States in the New York metropolitan region - New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut - will receive major funding for roads, transit, airports, water systems, broadband, and more through the BIF. Over five years, the states will receive:

The bill includes both traditional federal transportation funding dollars as part of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, as well as a substantial amount of new funds. The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has said the bill means $3.5 billion in additional funding for the agency over the next five year, and about $10 billion total.

Passenger and freight rail funding is intended to address deferred maintenance, enhance existing corridors, and build new lines in high-potential locations. It includes $24 billion as federal-state partnership set-asides for Northeast Corridor modernization and $6 billion in grants for the Northeast Corridor. Those funds, plus an additional $8 billion in funding for the Capital Investment Grant Program, are possible funding sources for the Gateway Program projects.

The bill also represents a first-of-its kind, comprehensive and national federal approach to climate change adaptation. Key investments, many of which advance longtime RPA priorities, include: $11.6 billion to the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control projects; $700 million to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for buyouts and elevations; $492 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to map and forecast inland flooding; and $216 million to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for adaptation and resilience measures for tribal nations, including $130 million for community relocation.

In addition, the Department of Transportation will send states money to get highways out of areas prone to flooding, and the Environmental Protection Agency will support communities in relocating drinking water infrastructure at risk of flooding and extreme weather. These investments will advance climate, environmental, and public health goals nationally and within our region.

Tri-State Region Details

Major infrastructure projects in the New York metropolitan region likely to benefit include:

• Advancing the Gateway Program

  • Building the Hudson River Tunnel

  • Rehabilitating the Dock Bridge in NJ

• Extending the Second Avenue Subway to 125th St.

• Resignaling the New York City subway

• Improving accessibility of NYC Transit and Access-a-Ride

• Electrifying and improving NJ Transit buses

• Repairing the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE)

• Renovating and expanding Penn Station

• Advancing the Penn Access project

Several of these will benefit because they’re part of the MTA or NJ Transit capital plans, or Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Fed-State Partnership. Others, like recently announced renovations at Penn Station, have a less clear path to funding.

A few other projects have received attention as candidates for funding, although these have not begun yet like the projects listed above.

• Capping the Cross-Bronx Expressway

• Building a portion of the Triboro line

• Reconnecting Orange, NJ by decking over Route 280

Nearly half the money coming into the region is programmed for highways. Much of the highway money is flexible, however, and can be used for projects that support public transportation, cycling and walking. $100 billion worth of competitive grants, for example, outlined here by Transportation for America, have new or extensive discretion for US DOT to guide the use of dollars awarded by formulas. Transportation for America also has facts sheets that point out how highway federal funding can be used for public transit (operating and capital), rail projects, complete streets, and electric vehicle infrastructure.

Build Back Better Act

Many of President Biden’s priorities have been cut down or removed entirely from the Build Back Better Act since negotiations began. The bill, however, still contains many investments that would benefit public health, the environment, and housing conditions. Funding for housing - preserved in large part thanks to Majority Leader Schumer and the New York delegation - will be critical as the nation weathers an extreme housing shortage and begins transitioning to modern, energy-efficient electric heating to address health, equity and climate imperatives.