On Jan. 14, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) announced that Hawaii will receive federal funds over the next five years for state bridge repairs and improvements.
The U.S. Department of Transportation will be providing the $339 million in funds from its Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, Preservation, Protection and Construction program, according to Schatz's website.
"Bridges across our state are set to be upgraded and rebuilt, thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law," Schatz said in a Jan. 14 Facebook post. "I was proud to support this legislation and secure funding for important infrastructure projects across Hawaii and the country that will make it safer and easier for families to get around."
The program will provide $26.5 billion to states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico over the five years of the law, with $5.3 billion available for fiscal year 2022.
Additionally, the release states that $825 million in funding will be available for tribal transportation facilities.
"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes an incentive for states to direct the new Bridge Formula Program funds to off-system bridges owned by a county, city, town or other local agency," Schatz's website says. "While states normally must match federal funding with up to 20% state or local funding, the guidance issued today notes that federal funds can be used for 100% of the cost of repairing or rehabilitating such locally owned off-system bridges."
Schatz has served in the U.S. Senate since 2012. Before serving as a senator, he was a member of the U.S. Congress from 1998 to 2006, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii from 2008 to 2010 and lieutenant governor of Hawaii until 2012 when he filled the remainder of former U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye's term after his death. Schatz won the 2014 special election to finish the remainder of the term and won reelection in 2016 for a full six-year term.