The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL/P.L. 117-58) provides nearly $1 trillion in funding over five years, including $550 billion in new investments divided between transportation and other core infrastructure sectors like water, broadband, energy and environmental remediation. Because 90 percent or more of federal transportation funds flow directly to state DOT’s, counties do not receive any guaranteed, direct federal funding to operate and maintain the nation’s roads and bridges despite significant responsibilities. Without access to these formula funds, counties and other local governments must compete for the 10 percent or less of funding that remains for competitive programs. In total, counties received just 8 percent of funding under the seven programs in FY 2022, while cities and towns received 31 percent; states 48 percent; and “other” 12 percent.

Related News

bike
Advocacy

Senate funding proposal would create transportation funding cliff for counties

On August 8, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a proposal to extend government funding and many expiring program authorities until December 11, 2026. Notably, this bill would provide a short-term extension of many federal surface transportation programs authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (P.L. 117-58). However, the bill would not extend the advance appropriations for many transportation programs made in Division J of the IIJA. This means that many programs would lose portions of their funding, while many other programs would have their funding lapse altogether. 

capitol
Advocacy

NACo sends letter to Congressional leadership asking them to reauthorize or extend key programs

NACo sends letter to Congressional leadership asking them to prioritize reauthorizing or extending key programs for counties ahead of September deadline

GettyImages-1836591487.jpg
Advocacy

IIJA authorities expire September 30 – NACo urges Congress to uphold full funding levels in highway program extension

With current surface transportation authorities set to expire on September 30, 2026, NACo is urging Congress to maintain full funding levels in any extension – and is calling on county leaders to reach out to their members of Congress now to make the case.