All on board

By: Roads & Bridges

During June 2009, state and local transportation agencies obligated $3.2 billion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) highway funds for highway or other eligible projects, bringing the total obligated through June 30 to $16.2 billion. This represented 61% of the $26.8 billion of ARRA highway funds apportioned or allocated.

Below are highlights of the fourth report released by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. Download a PDF of this article to the right to view a color-coded map of the U.S. showing each state's activity.

• Every state met the requirement that 50% of the funds apportioned to the state DOT had to be obligated within the first 120 days;
• Maine has obligated 100% of its ARRA funds, including all funds that were sub-allocated to metropolitan areas within the state. Other leading states include Utah (91.8%), Iowa (89.1%) and Wyoming (88.6%). To date, 13 states have obligated at least 75% of their ARRA highway stimulus funds and no state is below 35%;
• State and local transportation agencies paid contractors almost $195 million for construction work performed during June, bringing the total to $264.1 million. By comparison, the total at the end of May was only $69.3 million; and
• Fourteen states have obligated $125.3 million of ARRA highway funds for non-highway investments, with 12 states using $79.8 million for transit.