Vermont has received a $195 million federal grant from the Rural Health Transformation program to improve rural healthcare, including workforce development and telehealth expansion, as part of ongoing health reform efforts, with the funds to be rapidly utilized for initiatives like staffing and telehealth services.
The U.S. federal government has revoked a $156 million grant intended to help lower-income Floridians afford solar panels, despite hundreds of applications already received, including pre-qualified individuals.
Philadelphia is set to receive a $158 million federal grant for the Chinatown Stitch Project, aimed at reconnecting the divided community by covering two-and-a-half blocks of the Vine Street Expressway. The project, expected to begin construction in January 2028 and be completed by 2030 or 2031, will address ongoing issues such as traffic congestion, pedestrian safety, and air and noise pollution, while also creating local jobs and providing green space upon completion.
Philadelphia's Chinatown Stitch project, aimed at capping the Vine Street Expressway to reconnect the divided neighborhood, has received a $158.9 million federal grant. The project, supported by local officials and community leaders, plans to cover the highway with green space and improve pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. The preliminary design and engineering stages are expected to continue through 2025, with construction potentially starting as early as 2027.
LAX has been awarded a $31 million grant from the federal government to enhance surrounding roadways, part of a larger initiative to improve airport infrastructure nationwide. The grant will fund improvements to the Auxiliary Curbs at ITF West and ITF East, including roadway extensions, widening, and utility enhancements, as well as underground stormwater containment systems. This investment is part of President Biden’s infrastructure agenda, aiming to lower costs, create jobs, and improve travel experiences. Additionally, an automated people mover is set to be operational at LAX by 2025, which will alleviate traffic and enhance public transit access to the airport.
The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program has received a $600 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, bringing the total secured funding for the project to $4 billion out of an estimated $6 billion cost. The grant marks the first significant federal investment in the program, which aims to replace the 100-year-old Interstate 5 Bridge. The remaining funds are expected to come from two other federal grants. Construction on the new bridge is scheduled to begin in late 2025 or early 2026.
President Joe Biden will visit a firehouse in Fairmount, Philadelphia, that is reopening after a devastating blaze last year that killed 12 people. The visit will mark the receipt of a $22.4 million federal grant to the Philadelphia Fire Department, which will fund additional firefighters' salaries, reopen three shuttered fire companies, and pay for a new class of trainees. Biden will emphasize his support for the firefighting community and pay tribute to the victims of the tragic fire. The grant will also fund the reopening of two other fire companies and provide salaries and benefits for 72 firefighters for three years.
Brightline, the only private intercity passenger railroad in the US, has been awarded a $3 billion federal grant to help build a $12 billion high-speed railway between Las Vegas and Southern California. The project, known as Brightline West, aims to have trains traveling at 186 mph on US tracks by 2028. The grant, one of the largest federal funding infusions for a privately developed transportation project in modern US history, will cover nearly one-third of the project's cost. The rail link is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs, boost tourism, and alleviate traffic congestion.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has been awarded a $24.3 million federal grant to fund the Highway 189 South Kemmerer Wildlife Crossing Project. The project aims to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions along a 30-mile stretch between Evanston and Kemmerer by constructing five underpasses, one overpass, and improving fencing. It is expected to take two to three construction seasons to complete and is anticipated to eliminate 80 to 90 percent of wildlife-vehicle collisions. The grant is part of the federal wildlife crossing pilot program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The federal government's Joint Office of Energy and Transportation has opened applications for a $2.5 billion program to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and those with a low ratio of private parking. The program includes two $1.25 billion grant programs for community charging and fueling grants and alternative fuel corridor grants. The funds will also cover other alternative fuels, including hydrogen and natural gas. The program is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.