OHIO — After months of negotiations, President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package into law Monday afternoon, formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Each state will be getting its fair share. 

What You Need To Know

  • Nearly 1,400 bridges and 5,000 miles of highways in Ohio are in poor condition, and under the package, the state will receive $9.2 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $483 million for bridge replacement and repairs

  • Another chunk will be going toward transportation to improve access across the state

  • The law also expects to divide up funding for climate change prevention, safe drinking water and broadband expansion

In Ohio, funds will be going toward bridge repairs, broadband expansion, clean drinking water and much more. 

"The need for action in Ohio is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Ohio," the White House wrote in a fact sheet for the state. 

Roadways and Bridges

In April, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the state a C- for its infrastructure, which includes the condition of bridges, railways, storm water systems, broadband reach and more. 

According to the White House's report, nearly 1,400 bridges and 5,000 miles of highways are in poor condition. Commute times have increased by 5.7% in Ohio since 2011, and on average, each driver pays $506 per year in costs due to poor roadway conditions, according to the White House. 

Ohio's roadways carry the third-highest freight volume in the nation, according to ASCE. The state also accommodates the sixth-most vehicle miles traveled, which makes it "an essential tool in the national economy," according to ASCE. 

Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the state is expected to receive $9.2 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $483 million for bridge replacement and repairs over the next five years. 

There is also a chance for Ohio to compete for the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program and nearly $16 billion of national funding in the bill, which is dedicated for major projects that could bolster economic benefits for communities. 

Transportation

The White House states Ohioans who take public transportation spend an extra 75.9% of their time commuting, and those commuting mostly consist of non-white households. A quarter of the state's transit vehicles are also "past useful life."

Biden's package would set aside $1.2 million for Ohio's transportation needs to replace vehicles as well as make them more accessible to improve options across the state. 

Electronic vehicle charging stations

One of the administration's goals is to build a network of EV chargers to facilitate long-distance travel while also providing more charging options. 

"The U.S. market share of plug-in electric vehicle (EV) sales is only one-third the size of the Chinese EV market. The President believes that must change," the White House stated. 

Ohio, which is home to Lordstown Motors — the company producing an all-electric truck called the Endurance — is slated to receive $140 million over the next five years to support the expansion of EV charging stations. The state will also have the option to apply for additional funding through the $2.5 billion grant set aside in the package. 

High-speed internet expansion

Currently, 2% of Ohioans live in areas where, under the Federal Communication Commission's benchmark, there is absolutely no broadband infrastructure. Fourteen percent of Ohio households don't have an internet subscription, according to the White House. 

Ohio is expected to receive $100 million for broadband expansion, which is aimed to give internet access to 259,000 Ohioans who currently lack it. Under the package, 3,167,000 (28%) of residents will also become eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access. 

"Broadband internet is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected," the White House stated. 

Prevention for extreme weather, cyberattacks and more

From 2010 to 2020, Ohio has experienced 29 extreme weather events, which includes the Memorial Day tornado outbreak of 2019. 

Throughout Ohio on May 27, 2019, there were a total of 21 tornadoes. Among the 21, there was one EF4 and three EF3s which consisted of long-track tornadoes that left a heartbreaking aftermath across Dayton and the Miami Valley.

Between those 10 years, weather-related damage cost the state up to $10 billion in damages, according to the White House.

Under the new law, Ohio will benefit from the package's historic $3.5 billion national investment in weatherization.

Aside from weather-related damages Ohio will also get funds to prevent cyberattacks and combat other issues dealing with climate change. Ohio is slated to receive $26 million over five years for protection against wildfires and $25 million to protect against cyberattacks.

Clean drinking water

In America, 10 million households and 400,000 schools and child care centers lack safe drinking water. Ohio is expected to receive $1.4 billion over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state.

During the signing ceremony Monday afternoon, Biden was joined by the bipartisan lawmakers who helped craft the final infrastructure deal, negotiations that concluded in June. Sixty-three percent of Americans support the massive public works investment, according to a new ABC News-Washington Post poll.

Spectrum News' Justin Tasolides contributed to this report.

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