Government Market News StaffNew Jersey has launched an interactive website that tracks federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding for projects across the state. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Formula Funding Tracker explains how the state will use more than $7 billion in federal funding over five years.
New Jersey has already received $3.6 billion and invested in 661 projects, the tracker shows. Funding data is categorized by project type and further divided by state agencies. Website users can explore interactive graphs and maps to view project locations, descriptions, status, funding allocated and expenditures to date.
The website uses data from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT), the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities that is updated quarterly. It will soon include equity and sustainability analysis.
“Communities across New Jersey can now follow along as federal and state dollars power the infrastructure renaissance taking place in neighborhoods across the state,” Tom Perez, senior advisor to the president and director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, said in a press release.
Other features of the website include a Stories page that allows users to track projects that have been awarded discretionary grants. The section provides project details and shares how New Jersey communities directly benefit from the projects.
The Formula/Discretionary page outlines the difference between formula and discretionary grant processes. It also features a list of discretionary grants awarded to state agencies and local governments in the state.
New Jersey is one of the first states to launch an interactive dashboard to track the allocation of BIL funds.
In May 2023, Michigan launched a similar tool, the Infrastructure Investment Tracker. The website provides an overview of BIL funding awarded to the state, tracks project progress, and users can view individual projects and funding on an interactive map.
“We are incredibly excited about the launch of these online tools, as it both holds us accountable and provides full transparency to the residents of Michigan on the infrastructure projects in process,” Michigan’s Chief Infrastructure Officer Zachary Kolodin said at the time.
California maintains a webpage, IIJA By The Numbers, that details BIL formula and discretionary grants for the state. Graphs display funding by project categories, project status and received versus projected formula funding. For more details, users can navigate to a complete list of awarded projects with interactive filters and graphs.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was passed in November 2021. It authorized $1.2 trillion for transportation and infrastructure projects over five years, $550 billion of which will be spent on novel investments and programs.
BIL programs will provide $310 billion for highways and bridges, $55 billion for water infrastructure improvements and access to clean drinking water and $65 billion to expand high-speed internet infrastructure. Additional priorities include improving public transportation and passenger rail, creating a national network of EV charging stations and climate-resilient infrastructure projects.
Photo courtesy of the state of New Jersey
