Today Congress took a big step to improving this country’s transportation system by passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This legislation provides the nation’s transportation and infrastructure systems with $1.2 trillion of needed funding – the largest investment that we’ve seen in more than a decade from the federal government. The bill rightly focuses on technology, data, and innovation and supports both new and existing programs designed to make real progress toward our shared goals of safe and efficient travel.
It’s especially rewarding for a company like INRIX, with our long history of leveraging data, analytics and insights to improve mobility, to see a renewed and substantial commitment to the types of solutions we’ve helped to bring to market. Of the $550 billion dollars in new spending in the bill, $274 billion goes to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The IIJA also includes upwards of $150 billion worth of discretionary grant programs – meaning the USDOT can decide where to allocate funds to states, localities and other eligible entities and ensure that investments are made in the sorts of projects and programs that will be most impactful. This bill will have an immediate impact on our nation’s transportation system and we’re excited to see how companies like INRIX can work with states and localities to help realize this bill’s potential.
For too long our transportation system has been hamstrung by underinvestment in the types of innovations that will help the U.S. keep pace with other nations and make our roads safer, greener and more efficient. The IIJA is a watershed moment with the potential for moving us toward a future where our nation’s transportation systems are characterized by technology and innovation, setting the stage for much needed collaboration between the public and private sectors. We look forward to this legislation’s implementation and will continue working with all levels of government to help shape the future of mobility.
