“We are proud to support so many outstanding infrastructure projects in communities large and small, modernizing America’s transportation systems to make them safer, more affordable, more accessible, and more sustainable,” Buttigieg said. “Using funds from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this year we are supporting more projects than ever before.”
Projects were evaluated on several criteria, including safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, economic competitiveness and opportunity, partnership and collaboration, innovation, state of good repair, and mobility and community connectivity. Within these areas, the department considered how projects will improve accessibility for all travelers, bolster supply chain efficiency, and support racial equity and economic growth — especially in historically disadvantaged communities and areas of persistent poverty.
In Iowa, the following projects will benefit from RAISE awards:
Developing Connection: Isett Avenue and Cypress Street Reconstruction Planning
The City of Muscatine will receive $2 million for a planning project that includes pre-construction planning for the Isett Avenue/Cypress Street Corridor in Muscatine. Potential improvements to the corridor could include four-to-three-lane conversion, three new roundabouts, bridge repair and raising, addition of sidewalks, extension of a multi-use trail, improved stormwater management, sanitary sewer and water main replacement, and landscaping. The project would increase safety by creating wider lanes and reconstructing sidewalks to bring them into ADA compliance. The area is prone to flooding that damages the roadway and bridge infrastructure, so stormwater management through bioretention and permeable pavers will build a more resilient and sustainable infrastructure for residents.La Porte Road Revitalization
The City of Waterloo will receive $20.5 million to make Complete Streets improvements on approximately 2.7 miles of La Porte Road. It adds sidewalks, bicycle trails, lighting, transit benches and platforms, and a bus shelter to the corridor. It will also eliminate certain travel lanes, create a separated bicycle and pedestrian path, and add turn lanes in select locations throughout the corridor. The Complete Streets project will improve safety for people who walk, bike, and drive along the major commercial corridor. The project will complete a network of local bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and promote transit access to Waterloo’s downtown shopping and hotel district, John Deere facilities, the MercyOne Medical Center, Allen Hospital, the Lost Island water park, and more.Rebuilding Bridges to Employment and Equity Planning Project
The City of Dubuque will receive $2.2 million for a planning project that will design and engineer a vehicular/pedestrian overpass at the 14th Street railroad grade, with Complete Street enhancements for an approximately 3,044-foot section of the 16th Street corridor and an approximately 2,880-foot section of the Elm Street corridor, that will include a new pedestrian/bike shared-use path. The project will significantly benefit the underserved community by creating affordable, safe, accessible non-motorized transportation options to local employment centers while also promoting the redevelopment of brownfield sites and the revitalization of local neighborhoods. The grade separation and other pedestrian improvements will increase safety significantly. The project will also utilize local hiring practices, will engage DBEs, and will encourage the use of apprenticeships.Additional Background
- 2022 RAISE grants are for planning and capital investments that support roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports, or intermodal transportation.
- 50 percent of funding is designated for projects in rural areas, and 50 percent of funding is designated for projects in urban areas.
- Nearly two-thirds of projects are located in areas of persistent poverty or historically disadvantaged communities.
- The largest grant award is $25 million. Per statute, no more than $341.25 million could be awarded to a single state in this round of funding.
- Among this year’s selected projects, 11 included a local hire provision.
- Several projects include workforce development aspects including four projects that have project labor agreements, eight projects that have registered apprenticeship programs, and an additional eight projects with other workforce development provisions.
