Transportation

Alabama
http://www.dot.state.al.us/stimulus2009/

6/8/09 - State transportation officials announced distribution of $12.2 million in federal stimulus funds by the end of September for improvements to 10 state airports, according to Channel 19 news in Montgomery. John Eagerton IV, chief of the Aeronautics Bureau of the Alabama Department of Transportation, said the projects were shovel-ready.

4/1/09 - Alabama officials want to use federal transportation stimulus funds to determine whether concrete has a longer usable life than asphalt, saving money in the long run according to a Gadsden Times report. Alabama manufactures cement, a part of the concrete process however, out-of-state concrete paving companies would have to be hired as there are no Alabama based compaies. Some legislators say this isn't the time to experiment and that asphalt is a less costly material.

Arkansas
5/23/09 - Bids are being awarded for transportation projects funded with federal stimulus funds. The Ft. Smith Times Record reports that a $1.1 million resurfacing project will generate employment for a crew of about 17 and a second widening project should produce about 12 to 50 jobs in its different phases.

Arkansas’ State Highway Commission approved a list of 27 “shovel ready” transportation projects totaling just over $24 million. Arkansas’ State Highway and Transportation Department is expected to receive $351.5 million for state infrastructure-related projects and is ready to begin work on new efforts just as soon as they are approved. $26 million will be used for transportation-enhancement efforts and metro planning projects with the remaining $325.5 million going to the Highway Commission to be sued at its discretion. Roughly half the money - $117.7 million – must be obligated by July 8, 2009 or it will be distributed to programs from other states. However, with over $1 billion in ‘shovel-ready’ projects awaiting contract, the funds only meet some of Arkansas’ needs.Arkansas’ State Highway Commission approved a list of 27 “shovel ready” transportation projects totaling just over $24 million. Arkansas’ State Highway and Transportation Department is expected to receive $351.5 million for state infrastructure-related projects and is ready to begin work on new efforts just as soon as they are approved. $26 million will be used for transportation-enhancement efforts and metro planning projects with the remaining $325.5 million going to the Highway Commission to be sued at its discretion. Roughly half the money - $117.7 million – must be obligated by July 8, 2009 or it will be distributed to programs from other states. However, with over $1 billion in ‘shovel-ready’ projects awaiting contract, the funds only meet some of Arkansas’ needs.

Already there are news reports of hirings for road project. Under a formula the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department uses, Arkansas' share of the stimulus for road construction will "support" 10,530 to 12,285 jobs. "Thirty to 35 jobs supported for every $1 million of construction," said Randy Ort, an agency spokesman. "The key word is 'supported.' They're not all new jobs."

Arizona
7/7/09 - Listing of program funds received by Arizona for transportation

 

 

3/20/09 - According to a press release from the Arizona Department of Transportation, the State Transportation Board recently approved 41 shovel-ready highway projects that will rely on funding from the ARRA.

• Arizona Department of Transportation ARRA Implementation Plan

California
3/17/09 - The California Transportation Commission on March 11 selected 57 transportation projects totaling $625 million as the first to receive infrastructure-focused federal economic stimulus dollars, according to a release from the California Department of Transportation. The commission allocated funding for 56 of the projects pending approval from the Federal Highway Administration to release stimulus funds.

Colorado 
Gov. Bill Ritter signed into law the FASTER transportation bill, legislation that will save and create thousands of jobs, strengthen Colorado's economy and allow the state to repair unsafe bridges and roadways.  "At its core, the FASTER bill is about two fundamental things: jobs and safety," Gov. Ritter said at a signing ceremony attended by business leaders, local officials and transportation advocates. The ceremony was held near a bridge at Interstate 25 and 84th Avenue that will be repaired thanks to the Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery bill. 

