U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced new actions to support better and safer infrastructure in Indian Country.
During the second Tribal Nations Summit, Buttigieg announced DOT's actions to build on its "ongoing work to deliver infrastructure funding to Indian Country," according to a Dec. 6 news release. He also mentioned last years' Bipartisan Infrastructure package earmarked $13 billion for Tribal communities and "unprecedented opportunities for competitive grant funding to carry out projects," the news release said.
"After decades of harmful underinvestment in infrastructure, we now have a tremendous opportunity to modernize transportation in Tribal communities," Buttigieg said in the release. "We're proud to team up with Tribal leaders to announce important steps to improve roads, bridges, aviation, ports, transit, electric vehicle infrastructure and transportation safety in Tribal communities now and in the years ahead."
Among DOT's new action announced during last week's summit is the Regional Tribal Technical Assistance Program Agreements to re-establish six regional centers and fund a seventh. The regional centers will provide training, technical assistance and technology services throughout Indian Country, according to the release.
DOT's Electric Vehicle Initiative for Tribal Nations is aimed at ensuring Tribal Nations are prepared for the future, the release reported.
Additionally, DOT's efforts to improve highway safety in Indian County is aimed at reducing motor vehicle crashes, which are a leading cause of death for among native Americans, about 43% of unintentional injury deaths, according to BioMed Central's Injury Epidemiology Journal.
