STEELTON, Pa. — U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited three sites in central Pennsylvania on Tuesday, including one of America's oldest industrial plants.
Buttigieg toured the Steelton Cleveland Cliffs steel plant along with Governor Josh Shapiro to highlight the Biden administration's investments in infrastructure throughout President Biden's term.
The investments, which total roughly $1.6 trillion, have come largely through measures such as the American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Buttigieg says the investments will allow places like the Steelton plant, which opened in 1868 and has contributed to projects such as the Golden Gate Bridge, to be a part of the new wave of infrastructure projects to come.
"You can feel the deep and rich historical tradition in a facility like this that has been operating for 150 years," Buttigieg told FOX43 following his tour. "But there's nothing about this that is old fashioned or looking to the past. On the contrary, it is the future of American rail, American defense and other parts of American infrastructure and industry that is being built right here in 2024 at this facility."
For the money from the Biden administration's investments that has not been spent yet, the former South Bend, Indiana mayor and 2020 presidential candidate says the investments stemming from this money will help sustain the growth in infrastructure for the years to come.
"So far, we've identified 54,000 projects getting funding or support through this infrastructure package," Buttigieg said. "And we're not even halfway through in terms of the dollars going out the door. This was set up not just to be a one-off one-year economic stimulus, but really to be a generational investment in the infrastructure we're going to need for the rest of this half-century and beyond."
One future project could involve the I-83 South Bridge between Dauphin and Cumberland County, which PennDOT currently classifies as being in “poor condition.” Senator Bob Casey wrote to the Department of Transportation in April asking for funds for a replacement, and Governor Shapiro has lobbied Buttigieg for the same.
Buttigieg says the funding is in the application process, and that the project’s supporters have made it a priority.
"I’ve committed to the Governor and anyone else who calls to make sure that this application and this idea gets every appropriate look because we understand how important it is to the community," Buttigieg said.
Buttigieg also visited Lancaster, where he toured the city with Mayor Danene Sorace to see improvements to the safety of its streets. He also visited Harrisburg International Airport, where he monitored construction projects to improve baggage and cargo facilities using federal funding.