Connecticut

3/31/09 - The governor announced the state will receive $1.73 million in federal stimulus  dollars to help fund three projects aimed at reducing diesel engine emissions, according to an article from Progressive Railroading. In addition, the Connecticut Department of Transportation will receive $510,000 to retrofit 170 diesel engine vehicles and various pieces of construction equipment, and the Port of New Haven will obtain $380,200 for a truck stop electrification parking area. The state has also approved nearly $163 million worth of federal stimulus-funded rail, bus and pedestrian/bike trail projects.

3/13/09 - The governor announced today that the state is spending $12.6 million of its federal stimulus funding to repair or replace overhead roadway sign supports and traffic signals.

The first round of transit funding in the federal stimulus package totaling $137.5 million statewide was released March 5, 2009. The funding comes from the Federal Transit Authority through the federal Department of Transportation. Future rounds of transportation stimulus money will flow through Gov. Rell's office. Connecticut is still whittling down the projects that would likely qualify for stimulus funding. The group will meet Monday to continue sifting through the list.

New London-Norwich area gets $4.7 million in transit funding 

Delaware
5/1/09 - According to the state recovery Web site, $139 million is available for highways, bridges, pedestrian, bicycle and transit-related projects, which are listed in the governor's press release. According to the News Journal, the transportation projects will save or create about 1,200 jobs.

Georgia 

3/20/09 - The federal government is about to pay for some Georgia asphalt —- and Georgia jobs, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The state Transportation Board on Thursday scheduled $23.5 million worth of federal stimulus projects for bidding next month, marking the first time stimulus dollars will turn into pavement in Georgia. Maintenance and paving projects dominate the list. Federal guidelines require projects to be "shovel-ready," and those types of projects are faster to prepare. The idea of the stimulus is primarily to create jobs and get more money into the economy fast, not necessarily to relieve congestion, one of metro Atlanta's needs.

 

Department of Transportation spokeswoman Crystal Paulk-Buchanan said the state doesn't know yet how many jobs these projects will produce. She said one estimate showed that $1.1 billion in transportation funds for Georgia could generate as many as 35,000 jobs.

 

Despite abruptly firing their top administrator Gena Evans, despite a pending legislative attempt to politically neuter them, and despite not having a draft project list to begin spending $1 billion in federal stimulus money, state Department of Transportation leaders say that drivers shouldn’t despair. DOT board members said the stimulus money, which may start flowing as early as the week of May 3, will be spent quickly.

 

Hawaii

6/30/09 - On June 19, Hawaii became the last state to commit at least half of its highway stimulus funds, meeting a federal requirement.  States had until June 29 to obligate the funds or risk losing half of the leftover money.  In order to commit the funds, states had to receive approval for their projects from the Federal Highway Administration.  

 

 

 

 

 

3/19/09 - On March 16, Gov. Linda Lingle and state Transportation Director Brennon Morioka released a list of state and county projects taht will be funded using stimulus money. Gov. Lingle estimates that the stimulus-funded transportation projects will generate 3,170 jobs statewide in the construction industry and other related sectors. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism estimates that for every million dollars in stimulus money invested, 12.9 jobs will be created or preserved.

• View maps of projects by island
• View a list of state and county projects

Hawaii is expected to receive $280 million for state infrastructure-related projects. This includes nearly $126 million in federal highway funds. Transportation officials plan to make an announcement by March 17 on details of the projects that will be funded.

 

It also includes nearly $44 million for transit projects, including transportation capital improvements, rural transportation assistance, and ferry services. The state Department of Transportation will receive $2.93 million, and the remainder will go to the city and county of Honolulu. 

 

Idaho

4/1/09 - The Idaho Transportation Board's major projects for federal stimulus funding total $149.9 million. ITD also approved $28 million for local highway district and $18.4 million for transit projects.

