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.
FHWA's March 12, 2026 notice says FY 2026 Highway Infrastructure Program funds include "$30,000,000 set aside for capital construction grants under the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program."
FHWA's Jan. 28, 2026 fact sheet says the IIJA establishes the RCP program and reserves $50 million for planning grants and $150 million in average annual construction grants for FY22-26.
FHWA states that the IIJA establishes the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program to restore community connectivity by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating transportation facilities. The fact sheet lists FY2022-FY2026 funding, including planning grants and capital construction grants, and says eligible activities include planning studies, public engagement, removal, retrofit, mitigation, and replacement projects.
FHWA Notice N4510.913 identifies a $30,000,000 set-aside for capital construction grants under the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program as authorized under section 11509(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Section 11509 requires the Secretary to establish a pilot program for funding to study feasibility, conduct planning activities necessary to design projects, and conduct construction activities to remove, retrofit, or mitigate eligible facilities. The law separately authorizes FY2022-FY2026 planning-grant and capital-construction-grant funding.
DOT's grant-agreement exhibits are for Fiscal Years 2024-2026 Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program FHWA projects and describe recipients entering agreements for FY2024, FY2025, and/or FY2026 RCP grants with federal financial assistance from DOT through FHWA.
The Senate roll call for H.R. 3684, later enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, shows the bill passed 69-30 and lists Padilla (D-CA) voting Yea.
Padilla's Senate office said he joined senators introducing 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.
Assessments
The promised federal program was created in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed November 15, 2021, during Padilla's Senate term. Section 11509 established the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program with dedicated FY2022-FY2026 funding for planning grants and capital construction grants covering feasibility, design-related planning, removal, retrofit, mitigation, and replacement of transportation barriers. Padilla also joined the earlier Reconnecting Communities Act push and voted for the enacted IIJA, giving him direct same-term candidate credit.
Alex Padilla materially advanced the Reconnecting Communities Act in 2021, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act then established the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program with dedicated planning and capital construction funding. FHWA and USDOT records show the program remained active and funded through FY 2026, matching the claim’s core outcome.
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.