The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will soon become law, clearing the way for billions of dollars to provide much-needed relief for the nation's ports, which have been inundated under a pandemic-wrought buying spree and supply chain clog.
Funds from the bipartisan bill will be used to set up "pop-up container yards" to alleviate congestion at the Savannah Port, which has seen months of record-breaking volume come through its terminals.
The $8 million project will allow the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) to convert five properties in Georgia and North Carolina into temporary storage yards. "The effort will free up more dock space and speed goods flow in and out of the Port of Savannah, which leads the nation in containerized agricultural exports," a White House press release stated.
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The U.S Dept. of Transportation will allow GPA to reallocate funds in its budget to address supply chain issues.
The changes represent the first phases in a $17 billion package to address the infrastructure needs at America's ports.
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The U.S. Senate passed the bill in August, and after months of contentious negotiations, the House followed suit on Nov. 5.
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law by early next week.
The bill represents the largest investment in transportation infrastructure in U.S. history, and includes funding to repair the country's aging roads and bridges, eliminate rail repair backlogs, expand utility networks and electric car charging stations, and upgrade water systems.
The bill, considered as funding hard infrastructure, is one part of Biden's ambitious two-part investment agenda.
The second initiative, the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better program, would fund infrastructure programs aimed at addressing inequalities in the country by reducing childcare costs, increasing solar energy production and expanding public housing efforts.
If passed, the BBB would be funded by a 15% minimum tax on corporate profits reported to shareholders and a 1% surcharge on corporate stock buybacks. The BBB program seeks to establish a global minimum tax rate, whereby earners of incomes greater than $10 million would be taxed an additional 5%; those making $25 million or more, an additional 3%. The BBB Program has yet to be passed by the House or Senate.
Here's a look at what will receive funding through the infrastructure bill, based off federal funding formulas:
Ports, airports and waterways
The Biden-Harris Action Plan for America’s Ports and Waterways is funding the initial "pop-up yards," but will also take short-term and long-term steps to expand capacity at America's ports.
A copy of the plan, provided by the White House, does not include considerations for land use, environmental impact or how the growing port on Savannah's riverfront wimpact quality of life for nearby residents.
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The plan allocates $17 billion to make the entry points and transportation networks around the ports more efficient and modern, according to the press release. The plan includes:
- Spend $240 million to modernize ports and marine highways through a federal grant program, funded by USDOT
- In the next 60 days, the Army Corps of Engineers will find opportunities to repair and innovate harbor and waterway infrastructure along the ports. This could include more deepening projects. This program will lead to $4 billion in repair funds.
- Spend $3.4 billion to identify facilities and ports of entry that can be modernized (concentrated along the country's southern and northern borders)
- The White House calls on state's to create "freight movement playbooks" which can help prioritize which highways see the most freight volume and need infrastructure improvements or repairs. This program would work in tandem with the $110 billion set aside for road improvements.
The plan also calls for state port authorities to modernize internal processes and adopt international best practices.
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The nation's airports are slated to receive $25 billion for improvements and repairs. According to the White House, Georgia will receive an estimated $619 million over the next five years for airport improvements.
Bridges and roads
The infrastructure bill reserves $110 billion for road and bridge improvements. The plans call for a focus on how to build out infrastructure for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists with climate change, equity and safety in mind.
The White House identified 374 bridges and 2,260 miles of road in Georgia that are in poor condition, which has, in part, led to an 11% increase in Georgians' daily commute.
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Using federal funding formulas, Georgia would receive:
- $8.9 billion for highway improvement programs
- $225 million for bridge repairs and replacements
There is also tens of billions of dollars in grant monies that the state can apply for to help repair and replace significant highway and bridge projects.
Transportation
According to the White House, Georgians who use public transportation have a commute that is 74% longer than a vehicle driver.
The infrastructure bill aims to modernize transportation, including public transport and increase support for electric car owners. Here's how:
Credit: undefined
Credit: undefined
- $66 billion is reserved to improve, expand and update Amtrak lines, with a focus on the Northeast Corridor.
- The bill reserves $39 billion for public transit needs. Based on funding formulas, Georgia would receive $1.4 billion to enhance public transit options over the next five years.
- There is $7.5 billion reserved for increasing the national network of charging stations for electric vehicles, as well as $7.5 billion to increase the use of electric buses. Georgia is estimated to received about $135 million over five years to achieve this, as well as apply for an additional $2.5 billion in federal grants.
Utilities
Georgia has some of the most unsafe drinking water in the country, according to a 2017 study by the National Resources Defense Council. And with sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion threatening the coastline, Savannah's drinking water is in more peril.
The bill calls for more than $200 billion to improve utility services, from water treatment to internet access, in communities across the country, including $65 billion allocated to repair the nation's electric grid and expand renewable energy.
Credit: Hannah Solar
Credit: Hannah Solar
Here's how the bill could fund improvements to water, electric and broadband services in Georgia:
- The state could see nearly $1 billion over the next five years to ensure Georgians have access to clean drinking water. This will aim to replace all lead pipes still used in public water systems.
- At least 649,000 Georgians do not have internet access, which is a necessity for students, workers and those with medical needs. The bill would provide a minimum of $100 million to give that demographic broadband access. There is also a program to help monthly internet costs more affordable for low-income Georgians, who represent about a third of the state's population.
Resiliency
Credit: GERALD HERBERT/AP FILE PHOTO
Credit: GERALD HERBERT/AP FILE PHOTO
Resiliency is a community's ability to recover from devastating events, such as natural disasters, cybercrime or sea-level rise.
The severity of sever weather events is expected to increase as climate change makes the atmosphere more volatile. "From 2010 to 2020, Georgia has experienced 46 extreme weather events, costing the state up to $20 billion in damages," the White House reported.
Here's how the bill aims to help communities prepare for those events, based on federal funding formulas:
- $22 million to fight wildfires
- $24 million to protect against cyberattacks and ransomware
- Georgia will get some funding from a national program to spend $2.5 billion on weatherization programs aimed at reducing energy costs for households.
Zoe covers growth and how it impacts communities in the Savannah area. Find her at znicholson@gannett.com, @zoenicholson_ on Twitter, and @zoenicholsonreporter on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Backlogged Savannah Port to see immediate relief funds from bipartisan infrastructure bill