• U.S. Highway 2, Dover Bridge, $36.8 million
• U.S. Highway 95, Moscow Mountain passing lanes, $3.9 million
• U.S. 95, top of White Bird Grade to chain-up area, $5.2 million
• Interstate 84, Vista Interchange, $43.4 million
• U.S. Highway 93, Twin Falls Alternate Route, $40.4 million
• Interstate 86, Chubbuck Interchange to Pocatello Creek Interchange, $11.3 million
• U.S. Highway 20, Henry's Lake Flat passing lanes, $3.5 million
• Idaho 48, Rigby High School to Yellowsone Highway, $5.4 million

Idaho will receive $200 million for transportation ($181.9 million for highways and $18.4 for public transit). 

 

Illinois

6/18/09 - Plans for high-speed rail in the Midwest—with Chicago as its hub—appear to be among the front runners for stimulus funding based on federal criteria released June 17, according to the Associated Press. The Midwest plan includes a network of rail in eight Midwest states that would connect 12 metropolitan areas within 400 miles, according to AP. California’s plan for high-speed rail also appear to meet the federal criteria.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/18/09 - The Chicago Transit Authority announced its first project funded by the federal stimulus package: It approved a contract to renew 36,000 feet of track in the Blue Line Dearborn subway, the Chi-Town Daily News reported. Work on the project is expected to begin in April, the newspaper reported.

 

Indiana

6/30/09 -

 

·         INDOT Exceeds Federal Milestone with May ARRA Projects List – May 8.

·         INDOT Pinpoints 22 Projects in 17 Counties for ARRA Funding – April 13.

 

·         February bid letting list

·         March bid letting list

·         April bid letting list

·         May bid letting list

·         June bid letting list

·         Map of stimulus letting counties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5/5/09 - The $198 million local agency distribution - specific dollar amounts that have not yet been determined - will be divided among the state’s 14 Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Group III cities (populations between 5,000 and 50,000), Group IV cities (populations under 5,000), and local bridge projects. 

 

 

The Indianapolis Star reports that Indiana was “one of the fastest states out of the block in putting federal stimulus money to use to improve the state’s roads and bridges.”    The state had 32 highway projects funded by federal stimulus dollars underway at the end of March, more than any other state.  These projects represent six percent of the total the state expects for highway infrastructure.

 

 

 

3/16/09 - According to a press release from the governor's office, "on March 13, Governor Daniels sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood outlining the state’s plan for $658 million in highway infrastructure stimulus funds."

 

3/5/09 - Indiana is expected to receive $658 million for state infrastructure-related projects.  This will be distributed as follows:  $440 for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT); $198 million for local agencies; and $20 million for transportation enhancement projects for items such as sidewalks and trails. $220 million must be obligated for INDOT projects by June 30, 2009 or it will be distributed to programs from other states.   The remaining $220 million must be obligated by March 2, 2010.   All local agencies must obligate the $198 million by March 2, 2010, and all projects must be completed by February 17, 2012.

 

INDOT has nearly completed its plan for distribution of the state’s $658 million share of federal economic stimulus funds for highway infrastructure.   INDOT has identified and released its second list of state projects (available at www.in.gov/indot/2400.htm) for bid that will use federal stimulus dollars.  This includes 29 projects in 21 counties, valued at $43.6 million.  The first list included 26 projects with a value of roughly $39 million.

 

The $198 million local agency distribution - specific dollar amounts that have not yet been determined - will be divided among the state’s 14 Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Group III cities (populations between 5,000 and 50,000), Group IV cities (populations under 5,000), and local bridge projects.

 

Iowa

3/20/09 - On March 20, Governor Culver announced the awarding of 11 additional state highway projects, totaling $48.9 million, which are all slated to begin construction this season. A list of all state and local highway and bridge candidate projects and tentative bid letting dates is available on Iowa DOT’s ARRA Web site.

Iowa is expected to receive $359 million for Iowa highway and bridge projects.  On February 21, Iowa transportation officials Friday awarded $56.6 million in contracts for 19 highway and bridge projects using federal stimulus dollars. 

