Press Release
☷FACT SHEET President Biden Announces Over $3 Billion to Reconnect Communities That Have Been Left Behind and Divided by Transportation Infrastructure
White House ( By Press Release office)
Mar 15,2024
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Today , President Biden is heading to Milwaukee , Wisconsin to announce $3 . 3 billion in funding for over 40 states to reconnect and rebuild communities that have been neglected for years . These projects will improve access to essential services and opportunities like healthcare , schools , jobs , and more by transforming highways into public spaces , creating new transit routes , and adding sidewalks , bridges , and bike lanes . This announcement is part of the President ' s plan to revitalize the country ' s infrastructure and ensure that no community is left behind . The goal is to create a fair and inclusive economy that benefits everyone and brings prosperity to communities that have been historically overlooked . This initiative aims to address the negative impact of past transportation decisions that have disproportionately affected Black and other communities of color , as well as low - income areas . Through the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program , funded by recent legislation , the Biden - Harris Administration is working to undo the harm caused by previous transportation projects and promote economic growth across the country . This program is a crucial step towards advancing racial equity and supporting underserved communities , as outlined in the President ' s executive order . Additionally , it aligns with the Administration ' s commitment to providing a reliable and sustainable transportation system , especially in areas with affordable housing options . Also , this program is a big part of the Administration ' s commitment to environmental justice , including helping disadvantaged communities as part of President Biden ' s Justice40 Initiative . In Milwaukee , President Biden will announce $36 million for the 6th Street Complete Streets Project . Back in the 1960s , the construction of I - 94/I - 43 in Milwaukee led to the demolition of around 17 , 000 homes and 1 , 000 businesses , displacing neighborhoods and widening roads like 6th Street to accommodate interstate traffic . This resulted in a street that prioritized cars over the people who live , walk , work , and shop in these areas . The 6th Street Complete Streets Project will reconnect communities along over two and a half miles of the 6th Street corridor , providing wider sidewalks , safe bike lanes , dedicated bus lanes , trees for shade , and green infrastructure to prevent sewage from flowing into the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan . These improvements will make the roadway and surrounding communities safer , greener , and more inviting . Other projects benefiting from today ' s funding include "The Stitch" in Atlanta , Georgia , the Chinatown Stitch in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , and the I - 5 Rose Corridor Project in Portland , Oregon . The projects will help reconnect neighborhoods , improve safety , and reduce congestion in areas with high crash rates , while also supporting new community spaces and development . For example , the RIVER East Toledo project in Toledo , Ohio is receiving $29 million to connect residents of the east side with the riverfront . Similarly , the I - 81 Viaduct Project in Syracuse , New York is receiving $180 million to disperse traffic among neighborhood streets and provide economic opportunities for residents . The Reconnecting 4th Ave N . in Birmingham , Alabama will convert a one - way road to a two - way road to reconnect downtown neighborhoods and businesses . In Los Angeles County , the Removing Barriers and Creating Legacy project will create bus priority lanes and mobility hubs to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists . These investments are part of the Biden - Harris Administration ' s efforts to reconnect communities and promote economic growth . In Detroit , MI , the government is putting $105 million into replacing a sunken highway that goes through thriving Black neighborhoods . In New York City , NY , they ' re investing $150 million to reconnect communities split by a busy highway . And in Pelham , AL , $42 million is being used to build a bridge and get rid of dangerous train crossings . This is all part of the efforts to improve transportation and safety across the country , funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law . The projects aim to make travel safer , reduce pollution , and bring communities closer together .
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