The comprehensive study, released today by the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in conjunction with state transportation departments (DOTs) in Nevada, Michigan, Georgia and Rhode Island, finds that one year after its passage, state DOTs have set an amazing record of speed and efficiency, putting 77% of the $34.3 billion provided for highways and transit out to bid on 12,250 transportation projects. The 9,240 projects under construction total $20.6 billion. One hundred-fifty of these projects are profiled on the companion website at: recovery.transportation.org. As a result of the Recovery Act, 280,000 direct, on-project jobs have been created or sustained across the country.
“That’s a lot of projects and paychecks,” said Larry “Butch” Brown, AASHTO President and Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation. “U.S. unemployment in the construction trades has surpassed 20%. Recovery dollars are helping to rescue thousands of workers like Frank Anzenberger, a 30-year construction veteran who’d been unemployed for more than six months before he was called back to work on a recovery project in Michigan.”
With bids running as low as 30% below estimates, the study finds that states stretched federal dollars even further, creating more jobs and more miles of improvements.
California, Georgia and Texas awarded more than 90% of their highway contracts below original cost estimates.
The report, which includes data from the states, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Federal Highway Administration, also found an impressive list of completed projects. As of January 7, 2010, 1,125 bridges had been improved or replaced, 21,400 miles of pavement had been resurfaced or widened, and 1,700 safety traffic-management projects had been put into place.
“Projects and Paychecks proves just how big a role stimulus is playing to keep Americans working,” said John Horsley, AASHTO Executive Director. “In January, state DOTs identified more than 9,800 additional “ready-to-go” projects worth $79 billion. Congress needs to move quickly to pass another jobs bill. This study proves transportation projects can deliver hundreds of thousands of jobs for America,” Horsley said.