 

Kansas

5/5/09 - Here's a breakdown from the Kansas Department of Transportation of projects to be financed by the $378 million in federal stimulus money the state has received for transportation projects:

State Highways

• U.S. 69 in Overland Park, three miles of road improvements from Interstate 35 to 103rd Street. Estimated cost: $84 million.
• I-135 and 47th Street in Wichita, construction and update of interchange. Estimated cost: $23 million.
• Kansas 23 in Gove County, safety improvements for 16 miles of narrow road that lack shoulders and has steep side slopes. Estimated cost: $11 million.
• K-61 in McPherson County, expand to four lanes along 15 miles. Contract awarded for $64.2 million.
• K-18 between Manhattan and Ogden, initial phase to expand to four lanes. Estimated cost: $80 million.

Total: $262.2 million.

Local Projects

• Kansas City area, projects to be determined by Mid-America Area Regional Council, $22 million.
• Wichita area, projects to be determined by Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, $16 million.
• Other local governments for metro area projects, $35 million.

Total: $73 million.

Public Transit

• For cities of 50,000 or more, $16 million.
• For all remaining areas of the state, $14 million.

Total: $30 million.

Other Items

• Projects such as bike paths and historic restoration of train stations, $11.2 million.
• Capital improvements such as track for short line railroads, $3 million.

Total: $14.2 million.

Grand total: $379.4 million. 

 

4/7/09

• The Kansas City Aviation Authority will get a $7 million grant for improvements at Kansas International Airport.
• Amtrack has announced $1.04 million for six stations in Kansas.
• Two railroad projects in Kansas have been selected to share $847,826 in stimulus funds.

3/16/09 - Kansas is setting aside $3 million in federal stimulus funds for shortline railroad projects, according to a report by the Associated Press. The Department of Transportation said Monday that it is giving railroads and local port authorities until 5 pm on March 23 to apply for the money. The agency says it will announce which projects have been selected a week later.

According to an article in The New York Times, Kansas will concentrate its transportation money on a few new projects that Secretary Deb Miller called "game changers." The state will spend nearly a quarter of its money building the next leg of a project to expand Route 69 in Overland Park, a bustling suburban area near Kansas City. It will rebuild an interchange in Wichita in an area where developers want to put more retail space, rebuild a rural highway in Gove County that gets heavy truck traffice, and complete at 10-year project to improve a corridor in McPherson County where work was stopped because the money had dried up.

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation says that it would share about 20 percent of the $380 million in transportatio funds with cities and counties for local road projects, based on the state's formula for distributing federal transportation dollars, according to an article in theDodge Globe. All applications for federal funding are due to KDOT by March 13. KDOT district officials will review proposals, choose the ones they want to see done and turn a list of projects in to the agency's headquarters in Topeka. The agency hopes to announce the final list of proejcts by March 20.

 

Kentucky

Kentucky will receive $421 million for highways and bridges. Gov. Beshear and legislative leaders have been working together on a road plan that contains projects that meet the federal government's requirement that 50 percent of those funds be obligated within 120 days. Projects must be shovel-ready.

 

Louisiana 

Louisiana’s transportation department is expected to request federal stimulus dollars for a New Orleans to Baton Rouge rail service.  Of note here is the fact that Gov. Jindal criticized the very pot of money that makes this grant possible in his rebuttal to the President’s speech last week.  

 

The Port of New Orleans remains unsure how the "Buy American" provision included in the federal bill may impact trade in and out of the port. The provision appears to be directed primarily at steel products, which are essential for many of the infrastructure and transportation projects the stimulus bill hopes to create. The provision stipulates that any project funded by stimulus dollars must use American produced iron, steel, and manufactured goods unless it increases the project's overall cost by 25 percent or violates U.S. obligations under international agreements. At this point it is unclear what exactly that means, but officials in Louisiana are monitoring it very closely.

Maine
The state is expected to receive about $162 million in transportation funds. Of that, $130 million would go for highways and bridges, $13.2 million for transit projects and up to $20 million for aviation-related projects. The state also hopes to get federal funds from competitive transportation grants. Gov. Baldacci has said he expects highway work throughout the state to create more than 11,000 new jobs.

