State Rep. Jayapal: ‘So much’ in infrastructure bill will benefit Washington

President Joe Biden is calling the passage of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill a “monumental step forward for the nation” after months of negotiations.

The bill was passed 228-206 late Friday by the House, and includes funds to repair roads, bridges, as well as investments in public transportation and in airports. The Associated Press reports that the Senate passed the legislation on a 69-30 vote in August.

Roads, transit, internet: What’s in the infrastructure bill

Perhaps one of the most important local projects to get some of the funding from the bill is the West Seattle Bridge, where repair work is set to begin in just a few weeks.

“We think it’s very important to support the West Seattle Bridge, and we’ve been in touch with the project’s sponsors about how to get it reopened. They indicated that they could make it happen with the funding that we proposed, and we’re excited about that,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The Seattle Department of Transportation says they have only received half the funding they requested from the federal government, but they are still on track to complete the repair work by the middle of next year. The repairs should sustain the bridge for another 40 years.

“There’s so much that’s in this bill that is going to benefit the district, and I’m just so proud to have played such a central role in delivering it to the President’s desk for signing,” Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal told KIRO Radio.

Other funding coming to Washington state will include about $228 million for Sea-Tac Airport, $2.5 billion for the ferry system, almost $400 million for Sound Transit, and the first-ever network of electric vehicle chargers.

“This is going to actually take on carbon emissions reduction initiatives at our port, and is going to help provide the kind of money we need for EV charging networks across the state — $71 million for EV charging,” Jayapal said.

“This is the largest federal investment in public transit in American history,” she added. “For those of us who are suffering under the curse of bridges that don’t work in Seattle, this bill is going to make the largest dedicated bridge investment since the mid-1900s.”

Congressman Derek Kilmer, U.S. Representative for Washington’s 6th District, told KIRO Radio that he’s excited about the passage of the bill as well.

“The folks I represent are tired of sitting in traffic. There are people who don’t have internet access that need to have a telehealth appointment or to take an online class. There’s issues related to clean water,” he said. “This bill is about fixing all of those problems.”

WA Rep. Kilmer: American people ‘justifiably frustrated’ by inaction in Congress

KIRO Radio has reached out to local Republicans for their reaction.