Biden promotes TIGER grants and infrastructure investments

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden recently promoted the value of the 2015 TIGER grants and their positive impact on infrastructure.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) unveiled its 2015 TIGER grants. These grants will be used to fund projects that will improve local communities in their safety, mobility, sustainability and public health.

Vice President Biden recently visited Houston's Buffalo Bayou Park, which was built with $15 million in grants from TIGER. Houston received the funds in 2012 to begin building safe, new and accessible links to the local transit service. With just one transportation and infrastructure project, the transit service and community was transformed.

"Investments like this aren't just about roads and transportation," Vice President Biden said. "They're about quality of life."

Infrastructure projects frequently help local areas to grow economically, with more companies moving into the area and hiring more people.

"Companies can attract the best people to Houston because it's a place people want to live and work; the quality of life is better,” Biden said.

The economic impact was not lost on the city’s visitor.

"Those who question whether we should invest in infrastructure are missing the big picture,” Biden said. “Without investing in our entire system, I don't know how we lead the world in the 21st century."