• Maine Department of Transportation Recovery Plan Projects 

Massachusetts

State officials spent about two months compiling a list of more than 8,000 infrastructure projects, totaling $28 billion, and have spent recent weeks whittling down the list to send to federal officials for certification. The whittled down list includes $336 million in highway projects (out of a potential $437.9 the state is eligible to spend, about a thrid of which must be started in the next four months) and $263 million in transit projects (out of a potential $319 million, about half of which must be started in the next six months). If federal approvatl is given to the list, state leaders are hoping to put some projects out to bid within two weeks.

   

Minnesota

3/13/09 - The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced the contractors who submitted the apparent lowest bids to build 11 road and bridge projects in Greater Minnesota with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Bids for these projects total approximately $40 million.

The 11 projects are are of 60 state highway projects in Greater Minnesota totaling $180 million that Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel announced in February. Yesterday, Mn/DOT announced an additional 53 city and county road and bridge projects in Greater Minnesota totaling $75 million. State and local projects in the Twin Cities Metro area will be announced later this month.

"Mn/DOT is working to ensure that Minnesota's share of the federal stimulus funds is used efficiently and effectively," said Sorel. "It is expected that these first 11 projects will create more than 1,000 jobs in Minnesota and improve the Great Minnesota transportation system."

The 11 projects include seven concrete and bituminous resurfacing projects, such as a $5 million project on Highway 75 in Ortonville and a $16 million project on Interstate 90 from Alden to Albert Lea. Safety projects include at $1.4 million project to install cable median barriers along Interstate 94 east of Sauk Centre.

A list of projects can be found on Mn/DOT's Web site.

 

Mississippi

3/25/09 - Coastal cities will get nearly $10 million for transportation projects as part of President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package, MDOT officials said Wednesday in an article printed in The Sun Herald. The money is being administered by Gulf Regional Planning Commission and includes work in the 11 cities along the Coast.

Mississippi received about $354 million in stimulus money for transportation projects, said Melinda McGrath, deputy director and chief engineer for the Mississippi Department of Transportation.  MDOT received the bulk of the money for statewide projects, McGrath said. Nearly $74 million is being spent in cities with a population between 5,000 and 200,000. Another $11 million was put in a fund for state aid to roads for cities of less than 5,000 people.

Stimulus funds for transportation are already flowing into Mississippi, with construction bids to be received this month - a full two years earlier than expected - on the Mississippi 19 four-laning project from the Lauderdale County line to the House community, thanks to $50 million in federal stimulus money, says an article in The Neshoba Democrat. Overall, East Mississippi will get $111 million out of a total $300 million MDOT received in the massive federal stimulus package passed last month by Congress. 

 

Missouri

7/7/09 - Missouri was also the first state to move forward with transportation projects that will be funded with stimulus dollars. The state broke ground on the Osage Rive Bridge project Feb. 17 as soon as President Obama signed the stimulus bill. The state used savings gleaned from other projects to jumpstart that project and other stimulus projects while they waited for stimulus dollars to be released from the Federal Highway Administration. Now, the first 120-day deadline has passed to allocate the first wave of funding. To date, Missouri has received $17,965,715.24 in stimulus funds for highway infrastructure investment and used that to pay numerous vendors listed here, according to the Missouri Accountability Portal.

Contact:

Todd Grosvenor, finance manager at Missouri Department of transportation

MDOT communications office (573) 526-6687

 

Montana

• Montana Department of Transportation: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Information

Nebraska
3/17/09 - Gov. Dave Heineman today announced the distribution of more than $25 million in American Recovery and Renivestment Act (ARRA) funding for upgrades to state highways. The seven projects are the first in a series of road projects to be awarded ARRA funding. A list of the projects can be found on the governor's Web site.

