Recently, the City of Philadelphia was featured as the subject of a case story by Accelerator for America in partnership with Drexel University Nowak Metro Finance Lab. The case story was published on the Local Infrastructure Hub as a resource to help other municipalities and communities to make the most of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
Specifically, the City’s Bridge Sustainability in Northwest Philadelphia project was featured as an example of “Resilient Infrastructure” – these are projects that use BIL grants to mitigate, adapt, or positively respond to chronic issues, transforming things like bridges in ways that restore, maintain, and even improve their essential functions.
Back in May, the City in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy held a press conference near the Valley Green Road Bridge to announce a large BIL grant to fund the Bridge Sustainability in Northwest Philadelphia project. Through the BIL’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program, the City received $14.2 million to repair and upgrade two bridges over the Wissahickon Creek – the Bells Mill Road and Valley Green Road bridges.
We are proud to see the City and its Infrastructure Solutions Team (IST) get recognized as a shining example of how intergovernmental collaboration can ensure a cleaner, greener, and safer future for all Philadelphians. This case story will serve as a vital resource for other cities and towns that are looking to emulate a proven process.
Link to Bridge Sustainability in NW Philadelphia Case Story
About the Local Infrastructure Hub
The Local Infrastructure Hub is a national program designed to connect cities and towns with the resources and expert advice they need to access federal infrastructure funding in order to drive local progress, improve communities, and deliver results for residents.
About Accelerator for America
Accelerator for America finds and develops solutions to economic insecurity and shares them with local, state and federal leaders to increase economic mobility, attract and leverage public and private investment, fund infrastructure, and deliver a more inclusive recovery. Our work is uniquely driven by our network of Mayors and other leaders from the public, private, philanthropic, labor, non-profit, and academic sectors.