The $2.8 billion that is Hawaii's share from the bipartisan infrastructure package, money expected to help repair fix the islands' aging infrastructure, is on its way, the state's senior U.S. senator said.
"New jobs, repaired roads and bridges and funding for clean energy projects -- just some of the things Hawaii is getting in the bipartisan infrastructure deal," U.S. Sen Brian Schatz (D-HI) said in a Facebook post on Nov. 18. "Billions of dollars are coming to our state in the near future."
It's not just about repairing the islands' highways, bridges, airports and other important infrastructure, Schatz said in an earlier Facebook post Nov. 17.
"Hawaii is receiving billions in funding from the bipartisan infrastructure deal," Schatz said. "That money will have an immediate impact and will benefit our local economy for years to come."
A Honolulu Civil Beat news story reported the infrastructure package, signed into law on Nov. 15, will be a real boost "to numerous state facilities."
But wait, there could be more. Hawaii could receive an additional $1 billion in competitive grant funding, if the state and county government agencies aggressively pursue those additional funds.
The $2.8 billion already on its way is only "the floor," Schatz told Honolulu Civil Beat. "That's the amount that we’ll get if we don't lift a finger. But we should be determined to do better than that and compete for the maximum amount of federal funds."
The money also will arrive sooner, rather than later, flowing into the state within "months, not years," Schatz said.
Hawaiians can expect to see relocation of portions of the Hawaii coastal highway, including the Honoapiilani Highway on Maui and the Kamehameha Highway on Oahu near Laniakea Beach. More than $637 million will be spent helping to repair and expand bus transit.
Broadband also is expected to be expanded statewide.
The funds also are earmarked for county water and sewer improvements, and there will be new electric vehicle infrastructure.
"By strengthening our nation's infrastructure, we'll improve our supply chain crisis, ease inflation and create thousands of good-paying jobs across the state," U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) said in her own statement, according to Hawaii Civil Beat.