Even after multiple federal laws boosting investment in infrastructure, the work is never done. That’s especially the case for metropolitan regions. While the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and American Rescue Plan Act all increased total spending in places, those laws could have done far more to uplift the kinds of transformative projects that are dreamed up and delivered beyond the means of one city or county. 

Our recent work makes the case for greater federal investment in regions, but the evidence speaks for itself. Local roads generate around one-third of vehicle miles traveled (a proxy for gas taxes), but federal law doesn’t return those funds to municipalities. Most competitive programs only award funds project-by-project, not to suites of regionwide projects. Block grants can address such oversights, channeling funds to regional coalitions that can deliver at scale. 

To spotlight those ideas, we're hosting a public event at Brookings next Wednesday, May 14. Practitioners from Chicago, San Diego County, and Broward County, Fla. will dig into what it takes to collaborate at the regional scale and the need for outside support. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will then share his ideas about investing more in places. Register here to join in person or virtually.