Local reaction to Infrastructure Bill passing

(ABC 6 News) – The Infrastructure Bill will have a great impact on our roads and infrastructure locally. But, how much money local projects will get is still up in the air.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation applauds the federal commitment to transportation and Mike Dougherty from MnDOT District 6 says this Infrastructure Bill will have a great effect on our local communities, individuals and how people get around.

"It’s good for communities because there are great needs out here and that will really fill the funding gap that MnDOT has been talking about over the next 20 years," Dougherty said.

Another step going forward will be determining how much money our district will be getting.

"You won’t see bulldozers next week or anything like that but it does provide good opportunities to really look at projects. Are there ones that we can upscope them, improve them? We’ve done that with special funding in the past where we might’ve been just looking at paving but suddenly can we change access to improve safety?," Dougherty said.

Now it’s just a matter of determining where this money can best be spent, what qualifies for this funding and making sure it is spread equitably across the state and our communities.

Iowa is expected to receive $3.4 billion for federal-aid highway programs and $432 million for bridge replacement and repairs.

The state is also expected to receive $305 million to improve public transportation options and $100 million will go to help provide broadband coverage across the state.