(The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following on May 7, 2009.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that transit projects around the country will receive $742.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds.
“This money will not only put people back to work and spur the economy, it will also provide an alternative form of transportation for people around the country to get to their homes, work and school,” Secretary LaHood said.
The grants will go toward projects for which the Federal Transit Administration has already entered into multi-year federal commitments known as “full funding grant agreements,” in Arizona, California, Colorado, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington State.
The ARRA grants announced today do not increase the federal commitment to the projects, but expedite funds committed under the agreement between the federal government and the transit agencies.
The arrival of federal funds will allow the transit agencies to save on financing costs while putting additional dollars into the local economy; will supplement local resources, which have declined during the economic downturn, and allow for a quicker investment in the project.
Projects receiving funding are listed below.
Arizona
Phoenix-Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail, $36 Million
California
Los Angeles – Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension, $66.7 Million
Colorado
Denver – West Corridor Light Rail Transit, $40 Million
New York
New York – Long Island Rail Road East Side Access, $195.4 Million
New York – Second Avenue Subway Phase I, $78.9 Million
Oregon
Portland – South Corridor I-205/Portland Mall LRT, $32 Million
Springfield – Pioneer Parkway EmX BRT, $2.9 Million
Texas
Dallas – Northwest/Southeast Light Rail Transit, $78.4 Million
Utah
Salt Lake City – Mid Jordan Light Rail Transit, $90.9 Million
Virginia
Northern Virginia – Dulles Corridor Metrorail Extension To Wiehle Aveune, $77.3 Million
Washington
Seattle – University Link Light Rail Transit Extension, $44 Million