President Donald Trump signed an executive order designed to speed up environmental reviews and fast-track infrastructure projects, reports the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA).
Under the order, governors or Cabinet secretaries request a project be designed as high priority, NSSGA reports. The project then moves to the top of any review queue if the White House Council or Environmental Quality Council approves.
Trump also said throughout his campaign that he wants to invest up to $1 trillion in U.S. infrastructure, NSSGA adds.
“We intend to fix our country, our bridges, our roadways,” Trump says. “We can’t be in an environmental process for 15 years if a bridge is going to be falling down or if a highway is crumbling. So we’re expediting environmental reviews and approvals.”
In addition, democrats in the U.S. Senate proposed a plan to spend $1 trillion over 10 years to repair old bridges and roads, expand bus and rail systems, and modernize ports, highways, airports and other infrastructure. According to NSSGA, as of now, Trump’s plan would allow private investors to take advantage of $137 billion in federal tax credits for different projects that his administration believes will create $1 trillion in infrastructure improvements.
