.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act does all of this and more. We have needed these strong investments in our state for years and now they are finally happening. The impact this legislation will have is going to be felt for decades and should help set North Carolina up for success in a global economy.
Rep. Robert Reives II, a resident of Goldston, represents Chatham County in the N.C. House of Representatives.