In December, the Federal Highway Administration released guidance indicating that it wanted as much of the new IIJA funds as possible spent on projects that advance Biden administration goals like addressing climate change. FHWA would encourage such projects by, for example, expediting environmental reviews of bike lane projects but scrutinizing the environmental impacts of new motor vehicle lanes, Stephanie Pollack, deputy administrator of the FHWA, indicated. The guidance also said state agencies should focus on fixing existing roads before adding new ones.