New Hampshire
4/8/09 - Two days after President Obama signed the federal stimulus package into law, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch and the state’s transportation commissioner released a list of transportation projects that will go out to bid and move forward with stimulus funding. The first, released Feb. 19, is a $9.5 million payment rehabilitation project on New Hampshire Route 101. Beginning Feb. 24, NHDOT advertised another project to construct a new part of Interstate 93. In the first round of funding, NHDOT will receive $129.4 million—that money was release March 3—and  the department plans to award projects totaling half that amount by the end of June, according to the governor’s office. New Hampshire officials also expect that Federal Aviation Administration funding through the stimulus will fund an estimated $5 million in airports improvements in the state, according to a New Hampshire press release. Those projects have not yet been confirmed, the press release said.

New Jersey
4/13/09 - More and more bid invitations are going out on transportation related projects. And more contracts are being awarded as a result. Six more are expected to go through the bid process in the next two months. The vast majority of the projects are expected to produce work for New Jersey based firms although there are projects related to bridge painting that will likely not go to such firms in large part due to the fact that New Jersey does not have many firms that specialize in that type of work.

 

3/19/09 - New Jersey has started accepting bids on the first three transportation-related projects that will be partially funded via federal stimulus dollars. According to a report by the Associated Press, the work pertains to bridges.

 

 

 

 

 

3/5/09 - The White House recently announced that $652 million in federal stimulus dollars would be distributed in New Jersey. Of that, $175 million is required to be spent in urban areas with populations of at least 200,000 people. The state has only four months to assign the funds to specific projects. 

New Mexico
4/9/09 - In a recent press release, Gov. Richardson announced that contracts have been awarded for four highway projects that will be funded through the ARRA. The projects, involving the reconstruction of parts of US 62/180, NM 128, US 84/285 and US491, will begin construction sometime next month. It is expected that these projects will cost around $50 million.

New York

3/19/09 - The New York state metropolitan planning organizations, those agencies responsible for selecting the projects that will receive federeal stimulus funding, have issued their lists of selected projects. Most of the western and northern parts of the state will focus those funds on roads and bridges, whereas the New York City metropolitan area will receive funds specifically earmarked mainly for mass transit projects.

 

3/2/09 - A movement to revitalize earlier plans to develop a new train station on the grounds of New York City’s main post office has gained new life due to the availability of federal stimulus dollars. The Farley post office is the site for the proposed station which is named after the late N.Y. Senator Patrick Moynihan. However, the new impetus for this plan, driven by Sen. Charles Shumer, is running into some opposition. He is proposing the use of $100 million of stimulus funds as the financial backing for the project and that additional funding should come as part of the $8 billion in federal funding for high speed rail production and $1.2 billion for Amtrak. The opposition stems from alternate plans from proponents of the high speed rail plan who want to us the stimulus funding for new high speed train route that would connect several important metropolitan areas of the state. Further stumbling blocks might come from Amtrak itself due to the possibility of its own plans for use of the stimulus funds allotted to the transportation giant. Crain's New York

 

North Carolina

4/16/09 - On April 2, Gov. Beverly Perdue attended the ceremonial groundbreaking for one of the first of stimulus-funded highway improvement projects in North Carolina. According to a press release from the state recovery Web site, the $6.1 million project has been bid out to an in-state company and construction may start as early as April 27. There were a total of 11 stimulus-funded transportation projects contracted out last month, including this project which will involve the widening of a section of U.S. 158.

 

3/13/09 - An estimated $93 million in transportation projects will be out for bid this month and going into March, said North Carolina Secretary of Transportation Gene Conti. Project contracts will be awarded beginning in March. A total of $466 million in contracts will be awarded with the stimulus funding from now until June, according to Conti. The transportation projects funded through the federal stimulus will result in an estimated 14,000 jobs with the first round of funding, Conti said.

