Putting Policy into Practice – Implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is ‘the chance of a lifetime for all of us,’ a Biden administration official told a May 16 panel at ARTBA’s Federal Issues Program.

‘Look for every potential pot of money you can use to advance your priorities,’ whether formula funds or discretionary programs, said Katie Thomson, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (U.S.DOT) director for the IIJA’s implementation. ‘Leave no stone unturned.’

South Carolina DOT Deputy Director of Engineering Leland Colvin and District of Columbia Department of Transportation Deputy Chief Officer Amanda Stout said their agencies are already leveraging the funds.

‘The IIJA hasn’t changed our priorities, it has helped us move them up,’ Colvin said. ‘We are letting our priorities drive the work, not funding drive the priorities.’

Stout said the District DOT is busy hiring planners and engineers.

Thomson said U.S.DOT is confident in the ability of state agencies to handle work spurred by the IIJA, but is concerned whether smaller local agencies, which are also eligible for some of the funds, are ready.

‘We hope the states will be good partners with them,’ she said.

In addition to tracking how IIJA money is being spent, U.S. DOT is also focused on measuring the impact of the investment, Thompson said. Colvin said South Carolina also is pursuing ‘easy to understand metrics’ to show taxpayers are getting their money’s worth from increased state investment approved in 2017. The best report? ‘People have to see construction and drive the roads,’ he said.

ARTBA President and CEO Dave Bauer moderated the panel. He noted inflation is a concern for everyone involved in transportation design and construction.

Colvin said bids are running about 20 percent over engineers’ estimate on many projects because of inflation. He said South Carolina is exploring escalation and claw back clauses in its construction contracts. ‘We want to keep our industry partners whole,’ he said.

That panel agreed it’s also important to keep an eye on workforce development and supply chain challenges.

— Mark Holan

(Photo: Left to right: Bauer, Thomson, Colvin, and Stout.)