ICYMI: U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Visits Idaho, Utah to Announce Historic Investments in Infrastructure Resilience Against Extreme Weather Events
Last week U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg traveled to Idaho and Utah to announce U.S. DOT’s new Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Program, made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. PROTECT invests $7.3 billion over the next five years to help states and communities make their transportation infrastructure more resilient against extreme weather events like wildfires, flooding, and heat.
The Secretary started his trip in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, where he attended the Western Governors’ Association Annual Meeting and had the opportunity to engage with governors on both sides of the aisle on how to modernize our transportation infrastructure to fight climate change and withstand the effects of extreme weather.
Secretary Buttigieg then stopped at Spokane International Airport, which will benefit from an $11 million federal grant to complete modernization projects. This grant was made possible by U.S. DOT’s new Airport Terminals Grant Program.
After his stop in Spokane, the Secretary traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he announced the PROTECT program alongside Utah Governor Spencer Cox at the state capitol. He also had the chance to view a burn scar near I-80 from last year’s Parleys Canyon Fire and participate in a roundtable discussion with Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and first responders at a local fire station about how the program can help improve evacuation routes and better prepare communities to respond to extreme weather events, like wildfires.
“We don’t have time to debate whether this is urgent anymore. We have to get to work, and we are,” remarked the Secretary. “This is about protecting people, and jobs, and the infrastructure those people and jobs count on from the immediate treats of extreme weather.”
Secretary Buttigieg wrapped his trip by riding the TRAX light rail line along with local elected officials, including Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and transit and labor advocates, to the airport. While en route, he had the chance to learn more about the importance of public transit to the Salt Lake community and how it contributes to better air quality in the area — a top concern for residents.
Media Coverage
Idaho
“The truth is that most funding that comes from my department will go to a state for day-to-day decisions, where to put it,” Buttigieg said. “So, the partnership with governors, with state departments of transportation, is central to our work. If they don’t feel like something is working for them, I need to know.”
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Utah
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“Residents here have been seeing, as the governor just described, the results of extreme weather with their own eyes,” Buttigieg said, “and we’ve been seeing it day by day … seeing the burn scars near the roads, the Great Salt Lake itself is drying up, remnants of these fires being breathed in by children and their families.”
Fox13 Salt Lake City: Buttigieg touts climate change program in Utah visit
“The climate crisis is real, and it is here. The good news is we know what we have to do, and America is fully capable of rising to the challenge,” Buttigieg said. “We have the power to stop this.”
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@GovCox: The PROTECT program will make Utah’s transportation system and critical infrastructure more resilient and will give us the resources to plan ahead. Thanks to @SecretaryPete and our federal partners for supporting this bipartisan solution.
@idaho_rd: The last day of the Western Governors Association 2022 Annual Meeting in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg was the morning speaker.
@SecretaryPete: Glad to meet with the Western Governors on plans to modernize transportation infrastructure to lower costs, fight climate change, and build resiliency against wildfires, floods and other risks they face.
@slcmayor: Such a great visit with @SecretaryPete! I shared with him how appropriately aggressive Salt Lake City is working to build connections so that all Salt Lakers can thrive. We shared some great ideas and I’m encouraged for the future.
@SLCoMayor: Thanks @POTUS @SecretaryPete for recognizing climate dangers & providing much-needed investment to withstand future threats. We welcome funding to ensure our community remains safe, prosperous & resilient for generations to come. @UtahDOT
@UtahDOT: Today @GovCox and @SecretaryPete announced a new program that provides funds to states to protect infrastructure against extreme weather events. We’re grateful to state and federal leaders for investing in Utah’s infrastructure.
