More than 62,000 transportation infrastructure projects are under construction across the country thanks to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s multi-year investment strategy
New reports demonstrate the scope of infrastructure investment need; magnitude of harm if BIL funding levels are abandoned
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Democrats, led by Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, wrote to Senate Leadership and Appropriators warning of the harmful consequences to the nation’s transportation system and local economies if the Republican-controlled Congress fails to maintain the multi-year investments levels set in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The law’s $36.8 billion-a-year advance appropriations for key transportation programs has helped spur more than 62,000 projects across every state to upgrade bridges, local roads, ports, railroads, airports and public transportation.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) made critical, historic infrastructure investments through advance appropriations funding to reduce the cost of shipping goods, support economic development, and improve safety,” wrote the Senators. “With the advance appropriations from the BIL expiring at the end of FY 2026, we must ensure that these programs continue to receive robust funding, at least at BIL levels, or risk cutting transportation investments to the lowest level in a decade when accounting for inflation.”
The BIL provided, for the first time, predictable multi-year funding that states, tribes, and localities need to support successful transportation infrastructure projects. Without knowing that funding will be available, many states and localities can’t plan properly and often forgo starting projects. In their letter, Democrats underscored the significant need for investment and the magnitude of cuts to several programs that will result if the BIL’s advance appropriations are left to expire:
- The Port Infrastructure Development Program would see an 81 percent reduction in funding, despite significant demand for the program. In the last round of grant awards, 127 eligible projects seeking $2.3 billion were left unfunded.
- The MEGA grant program would have no funding, despite 80 percent of eligible applicants’ projects left unfunded in the last round of grant awards. For the combined FY25-26 Notice of Funding Opportunity, 82 eligible projects, requesting $21.2 billion were left unfunded.
- The Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program would have no funding, despite having supported nearly 2,000 communities’ planning and demonstration projects to identify improvements to save lives on their roads. In the last round of grant awards, 593 eligible projects requesting $3.3 billion – more than three times the amount of funding available – were left unfunded.
- The Bridge Formula Program would have no funding, despite the over 41,000 bridges listed in poor condition on DOT’s national inventory. States will see an immediate $5.5 billion reduction in their ability to replace, rehabilitate, and construct highway bridges.
- The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) Program would see an 88 percent reduction, limiting its ability to support Amtrak, short line freight railroads, and other rail projects across the country. During the last round of CRISI grant awards, 149 eligible rail projects, totaling $4.9 billion in need, were left unfunded.
- The Capital Investment Grants program would see a 48 percent reduction in funding, despite 23 projects across the nation in the CIG program that could be ready for funding in FY27, which would significantly reduce federal support for major capital projects to improve and expand transit service.
- The Appalachian Development Highway System would see a 93 percent reduction in funding, despite the $15.2 billion needed to complete this vital backbone of rural connectivity.
Along with their letter, Sen. Cantwell released a series of reports further illustrating the Democratic senators’ argument. The reports specifically analyze three key areas within our transportation ecosystem – freight, downtown district economic development and rail.
The letter to Senate Appropriations leaders is HERE and below.
May 12, 2026
Dear Leader Thune, Leader Schumer, Chair Collins, Vice-Chair Murray, Chair Hyde-Smith, and Ranking Member Gillibrand:
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) made critical, historic infrastructure investments through advance appropriations funding to reduce the cost of shipping goods, support economic development, and improve safety. As you consider the Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Bill, we urge you to support investments in our country’s entire transportation system. BIL provided $36.8 billion a year in advance funding for transportation programs over five years. The BIL has funded over 60,000 projects in every state to upgrade bridges, local roads, ports, railroads, public transportation, and airports. With the advance appropriations from the BIL expiring at the end of FY 2026, we must ensure that these programs continue to receive robust funding, at least at BIL levels, or risk cutting transportation investments to the lowest level in a decade when accounting for inflation.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, if Congress reverts to pre-BIL funding levels for infrastructure, it would cost the average American family more than $700 per year. This is the result of worsening congestion, increased vehicle repairs, lost economic productivity, and other negative impacts caused by underinvestment. Reverting to pre-BIL funding levels also jeopardizes approximately 237,000 American jobs by 2033. Even if Congress continues current levels of funding, the United States will still face a $1.2 trillion surface transportation infrastructure investment gap over a decade (2024-2033). Large transportation projects require long-term funding certainty. Drastic fluctuations in federal funding make it difficult for states, localities, and businesses to plan, leading to delays and increasing project costs.
Programs not funded through the Highway Trust Fund are most at risk of devastating cuts in FY 2027. For example, assuming the following sample of programs receive the same amount of funding in the FY 2027 appropriations bill as they did in FY 2026, then:
- The Port Infrastructure Development Program would see an 81 percent reduction in funding, despite significant demand for the program. In the last round of grant awards, 127 eligible projects seeking $2.3 billion were left unfunded.
- The MEGA grant program would have no funding, despite 80 percent of eligible applicants’ projects left unfunded in the last round of grant awards. For the combined FY25-26 Notice of Funding Opportunity, 82 eligible projects, requesting $21.2 billion were left unfunded.
- The Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program would have no funding, despite having supported nearly 2,000 communities’ planning and demonstration projects to identify improvements to save lives on their roads. In the last round of grant awards, 593 eligible projects requesting $3.3 billion – more than three times the amount of funding available – were left unfunded.
- The Bridge Formula Program would have no funding, despite the over 41,000 bridges listed in poor condition on DOT’s national inventory. States will see an immediate $5.5 billion reduction in their ability to replace, rehabilitate, and construct highway bridges.
- The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) Program would see an 88 percent reduction, limiting its ability to support Amtrak, short line freight railroads, and other rail projects across the country. During the last round of CRISI grant awards, 149 eligible rail projects, totaling $4.9 billion in need, were left unfunded.
- The Capital Investment Grants program would see a 48 percent reduction in funding, despite 23 projects across the nation in the CIG program that could be ready for funding in FY27, which would significantly reduce federal support for major capital projects to improve and expand transit service.
- The Appalachian Development Highway System would see a 93 percent reduction in funding, despite the $15.2 billion needed to complete this vital backbone of rural connectivity.
Clearly, the demand and need for these programs remains high. As you consider Fiscal Year 2027 funding, we urge you to ensure robust funding is available for the whole transportation system. Reducing funding available for transportation programs by treating BIL as a one-time infusion will increase costs, cost us American jobs, and set our country back. We urge you to ensure that transportation infrastructure investments remain at least at BIL levels in the FY 2027 Appropriations bill.
Sincerely,
###