100% of Recovery Act transit funds committed to projects

881 transit projects

Vilas Bhuchar, Mar 08, 10.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Friday met its deadline of awarding 100%, or over $7.5 billion, of its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds toward transit projects, according to Fast Lane, the official blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

The final round of 191 grants, announced Friday by Vice President Joe Biden, totaled over $600 million and will reach 42 states and Puerto Rico, according to Reuters.com.

With this final round of spending, the FTA has obligated over $7.5 billion to 881 transit projects since President Obama signed the ARRA in February 2009, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT):

So far, Recovery Act funds have supported the purchase of nearly 12,000 buses, vans, and rail vehicles, the construction or renovation of more than 850 transit facilities, and the performance of more than $620 million in preventive maintenance, which has helped to save transit service and jobs, and enhance service reliability.

Biden noted that both construction and manufacturing workers have benefited from the transit investments, according to the DOT story:

“Investing in these transit upgrades not only puts construction workers on the job at project sites, but supports American manufacturing jobs all the way down the supply chain,” said Vice President Biden. “At a time when jobs are priority number one, that means twice the employment bang for the Recovery Act buck.”

In addition to spurring job creation, the investments will also enhance mobility options for people around the country, according to the Fast Lane blog:

And for those who can’t afford to own a car, who live where the roadways are congested, who are concerned about greenhouse gas emissions, or who simply want to read a book or a newspaper while traveling to work or to a doctor’s office, those transit improvements are essential.

Both benefits were summed up by FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff, quoted in the DOT story:

“Investing in modern, efficient transit systems will mean safe, reliable travel and clean air in our communities. These projects are putting thousands of Americans to work right now while improving the lives of millions of Americans for years to come.”

Fast Lane: Recovery Act transit investments pay multiple dividends
Reuters: U.S. government awards final stimulus transit grants
U.S. DOT: Vice President Biden Announces Nearly 200 New Recovery Act Transit Projects in 42 States