Although President Joe Biden’s term is officially over, his impact on the Philadelphia region will resonate. Biden signed congressional legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, which funded projects that rebuilt roadways and reconnected neighborhoods. Let’s take a look back at some of those projects.
🛣️ Infrastructure
After a tanker fire partially collapsed I-95 in Northeast Philly in 2023, the state reopened the major transportation corridor in 12 days. The Biden administration released $3 million in what the president called a “down payment” to speed up repairs.
The state was also allocated $8.4 million for roads, bridges, and other major projects thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which passed in 2021. Allocations for Philly include:
- $2 million to extend Callowhill’s Rail Park, converting the old railroad viaduct between Vine Street and Fairmount Avenue into a public space.
- Nearly $160 million for the first phase of the Chinatown Stitch, with construction to cap the Vine Street Expressway and reconnect parts of the neighborhood to begin in 2027.
- $11 million for 75 public EV chargers in Philly.
- $27.5 million to upgrade aging infrastructure at Philadelphia International Airport as the city prepares for an influx of visitors for the country’s semiquincentennial in 2026.
🖥️ Technology
Earlier this month the city was granted $11.9 million as part of Biden’s Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. Philly plans to use this funding in partnership with local nonprofits and educational institutions for programs such as free or low-cost internet, digital skills workshops, and the building of esports and digital access centers.
The Biden administration also designated Philadelphia as one of 31 regional tech hubs. The Greater Philadelphia Region Precision Medicine Tech Hub’s focus is to develop new ways to diagnose, prevent, and treat diseases. Although Philly’s tech hub did not receive new funding from Biden’s Economic Development Administration, consortium leaders remain hopeful for the project’s future.
🌳 Climate
Several Philadelphia neighborhoods are known as “heat islands” due to their lack of tree canopy and other cooling measures that result in higher temperatures compared to other parts of the city. The Philly Tree Plan’s 10-year initiative aims to increase the city’s tree canopy and improve equity within its urban forest. The Department of Agriculture granted $12 million toward its implementation.
📜 History
Although plans haven’t been cemented yet, Philly is vying to be the site of Biden’s presidential library – and he just might support the idea. Biden has voiced his interest in locating the library at the University of Pennsylvania, already home to the Biden School of Foreign Policy. If this happens Philly will join a national network of presidential libraries that archives papers and other records of presidents. Located between Biden’s hometown of Scranton and his adopted state of Delaware, Philly – where the nation’s democracy began – could be a perfect location.
