$1.73 Billion Redirected Away From ‘DEI Bike Lanes’
USDOT redirects $1.73 billion in BUILD grants toward roads, bridges, and ports, cutting funding for bike lane projects.
Key Takeaways
- The USDOT has redirected $1.73 billion in BUILD grants toward roads, bridges, and ports.
- No funding will go toward bike lane projects this round.
- The move reverses priorities established under the Biden administration’s RAISE program.
- Approximately 77% of the funding will support road and bridge projects.
- Another 7% will be directed toward maritime infrastructure.
What Does This Mean for Bike Lane Projects?
The Department of Transportation has announced that no funding from this round of BUILD grants will be used for bicycle lane projects.
This comes at a time when studies suggest that cyclists face perhaps the greatest danger of all road users.
The decision marks a significant shift in priorities, as roughly 20% of comparable funding under the Biden administration supported pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
How Will the Funding Be Allocated?
According to the Department of Transportation, approximately 77% of the funding, about $1.3 billion, will support road and bridge projects along critical transportation corridors.
Another 7% will be directed toward maritime infrastructure, compared with roughly 2% under the previous administration.
What Is the BUILD Program?
The BUILD program has existed since 2009 and provides competitive grants to state and local governments for a wide variety of transportation projects.
While some awards have funded bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, grants have also supported highway improvements, bridges, transit facilities, ports, rail projects, and freight corridors.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Transportation Funding?
The Department of Transportation has not indicated whether future BUILD funding rounds will continue excluding bicycle infrastructure.
However, the latest awards underscore the administration’s stated focus on traditional transportation infrastructure over all else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much funding has been redirected away from bike lane projects?
A: $1.73 billion in BUILD grants has been redirected away from bike lane projects.
Q: What will the funding be used for instead?
A: The funding will be used for road and bridge projects, as well as maritime infrastructure.
Q: What is the BUILD program?
A: The BUILD program provides competitive grants to state and local governments for a wide variety of transportation projects.
