On Jan 14th, 2022, President Biden's administration launched the Bridge Formula Program (BFP) to fix thousands of bridges across the United States. The scheme was made possible by the new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and was administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA).
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The program represents the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system – providing $26.5 billion to states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico over five fiscal years (FY) [2022 to 2026] and $825 million for Tribal Transportation Facilities.
This article discusses the features and details of the Bridge Formula Program for FY 2022 as per the FHA.
Bridge Formula Program, FHA, The United States
- The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funds around $5.5 billion for the BFP under the Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) for FY 2022 to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, and protect historic bridges around the country.
- The distribution of funds for the Bridge Formula Program as per Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, title VIII of division J, Public Law 117-58, is as follows:
- For the HIP bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction program, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will retain $27.5 million for operations and administration of the FHWA.
- For the HIP bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction program, FHWA has set aside $165 million to carry out section 202(d) of title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.). This is for the Tribal Transportation Facility bridges.
- After the above two requirements, the funds available for distribution to the States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for the HIP bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction program is $5.3 billion.
- BFP includes tribal transportation facility bridges and off-system locally owned bridges and are not under the federal-aid highway system.
- The program includes 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Native American Tribal Lands.
- The law demands that the apportionments be in such a way that each state receives no less than $45 million each year. In addition to this, 15% of the state fund must be used for off-system bridges.
- More details on the distribution of Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 funds and applicable statutory requirements are given in the FHWA Notice N4510.861.
- The Bridge Formula Program is expected to repair around 15,000 highway bridges.
- BFP funding is distributed based on the relative costs of
- Replacing all the highway bridges classified under the poor condition in a state
- Rehabilitating all highway bridges classified under the fair condition in a state.
- The BFP funds shall be obligated with the following appropriate Fiscal Management Information System (FMIS) Improvement Type Code:
| Type of Project | Code |
| New bridge | 8 |
| Bridge replacement | 10 |
| Bridge rehabilitation | 13 |
| Special bridge | 40 |
| Bridge preservation | 47 |
| Bridge protection | 48 |
| Bridge inspection and related training | 49 |
| Bridge resurfacing | 59 |
These FMIS Codes are defined on March 16, 2017, FHWA memorandum Financial Management Information System (FMIS) New Improvement Type Code for Bridges: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/170316.cfm
- The BFP prioritizes funding to improve existing bridges instead of constructing a new highway bridge on a new alignment. But, the construction of a new highway bridge in a new location is possible as a replacement of an existing highway bridge in poor condition.
As per the Department of Transportation (DOT), the program modernizes America’s bridges, thus improving safety, supporting economic growth, and providing better living for people around the country. The program applies to bridges across rural, suburban, urban and tribal communities.
FAQs
Bridge Formula Program (BFP) is an initiative launched by President Joe Biden on January 14, 2022, to fix thousands of bridges across the United States.
The Bridge Formula Program (BFP) represents the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system – providing $26.5 billion to states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico over five fiscal years (FY) [2022 to 2026] and $825 million for Tribal Transportation Facilities.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funds around $5.5 billion for the BFP under the Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) for FY 2022 to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, and protect historic bridges around the country. Out of this, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will retain:
1. $27.5 million for operations and administration of the FHWA.
2. $165 million for replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction program for Tribal Transportation Facility bridges.
3. $5.3 billion for distribution to the States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for the HIP bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction program.
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