AASHTO reports states meet deadline for highway projects.
Press Release Summary:
According to testimony by Acting Deputy Administrator of FHA Jeff Paniati, 5,000 projects valued at $15.7 billion have been approved by agency, accounting for 59% of total funds, as of June 24. As of June 19, 1,500 projects were underway in 45 states. Paniati also noted that 15 states have obligated 80% of funds, with Maine obligating 100%. Recovery Act provided $48 billion for transportation investments and all highway funds must be obligated by March 2, 2010.
Original Press Release:
All States Meet Deadline for Recovery Highway Projects
All state departments of transportation have succeeded in meeting the June 30 deadline for obligating half their highway economic recovery funds, according to testimony at a House oversight hearing Thursday.
As of June 19, 1,500 projects were already underway in 45 states. Those projects will create or sustain 50,000 jobs federal officials reported.
According to testimony by Acting Deputy Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration Jeff Paniati, as of June 24, 5,000 projects valued at $15.7 billion have been approved by the agency, representing 59 percent of total funds. He also noted that 15 states have obligated 80 percent of their funds, and Maine has obligated 100 percent.
Larry "Butch" Brown, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Vice President of AASHTO, said, "Projects are under construction and people are going back to work in good paying jobs." He added, "States are directing funds for ready-to-go projects that will spread economic recovery and job creation to all corners of the States, with special consideration to economic needs and geographic balance."
AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley said, "When faced with the challenge to put recovery dollars to work extremely quickly, the state DOTs stepped up and delivered as promised. States are also putting recovery projects into economically distressed areas. For example, Arkansas will deliver 84 percent of its highway recovery jobs to distressed areas; Michigan, 77 percent. Transportation investment is leading all sectors in the nation's recovery effort."
The economic recovery act provided $48 billion for transportation investments out of a total recovery package of $787 billion. Of the $27.5 billion for highways, $26.81 billion was apportioned to the States. Nearly one-third of the funding is directed specifically to cities and counties. All highway funds must be obligated by March 2, 2010.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the "Voice of Transportation" representing State Departments of Transportation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association serving as a catalyst for excellence in transportation.
