Recovery Act is working in Texas, and across America

Today, day 120 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is the deadline for States to have obligated half of their highway stimulus funds. Deputy Secretary John Porcari marked the deadline in Cedar Hill, Texas.

 

John celebrated reconstruction of a busy intersection thanks to $1.38 million in Recovery Act funding. Safety enhancements for this intersection, at FM1382 and Old Straus Road, have been put off for years due to lack of funding.

 

The Deputy Secretary congratulated the State for meeting its ARRA deadline more than two weeks early, noting, "Your good stewardship of federal recovery dollars means this busy and dangerous interchange can finally get the attention it deserves."

 

Porcari also reminded the audience that this one intersection project would directly employ 19 people: "I think we can all appreciate the fact that the contractor on this job, Rebcon, has been able to avoid laying anybody off, thanks to the stimulus funds."

 

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, also in attendance, thanked both the US and Texas DOTs:

"This project is putting people to work and will drastically improve highway safety for the driving public.  I commend Secretary LaHood and his team for the outstanding job they are doing in getting funds obligated quickly."

And, as of today’s deadline, Texas obligated $1.2 billion in highway funds–-or 75 percent of the funds required under ARRA.

 

Texas Transportation Commissioner Fred Underwood was justifiably pleased by the achievement:

"TxDOT has been busy putting Texans to work on dozens of ready-to-go mobility, preservation and maintenance projects. I am extremely proud of the hard work of our staff to reach the 50% goal by June 12. I know this amazing accomplishment would not have been obtained without cooperation and input from all of our local partners, our Congressional delegation and the Federal Highway Administration."

 

Deputy Secretary Porcari closed his remarks saying, "I’m confident that Texans will reap the rewards of these investments for many years to come."

 

Safer roads, more jobs; I absolutely share John's confidence.

Comments

[Blogger]

I am glad to hear that something is working or rather someone is working in the U.S. You should of voted me for president; I would of not raised your taxes, and in fact, lowered them. I would give a tax incentive for all companies working and employing Americans and finally cut government spending. Quite frankly, the government is spending so much money that if you stacked hundred dollar bills from Earth it would reach past the moon and probably end up close to Mars.

[Omer]

I'd like to see some tax cuts for a change and some cuts in govt' spending.

[Real Estate]

Its good that some are working fine this gives a hope that soon we will come out of this recession. Keep it up.

Rick

Real Estate

[Seth]

I wish they would allocate some funds to Missouri roads :(

[Explow]

Great to see something useful working in the US