View video of a press conference with Ray LaHood.
During a packed luncheon at the Union League Club of Chicago, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood could not help but serve up a few sides of his true self during an intense question-and-answer session.
There was the passionate side.
“[Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim] Oberstar is being very aggressive this year in pushing the reauthorization bill,” LaHood said when asked about the chances of the six-year highway measure being passed in 2009. “He has a very aggressive agenda, and we want to be partners with the Chairman, and we are going to work hand and glove with him this fall to see this reauthorization bill through.”
There was the honest side.
“I have no idea,” he responded on the progress of the Illiana Expressway in Illinois.
There was the comical side.
“My staff is telling me I can only answer one more question. They must be anxious to get to Peoria [LaHood’s next stop].”
Even with the range of color, LaHood was all business during his plight at the podium, where he announced the availability of $1.5 billion in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grants for capital investment in surface transportation projects. This money is on top of the $27.5 billion supplied by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that have a significant impact on the nation, a region or metropolitan area.
“TIGER discretionary funding will open up the door to many new innovative and cutting-edge transportation projects,” said LaHood.
The grants can range from $20 million up to $300 million to support high-impact transportation projects, and LaHood can waive the minimum grant requirement for beneficial projects in smaller cities, regions or states. The U.S. DOT will require rigorous economic justifications for projects over $100 million. To ensure responsible spending, the department will require all fund recipients to report on their activities on a routine basis.
Primary selection criteria include contributing to the medium- to long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improving the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems, improving the quality of living and working environments through livable communities, improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the safety of U.S. transportation facilities.
Video of LaHood’s press conference that followed the luncheon will be available in the Giants of the Industry section of www.roadsbridges.com.
