another non-solution - i should have said "realistic alternatives". there aren't any, except do the best you can under the current framework of government and spending. i am as cynical as anyone, but i know that there are local pols in my county who are already counting on this money and i know some of it will actually end up where it needs to be (for example, we have a port that needs to be dredged and i have no doubt it will get done because it matters to everyone here and everyone is watching).
so yes, this is as good as it gets because there is currently no other alternative to funding infrastructure improvement. deal with it - dismissing it is less than counter-productive.
edit: i can remember a time when particular projects - road/highway/bridge/waterway/whatever - often had big signs that told you "this project is directly funded by whatever bill/act/program/package of 19-whatever, as steered by whomever prez/gov/Senator/congressperson was in office, in whatever state blah blah blah". a victory lap, for sure, but effective - tangible legit tax dollar expenditure needs to be seen.
virtually signaling or whatever, like it or not, things do occasionally get accomplished and this is how.