SC would get piece of Congress’ $1T infrastructure plan. Here’s how much
South Carolina could receive billions of dollars to make critical road and bridge repairs as well as expand services, such as public transportation and broadband in the U.S. Senate’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill.
In the legislation, the White House said South Carolina could get nearly $10 billion if the bill were to pass as it is currently written.
The largest chunk of that total would go to public transportation — nearly $5 billion over five years to improve transit options across the state, according to a fact sheet provided by the administration.
The White House said 19% of public transit vehicles in South Carolina are past their useful life, and riders who use public transportation spend an extra 3.8% of their time commuting.
Money for improving highway infrastructure makes up another chunk that South Carolina stands to get.
The legislation calls for $4.6 billion for federal highway programs over five years. More than 7,200 miles of highway across South Carolina are in poor condition, the White House said.
Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, South Carolina also could get $274 million in five years for bridge replacement and repairs to combat the more than 1,700 bridges across the state considered to be in poor condition. The state also could compete for $12.5 billion more under the Bridge Investment Program for “economically significant bridges,” and about $16 billion dedicated to other major projects.
The infrastructure bill also includes money to “build out the first-ever national network of (electric vehicle) chargers in the United States,” according to the fact sheet. The initiative is part of the administration’s push to fight climate change.
Of the $7.5 billion total in the bill allocated for that initiative, South Carolina could get $70 million over five years. The state could also apply for grant funding dedicated to electric vehicle charging stations, which would come out of an additional $2.5 billion.
The bill also has a focus on expanding broadband to rural areas. Nearly 8% of South Carolinians live in areas where there is no broadband infrastructure, and more than 17% of the state’s residents do not have internet, the administration said.
To expand broadband for at least 405,000 people, the White House said South Carolina would get at least $100 million to expand broadband coverage. Another roughly 1.5 million people would be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, aimed at helping low-income families afford internet access.
The $1 trillion proposal made it to the Senate floor and was brought up for consideration Monday. Currently, senators are considering amendments to the bill, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said a vote could be taken on it “in a matter of days.”
This story was originally published August 4, 2021 at 3:48 PM.
