Infrastructure repairs and upgrades have been promised to rural America for years. The need for new bridges, larger roads, and rail improvements has been lacking for some time. However, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg talked about some of the improvements that are on their way to states like Iowa.
The DOT announced Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grants. The department awarded more than $368 million for 46 projects in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
By statute, a minimum of 25 percent of the funding must go to rural areas, and the grants have nearly double the required investment in rural communities.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says the goal is to make sure U.S. goods move more smoothly across the country and offers rural communities many benefits.
One grant was awarded to the Iowa Northern Railway Company. Iowa Northern serves customers such as ADM, POET, John Deere, and Tyson.
The Transportation Department was able to increase funding for the program thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law. Secretary Buttigieg says more projects benefitting rural America are on the way.
