Austin official testifies before Congress on need for transit infrastructure funds
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One of Austin's top officials testified before Congress this week about the vitality of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as funding from the historic act is set to expire next year.
Congress passed in November 2021 the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocated hundreds of billions of dollars to enhancing and revitalizing transportation systems and infrastructure in communities across the country. Here in Austin, the funding has supplied millions toward improvements at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the Barton Springs Road Bridge project and efforts to add caps on top of the soon-to-be-expanded Interstate 35.
Austin City Council's Mayor Pro-Tem Vanessa Fuentes testified before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Wednesday, representing the National League of Cities.
She commended the flexibility provided to local communities courtesy of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the program allowing local officials to best decide how to apply for and adopt resources to their communities' needs.
"No matter how small or large your community or where you live in our country, infrastructure is essential to building a great community and a great economy," she said.
She noted that rising infrastructure costs — coupled by ripple effects from inflation and increased real estate prices — have made it more difficult for local governments to appropriately budget for and execute massive infrastructure programs. While noting Congress will have its own budget decisions to make, she said not reauthorizing funding would be a "$1 trillion mistake" and directly contribute to economic losses across sectors and put American jobs at risk.
Rep. Jerry Nadler asked Fuentes about the Federal Transit Administration's 80-20 rule — a funding split where the federal government contributes 80% of costs to a transit project and municipal governments provide a 20% local match — and whether that should still be permitted, given critiques of transit projects not receiving the same funding support as highway programs. While Fuentes didn't explicitly condemn it, she did say Congress should continue to invest in all transit options to help diversify systems and aid local communities on their specific needs, with Austin's upcoming light rail system as an example given.
She later added connectivity and infrastructure improvements need to expand beyond airports and highways but additional projects, such as inner-city rail. She acknowledged future investments linking Dallas and Houston via high-speed rail and expressed her hope that funds will be made to support an Austin-San Antonio connection.
The need for transportation funding extends beyond new and bolstered systems, but improved safety, Fuentes said. Austin has received funding from the law's Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, which has helped lead to a 25% reduction in crashes on local roads over the past few years, she said.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will fund infrastructure projects through Sept. 30, 2026.