The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday, Aug. 2, announced more than $363 million in grants to fund a wide variety of highway improvements, from interstate rehabilitation and reconstruction to technologies designed to improve safety and reduce construction congestion.
“Investments in transportation projects like these create jobs right away in communities across the country, and lay a foundation for future economic growth,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Thanks to these grants, states, cities and local communities can move forward with the transportation projects Americans need to reach their destinations more safely, quickly and efficiently.”
The Federal Highway Administration invited states, cities, tribal governments and local planning organizations to apply for federal funding from 12 grant programs. Nearly 1,500 requests were made from every state, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. totaling about $2.5 billion. Grant funding was made available through enactment of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II.
The 12 programs are:
• Truck Parking Facilities;
• Interstate Maintenance;
• Transportation, Community and System Preservation;
• Innovative Bridge Research and Deployment;
• Public Lands Highway;
• National Scenic Byways;
• Value Pricing Pilot;
• Highways for Life;
• Delta Region Transportation Development;
• Railway-Highway Crossing Hazard Elimination in High Speed Rail Corridor;
• National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation; and
• Ferry Boat.
All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico were awarded grants. Descriptions of each program and grant awards can be found at www.fhwa.dot.gov/discretionary/2012factsheets.cfm.
“The demand for these funds demonstrates a clear need for increased infrastructure investment,” said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. “These programs were authorized by Congress to support projects that improve roadway safety, maintain the nation’s roads and bridges and make communities more livable.”
A state-by-state list of the FY12 grants is available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/discretionary/2012grantdata.cfm.
