Seven slow

By: Roads & Bridges

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) has created a monthly report tracking the expenditure of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) based on data provided by the Federal Highway Administration.

The initial report shows that state and local DOTs are making good progress toward the goal of using ARRA highway funds to make highway investments and create jobs in the U.S. economy. Below are highlights of the first report, as well as a color-coded map of the U.S. showing each state’s activity.

• Forty-four states have obligated a total of $5.508 billion for highway improvements. The one-month total represents 59% of the $9.33 billion that must be obligated within 120 days of apportionment (by June 30) and 20.7% of the total amount of highway funds apportioned;
• Eight states are already paying contractors for construction work performed, with outlays to date totaling $2.2 million;
• Seven states, however, have not obligated any ARRA funds as of April 7: Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Ohio and Virginia. If these states fail to act by June 30, as much as $1.54 billion would be pulled back and distributed to other states; and
• Two states—Iowa and Massachusetts—have transferred a total of $13.2 million of ARRA highway funds to the Federal Transit Administration for transit projects. No states have yet used ARRA highway funds for freight or passenger rail or port infrastructure projects.