Lawmakers say they are ready to fight to improve local infrastructure

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — It could still be more than a month before Central Florida finds out how much money it gets as part of the Biden administration’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill.

Congress member Val Demings wants to change that.

With $39 billion of the $1.3 trillion set for public transit nationally, the hope is the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can create more blue-collar jobs in Central Florida.

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At an event Tuesday, Demings said some of those funds could be used here to make commuting across the area easier.

For residents like Blaine Volstorf, that would mean less time spent riding the bus.

“I’m spending about as much time working as I am getting home,” Volstorf said.

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For transportation provider LYNX, that means helping make commutes shorter, expanding the fleet of buses and helping to make buses more senior-friendly.

“When we invest in the people, our community does better, our state does better and America does better,” Demings said.

Cities like Apopka say the funding can help close the gap in the digital divide by providing more broadband access or help with an inadequate water system.

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Apopka mayor Bryan Nelson hopes Congress can help the city with much needed infrastructure.

“We all have needs. Apopka’s got a lot of opportunities for road infrastructure, water infrastructure and waste water infrastructure,” he said.

Lawmakers in the House Appropriations Committee could finalize spending plans by the new year.

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