Transportation Projects could put millions to work.
Press Release Summary:
President-elect Barack Obama is pledging to put millions of Americans to work by building and repairing nation's highways and bridges. According to John Horsley, Executive Director of AASHTO, survey of state ready-to-go transportation projects is has identified more than 5,000 projects worth $64 billion. These projects are considered ready-to-go because they could be under contract within 180 days, supporting estimated 1.8 million American jobs, if funding were made available.
Original Press Release:
5,000 "Ready-To-Go" Transportation Projects Could Put Millions to Work
"President-elect Barrack Obama is pledging to put millions of Americans to work by building and repairing the nation's highways and bridges and a new survey of state "ready-to-go" transportation projects is the road map he needs to make it happen," said John Horsley, Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
The District of Columbia and all 50 state Departments of Transportation responded to the survey. More than five thousand "ready-to-go" projects worth $64 billion were identified. These transportation infrastructure projects are considered "ready to go" because they could be under contract within 180 days, supporting an estimated 1.8 million American jobs, if the funding were made available.
"Right now, 41 states are facing budget shortfalls and many of our state departments of transportation have had no choice but to delay critical projects that will fill potholes, enhance safety, and extend the lifespan of the nation's aging bridges," Horsley said. "This survey shows that state DOTs are ready to quickly put the economic stimulus dollars and people to work."
In a similar AASHTO survey conducted in January of this year, all 50 states and the District of Columbia responded, identifying approximately 3,000 projects worth $18 billion that could be under contract within 90 days.
2008 Ready-to-Go Highway Projects (December, 2008 Survey)
State Number of Projects Dollar Value (in Millions)
Alabama 16 $877.0
Alaska 4 $139.3
Arizona 72 $1,091.5
Arkansas 130 $1,120.5
California $5,000.0
Colorado 113 $1,154.0
Connecticut 5 $764.7
Delaware $125.0
DC 3 $56.0
Florida 92 $6,968.3
Georgia 319 $1,932.9
Hawaii 51 $417.9
Idaho 126 $805.0
Illinois 245 $783.3
Indiana 109 $501.2
Iowa 41 $221.2
Kansas 107 $357.0
Kentucky 50 $400.0
Louisiana 58 $423.0
Maine 44 $221.0
Maryland $230.0
Massachusetts 37 $220.0
Michigan 208 $1,750.0
Minnesota 200 $950.0
Mississippi 75 $600.0
Missouri 34 $510.0
Montana 158 $350.0
Nebraska 30 $250.0
Nevada 40 $250.0
New Hampshire 27 $230.5
New Jersey 153 $1640.0
New Mexico 49 $1,136.1
New York 40 $550.0
North Carolina 296 $5,170.0
North Dakota $300.0
Ohio $2,160.0
Oklahoma 95 $778.0
Oregon 105 $564.0
Pennsylvania 319 $1,030.0
Rhode Island 40 $100.0
South Carolina 51 $850.0
South Dakota 29 $155.0
Tennessee 120 $400.0
Texas 853 $6,018.4
Utah 136 $10,800.0
Vermont 17 $78.4
Virgina 40 $680.4
Washington 60 $1,339.0
West Virginia 181 $1,134.4
Wisconsin 60 $320.0
Wyoming 105 $400.3
Total 5148 $64,319.6
The Federal Highway Administration estimates that approximately 35,000 jobs are supported by every $1.25 billion invested in transportation projects.
In addition to the highway projects, some states also indentified transit, rail, water, and aviation "ready-to-go" projects. More compressive assessments are available from the following modal organizations.
Airports Council International at: http://aci-na.org/news/2008_oct29
American Association of Port Authorities at:
http://www.aapa-ports.org/Press/PRdetail.cfm?itemnumber=11208
States for Passenger Rail Coalition at: http://s4prc.org/inthenews/2008news/stimulus_2.pdf
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) at:
http://apta.com/media/releases/081029_federal_funding.cfm
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Vice President of
Economics and Research William Buechner, PhD. testified on Capitol Hill about the link between transportation investment and job creation. Find his testimony at:
http://transportation.house.gov/Media/File/Full%20Committee/20081029/Buechner.pdf
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.
