With most highway construction projects wrapped up for the winter, it is clear that investments by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have helped maintain and create jobs in Washington state.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) this week released updated Recovery Act employment and payroll numbers that are reported monthly to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Washington’s workers earned $10.9 million in payroll for 284,192 hours of work in October. Since the Recovery Act was passed in February, workers have logged more than 1 million hours on Washington stimulus projects, earning nearly $40 million in wages.
“Transportation infrastructure investments are helping the economy recover,” said Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond, participating yesterday in President Barack Obama’s Jobs Summit at the White House. “The state of Washington is putting the money and jobs where they are needed most. Approximately $336 million, or 70%, of our Recovery Act highway funding will be spent in 28 counties federally defined as economically distressed. Nationally, more than a thousand projects have been completed, and thousands more are under way. More importantly, private- and public-sector jobs have been saved or created.”
Hammond last week received an invitation to attend President Obama’s forum on Jobs and Economic Development, Dec. 3, at the White House. She will also participate in a breakout session on infrastructure investment as part of the nation’s economic and employment recovery efforts.
“It is an honor to be invited to the White House to represent Gov. Gregoire, the Legislature and Washington’s contractors and workers who have shown how transportation investments can make a difference in our economy,” Hammond said. “Today I will continue urging a rapid decision on additional infrastructure investment to create and sustain even more jobs.”
In February 2009, Washington state received $492 million for state and local highway infrastructure projects, along with another $179 million for transit investments. As of Nov. 30, 166 of 182 projects (85%) had started construction and 78 of 182 projects (40%) were completed.
