Infrastructure Bill is a WIN for Active Transportation

In November, the United States House of Representatives voted on, and passed a major piece of legislation called the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act. You may have heard it referred to as the bipartisan infrastructure bill, but for our purposes we will refer to it as the “IIJA.” The IIJA includes major investments/victories for active transportation, which could be a very good thing for communities exploring livability projects.

While much of the media coverage on the IIJA has focused on how the legislation will lead to improved roads and bridges, improved rail travel or on the jobs these projects will create, the legislation also will help us get moving in heart healthy ways! We all know that living an active lifestyle can lead to better health outcomes, including a reduction in heart disease and stroke and thanks to this bill, being active just got a whole lot easier for millions of us. Whether we live in a rural or urban area, the IIJA has something for everyone.

The IIJA will:

• Increase funding for construction and maintenance of walking, biking, and rolling trails and paths by 60 percent.

• Strengthen and expands Safe Routes to School.

• Require states to prioritize protecting those who walk, bike, and roll from vehicle fatalities.

• Increase federal support of Complete Streets.

• Ensure that high need communities, like those without sidewalks, walking trails or other safe ways for us to be active are prioritized. That means more walking, biking, and rolling funds make it to local communities that need it, rather than allowing the states to use the money for other, unrelated projects preventing waste and ensuring the benefits are distributed across the country in an equitable manner.

The creation of more and safer transportation alternatives like dedicated sidewalks and bike paths can have positive mental and physical health impacts for everyone who uses them.