During President Biden’s first 100 days in office, his Administration has advanced key infrastructure priorities, sparked constructive debate about the definition of infrastructure, and begun shifting the federal government’s posture toward climate change.
Through the American Rescue Plan, the White House delivered operating funding to transit agencies and provided renters and homeowners with $45 billion to prevent homelessness and help with expenses. Federal agencies like the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Transportation began seizing “low-hanging fruit” by reversing Trump Administration decisions that stifled affordable housing growth and transportation projects.
Last November, we compiled a list of projects and regulatory actions for the Biden Administration to prioritize to jump start our post-pandemic recovery. Here’s where those projects and actions stand today after 100 days:
Completed
Rejoined the Paris Climate Accord
Provided operating funding for transit agencies
Fast-tracked progress on New York City’s congestion pricing program for the MTA
Set date to issue the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Gateway Program Environmental Impact Statement, enabling planning and preliminary construction to begin
Opened new lease areas for future offshore wind projects, including nearly 800,000 acres along the coastline of New York and New Jersey
Pending
Provide funding to support the capital plans of the New York City Housing Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), New Jersey Transit, the Amtrak Northeast Corridor Capital Investment Plan, and the Gateway Program
Restart the Army Corps of Engineers’ New York and New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries focus areas feasibility study (HATS), which would weigh the costs and benefits of different regional resilience approaches
Complete review for current offshore wind projects
At the time of this post, Congress is negotiating the terms of Biden’s proposed infrastructure package - the American Jobs Plan.The Legislative Branch also seems poised to limit Biden’s ambitions in certain areas, and expand on his proposals in others.
The Administration has proposed providing $40 billion for public housing nationwide. Democrats with differing proposals have called for anywhere from $80-$100 billion for public housing. Biden wants to spend hundreds of billions on caregiving infrastructure. Republicans have balked at the very idea. Progress will depend on what Congress can agree upon.
