LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Raul Leal,

In observance of the one-year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) state transportation officials have obligated approximately $1.9 billion of the $2.25 billion Texas received for transportation projects.

To date, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has spent approximately $389 million for highways and bridges, public transportation, and general aviation.

ARRA, signed by the President February 17, 2009 required the first 50 percent of all highway and bridge funding, approximately $775 million, be obligated within 120 days from the date states received apportionments and the remaining 50 percent within 12 months of that date, March 1.  Texas met the 120-day obligation requirement two weeks before the deadline.

“We worked diligently with our transportation partners around the state to meet the ARRA requirements and deadlines to utilize these funds that will advance projects to completion,” said Amadeo Saenz, TxDOT’ Executive Director.

In addition to highway and bridge funds, ARRA also provided $67.5 million for transportation enhancement projects, which includes hike and bike trails, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities and much more.

For transit, Texas received $371 million, splitting the funding with $301 million for urban areas and $42 million for rural transit providers.  Another $28 million has been made available to cities through a high growth and high density state formula, providing nearly $50 million for rural transit in total.

Texas and other states were required to apply for portions of the $1.1 billion ARRA aviation funds made available on a project specific basis to the Federal Aviation Administration.  To date, Texas has received funding for six aviation projects totaling $17 million.

TxDOT also submitted nine applications to High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Grant program (HSIPR), funded by ARRA and the 2009 Appropriations Act.  Two projects were awarded for $11 million.  Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer, traveling from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth received a $4 million award and Fort Worth’s Trinity Rail Express was awarded $7 million to improve commuter rail service between Fort Worth and Dallas. Both of the Texas grant awards directly impact existing passenger rail in the
state, allowing existing lines to travel at higher speeds or avoid congestion.

Texas received $7.2 million in discretionary funding for the construction of a new 28-car ferry vessel for TxDOT’s Port Aransas Ferry System in Nueces County. The project is in the preliminary stage. 

“Texas is leveraging $2.2 billion in stimulus funds to build more than $3.5 billion in multimodal transportation projects.  We’ve met our goals and we’re for the Recovery Act. We’re keeping Texas moving.” said Saenz.

All ARRA funding must be obligated by March 1. To date, TxDOT has approximately $261 million left to obligate and will meet the deadline.

ARRA’s goal to impact jobs helped contractors across the state maintain workforce levels, calming the effects of the recession and allowing the construction industry, as a whole, keeping thousands of workers off the unemployment rolls, which is a significant boost to the economy.

Through the end of 2009, Texas transportation contractors reported more than 2 million payroll hours for workers working on projects funded with ARRA dollars. This translates to approximately 4,000 full time employees.

Additionally, TxDOT took steps to require contractors to provide additional training for workers. These workers will leave job sites with additional skills that can be utilized in the future, increasing the population of skilled workers.  This was not an ARRA requirement, but it was something that TxDOT believed was an important element considering the jobs situation in our country.

Texas submitted approximately 100 projects for funding through ARRA’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant program.  Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Texas will receive two TIGER grants benefitting Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex transportation projects.  The North Texas Tollway Authority will receive $20 million to support a direct Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan of approximately $400 million for
the State Highway 161 project in Dallas.  The North Central Texas Council of Governments will receive $23 million to develop a streetcar service in downtown Dallas.