The bill creates a first-ever program to reconnect communities divided by transportation infrastructure. The program is modeled after the Reconnecting Communities Act, cosponsored by Padilla. The program will fund planning, design, demolition, and reconstruction of street grids, parks, or other infrastructure through $1 billion of dedicated funding.
Create a federal program with dedicated funding to reconnect communities divided by transportation infrastructure by funding planning, design, demolition, and reconstruction projects.
Occurrences
Evidence
Padilla joined Senators Carper and others to introduce the Reconnecting Communities Act, which would establish a DOT grant program to help communities identify and remove or retrofit transportation infrastructure that creates obstacles to mobility and opportunity.
Section 11509 establishes the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program and authorizes grants for feasibility studies, planning activities needed to design projects, and construction activities to remove, retrofit, or mitigate eligible transportation barriers.
USDOT says the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act established the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program to reconnect communities harmed by transportation decisions, and that the program funds community-supported planning activities and capital construction projects.
The document is titled for FHWA grant agreements under the fiscal years 2024-2026 Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, indicating the federal program is active and being administered through FY 2026.
USDOT states that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act established the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program and that it provides both Planning Grants and Capital Construction Grants to restore community connectivity.
Assessments
The promised federal Reconnecting Communities program was created in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed November 15, 2021, with dedicated grants for planning, feasibility/design work, and capital construction to remove, retrofit, or mitigate transportation barriers. Padilla materially advanced the policy by helping introduce the Reconnecting Communities Act in April 2021, before enactment. Because the program was enacted and funded while he was serving in the Senate, this counts as delivered in the same term.
The promised federal program was created during Padilla's Senate term through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which established the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program with dedicated grant funding for planning, design-related activities, and construction work to remove, retrofit, or mitigate transportation barriers. Padilla also materially advanced the policy by helping introduce the Reconnecting Communities Act before enactment, so candidate credit is appropriate.