With the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in November 2021, PennDOT has implemented several new funding programs designed to respond to on-road vehicular emissions and the impacts of natural hazards and extreme weather. Over five years, the law authorizes $1.2 trillion nationally for transportation and infrastructure spending with $550 billion of that figure going toward "new" investments and programs. The Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) and the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost Saving Transportation (PROTECT) programs are two of these new programs.
Carbon Reduction Program (CRP)
The Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) was created to provide funds for projects and strategies designed to reduce transportation emissions, defined as carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from on-road highway sources. A requirement of the CRP is for each state to establish a statewide Carbon Reduction Strategy (CRS).
The Pennsylvania Carbon Reduction Strategy (CRS) was developed in collaboration with Pennsylvania's Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organizations (MPO/RPO) in November 2023. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) certified Pennsylvania's CRS on February 22, 2024.
PennDOT and the MPOs and RPOs have been working to identify CRP eligible projects throughout Pennsylvania. To assist, the Carbon Reduction working group has developed a list of Carbon Reduction Eligibility Examples to be used as guidance when determining project eligibility for CRP funding ideas.
Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT)
The PROTECT Program is the second IIJA program of interest. The purpose of PROTECT is to help make surface transportation infrastructure more resilient to natural hazards including flooding, extreme weather events, sink holes, landslides, and other natural disasters. PROTECT provides funding for planning activities and resilience improvements and enhancements.
PennDOT's Center for Program Development and Management (CPDM) and the Bureau of Project Design and Delivery have developed a project submission form and criteria to determine eligibility for PROTECT funding to assist District offices in shaping project details.
As part of the implementation of the PROTECT program in Pennsylvania, the CPDM will be engaging the MPOs and RPOs on next steps, including the development of regional planning studies, a statewide Resilience Improvement Plan, encouraged by IIJA/BIL, and the potential for a suballocation of funding for the selection of future projects.
More information on programs and initiatives from the Office of Planning are available on PennDOT's website.