Transportation Commission Approves $1.2 Billion of Stimulus Funds
Funds will be used for several construction projects throughout Texas.
March 6, 2009
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials recommended that transportation projects be funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly known as the economic stimulus package. Stimulus fund spending was approved by the Texas Transportation Commission at a special meeting today.
Commission action on more than $1 billion in stimulus spending was delayed for a week so that commissioners and TxDOT staff could continue working with local, state and federal officials to identify and evaluate additional projects. As a result of those discussions, TxDOT staff added six projects to its February 25 draft recommendation for economic stimulus spending.
The commission approved allocating $1.2 billion in stimulus funds for 29 construction projects across the state. Most of the projects will be built with financial support from other agencies and resources. As a result of pooling other funds with ARRA money, stimulus-related construction will build more than $2.6 billion in new transportation projects for the state.
The commission also renewed its support for roadway and bridge maintenance and rehabilitation projects valued at more than $500 million. The list of maintenance projects advanced with economic stimulus funds was amended to include 10 additional projects in counties classified by the federal government as economically distressed. At the staff’s recommendation, 22 projects previously identified for stimulus money will now be funded through TxDOT’s maintenance program for Fiscal Year 2010 and will be let to contract by September 2009.
“Texas is making the most of our economic stimulus funds,” said Deirdre Delisi, Texas Transportation Commission Chair. “We are working with local partners to build long-needed projects and to maintain a reliable and safe transportation system. Today’s vote reflects four months of hard work by TxDOT staff and community leaders. Now, it’s time to put Texans to work.”
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