Contact

Gene Conti

Secretary of Transportation

(919) 733-2522 

Ohio

4/13/09 - The Ohio Department of Transportation expects to create at least 500-600 jobs this year based on the number of infrastructure projects set to kick off. These projects are funded in part by the federal stimulus package. This money will aid in getting some 650 roadway and bridge projects up and running across the state over the next 15 months. Also, at least 65 additional infrastructure projects pertaining to tranportation will start over that same period.

3/26/09 - Gov. Ted Strickland and Department of Transportation Director Jolene Molitoris are making plans to announce on Thursday that specific roads and bridges projects will be identified and that those projects will be the ones receiving the $935 million in federal stimulus funds to be awarded for that purpose.

 

3/19/09 - Ohio, along with Indiana and Kentucky, have specified transportation-related projects that are "shovel-ready" and that are slated to receive a distribution of $39 million in stimulus funds. The states will divide this money with Ohio getting the bulk of it at $30 million.

Metro, the main bus system for Southwest Ohio, will receive $17.5 million in federal funds. The organization has already identified five projects that will be paid for using the money, including the purchase of new buses.

 

3/18/09 - According to an article by the Associated Press, the Republican controlled Ohio Senate has decided to pursue $250 million in federal stimulus funding for passenger rail service between major cities. However, they would require that the entire legislature pass law approving any construction whereas the Democrat-controlled House would only require the Controlling Board grant approval. The Senate version heads to the floor Wednesday and will require the two chambers work out differences.

March 3 marked the deadline for entities interested in receiving federal stimulus dollars for projects funded by the Federal Highway Administration to submit a statement of interest to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). This deadline applied to the distribution of specific transportation infrastructure project funds, which ODOT currently estimates will total approximately $774 million. A list of deadlines for ODOT project funded through the stimulus package is available on the state's recovery Web site.

 

Oklahoma

6/24/09 - According to The News on 6, “The Oklahoma Department of Transportation accepted $360 million four months ago. Now, more than 80 percent of those funds have been awarded in construction contracts. Even stimulus watchdog Senator Tom Coburn says he's impressed at ODOT's speed in getting these projects off the ground.”

 

 

According to NewsOK.com, “State transportation officials are considering competing for additional federal stimulus dollars to develop a high-speed rail corridor in Oklahoma. Transportation Director Gary Ridley said Monday officials are still reviewing President Barack Obama’s proposed plan for high-speed rail development across the country. Guidelines for the program were released last week.

Ridley said there is about $8 billion available to states for updates to rail lines and high-speed train service. Oklahoma City is included as part of a south-central high-speed rail corridor proposed in the plan. The corridor, one of 10 proposed across the country, would include Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas. Trains would travel up to 150 mph.”

 

“Fewer than four months after receiving $465 million in federal stimulus funds, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments and county governments have awarded $382 million in construction contracts. No other state transportation department has awarded a greater share of its stimulus funds than Oklahoma's 82 percent.” - TulsaWorld

 

 

 

 

 

5/13/09 - According to an AP report, "State transportation officials say Oklahoma leads the nation in the percentage of federal economic stimulus money that has been spent on road and bridge improvements.Oklahoma received $465 million in stimulus money for road and bridge improvements and other transportation projects. The state has already spent $320 million, including a $75 million project awarded Monday to improve part of Interstate 244 in Tulsa.”

 

4/22/09 - The Obama Administration announced plans for 10 high-speed rail corridors, funded by $8 billion in federal stimulus dollars. Oklahoma City-Tulsa was one of the suggested corridors, according to Tulsa World.

 

According to ProPublica, "Oklahoma has already received approval for two-thirds of its funding and awarded contracts on some $200 million worth of road work. Its biggest project is rebuilding eight miles of Interstate 40 west of Oklahoma City, where some of the concrete hasn't been replaced since the 1960s, when it was still called Route 66, said Gary Ridley, director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

 

U.S. Department of Transportation ARRA Certification/Oklahoma ARRA Phase 3 Proejcts - This certification lists the Oklahoma Department of Transportation projects for which bids are expected by May 14, 2009

 

 

4/13/09 - The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has a list of active construction projects funded by stimulus money on their Web site.  

