WASHINGTON--The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Thursday released its second report on how the federal government, states, and localities are investing funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
On May 1, 2009, the Committee sent 468 letters to states, the District of Columbia, territories, metropolitan planning organizations, and public transit agencies to request information on their use of Recovery Act formula funds for highways, bridges, public transit, clean water, and other infrastructure projects under the Committee’s jurisdiction.
According to the data received, 2,901 highway and transit projects in 50 states and territories and the District of Columbia totaling nearly $10 billion had been put out to bid as of April 30, 2009, just 72 days after President Obama signed the Recovery Act. Of those projects, 1,099 highway and transit projects in 43 states and the District of Columbia totaling $3.5 billion were already under contract. Work had begun on 545 projects in 37 States and the District of Columbia totaling $2.1 billion.
“The states and their local partners have demonstrated that they can deliver transportation and infrastructure projects and create urgently needed employment in the tight timeframes set forth in the Recovery Act,” said Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.), Chairman of the Committee. “This Committee is committed to transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Recovery Act and we will continue our vigorous oversight of how the money is invested.”
The Committee also received reports from all federal agencies implementing programs that received Recovery Act funds for projects under the Committee’s jurisdiction. As of May 15, 2009, the agencies had announced 5,850 projects totaling $22 billion. Funds had been obligated for 3,426 projects totaling $11.6 billion. The Federal Highway Administration alone had obligated 3,305 projects totaling $11.3 billion, over 41 percent of the total highway funds in the Act.
The Committee is requesting that federal agencies, states, and other grant recipients file their next reports by June 15.
###
State-by-State and Project-by-Project data