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports “Of the 465 million is expected to receive under the plan, $340 is designated for highway projects in March. Highway improvements will include interstate rehabilitation, major bridge projects and safety projects such as cable barriers. Projects scheduled for letting as part of the stimulus package had already been deemed necessary and had been previously scheduled in ODOT’s eight-year Construction Work Plan or pavement preservation program.”

 

Oregon

6/2/09 - The state Department of Transportation Web site describes how $410 million will be spent on state highways, transit systems and bicylce/pedestrian infrastructure.

 

The Oregon Transportation Commission lists 40 projects, with most going to safety, preservation, modernization and bridge projects. According to the governor's press release, the approved projects will support 1,800 construction jobs this year.

 

Pennsylvania

Infrastructure support will be $1.4 billion - bridges, road resurfacing, safety improvements. Public transportation will receive $344 million. See PA DOT for a list of projects to be funded. 

 

Rhode Island

4/27/09 - In a press release, RI Department of Transportation Director Michael P. Lewis reported that the state had obligated 50 percent of federal transportation stimulus funds by March 16, 2009, well ahead of the July 2 deadline. “This ensures that all the ARRA dollars given to Rhode Island will stay in Rhode Island, and positions us to receive any additional dollars other states might not be able to spend,” he said. Thirty of 54 jobs have been authorized to begin.

 

3/18/09 - Governor Carcieri signed the first transportation contract using federal stimulus funds. Ground breaking is expected in a few weeks.

 

 

The state is ready to start seven highway and bridge projects as soon as the weather permits using federal stimulus funds just released by President Obama. The Department of Transportation has identified another 53 projects and fully expects the bidding process to be completed in time to meet all federal requirements. The DOT estimates the projects will create 1,600 construction jobs directly and another 3,400 jobs indirectly. The DOT director says the state's speedy process puts them in a good position to compete for additional funds other states may lose. The governor has said he wants at least 15 projects underway by April.

 

South Carolina

3/23/09 - The South Carolina Transportation Commission met last week to discuss adding as much as $100 million to plans for federal stimulus projects. That would bring total spending in the state to nearly $314 million. The commission is also expected to alter its list of projecs for how the money will be spent.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation is preparing "shovel ready" projects in anticipation of accepting funds, however, the governor has not determined whether or not his cabinet agencies will accept funds.

 

The White House confirmed yesterday that South Carolina will receive $463 million for transportation projects under the economic stimulus plan. Of that, $44 million must be spent in urban areas, meaning locations with more than 200,000 residents. About $310 million can be spent anywhere in the state and will be left to the discretion of the governor and the state Department of Transportation. The S.C. Department of Transportation has recently launched a Web site with stimulus related project information.

 

Tennesse

3/18/09 - According to a story in the Memphis Business Journal, the Memphis metro areas will receive the largest portion of grants in the state. More than $90 million is expected to be used for road and bridge improvements. Interestingly, some of the allocate funds will come from other states, with Arkansas and Mississippi both providing funds to the area. Arkansas will give $1.5 million and Mississippi will allocate $2.4 million to the Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization. These funds are in addition to the $26.2 million that the Organization will receive from the state of Tennessee.

 

Local governments now find themselves vying for the title "most economically distressed," according to an article in The Tennessean. That's because a part of the economic stimulus package directing an estimated $572 million for state road projects puts priority on economically distressed areas. State transportation officials are waiting for federal guidance on exactly what that means, while some lawmakers already have begun fighting for the money for their counties. The debate probably will continue in the weeks ahead, because demand for money is far greater than what's available. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has put together an $850 million list of "shovel-ready" road projects that could take advantage of stimulus dollars, even though it expects to get just $572 million for roads and bridges.

 

Texas

3/20/09 - 

• Texas Department of Transportation – Economic Stimulus Projects (updated 3/18/09)
• Texas Transportation Commission documents