Each year, vehicles on America's highways travel more than 2.9 trillion miles. Trillion. That means our nation's roadways are handling an incredible load--they are helping us get where we need to go, and they are absolutely essential to our economic competitiveness.
The critical role our highways serve also means we must do what we can to make them as safe and efficient as possible. And as you can see from the crews across the country widening lanes and building new bridges this summer, that's a lot of work.
To support that work, the Federal Highway Administration today announced more than $363 million in funding for a variety of highway projects. From interstate repair and maintenance to technologies that improve highway performance and reduce congestion from road construction, these investments will create jobs, increase safety, and keep our economy moving forward.
The FHWA invited states, cities, tribal governments and local planning organizations to apply for federal funding from 12 different grant programs. Congress authorized these programs to support projects that improve roadway safety, maintain the nation's roads and bridges, and make communities more livable.
Nearly 1,500 requests poured in from all corners of the country, totaling almost $2.5 billion. We awarded grants to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
As FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez said, "The President asked us to rebuild America, and that's exactly what we're doing--mile by mile. We have work to be done and Americans ready to do that work.”
In Louisiana, we're putting more than $3 million to work improving a high-volume truck corridor and major hurricane evacuation route. I-10, from the Lafayette Parish Line to the Atchafalaya Floodway Bridge, will see new pavement, upgraded guardrails, and new striping. America's truck drivers will be able to deliver their goods more safely and smoothly, and Louisianans can rest assured that they have an effective way to escape dangerous storms.
In Texas, $754,008 will create real-time ridesharing information linked with the tolling system to give participants who share rides an automatic toll discount. This will allow vehicles with multiple occupants to use tolling lanes like HOV lanes, reducing congestion and conserving fuel.
And in Ohio, a $3.34 million grant will help improve I-75 in downtown Dayton from Fifth Street to Riverview Avenue. This two-mile stretch of interstate is the Buckeye State’s second-most congested area. For the 104,000 drivers who use the corridor each day, this project will enhance safety and reduce costly and frustrating congestion.
These are just three of the projects this Administration is funding today. To see what we're doing in your state, I encourage you to read the full list at www.fhwa.dot.gov.
We ask a lot from the network of roads that connects America from east to west and north to south. Today, DOT is taking another step toward ensuring that our highways are up to the task. The grants we announced today will put men and women back to work keeping our economy moving and helping Americans get where they need to go.
Are there any projects designed to "ease congestion" that don't entail adding more lanes, more roads?
Are there any projects aimed at protecting wildlife from the numerous hazards that our beloved infrastructure impose on animals?
What sort of steps is the government taking to reduce this unsustainable reliance on the auto?
When will the money get diverted from more roads to improve the economy to high speed light rail to ease the ECOLOGICAL impacts of so many trillion miles travelled, presumably primarily by single occupant vehicles?
Isn't it time to put ecological concerns before economic since without healthy ecosystems there will be no economy?
Jaded in Oregon
Posted by: Eliza Murphy | August 02, 2012 at 02:02 PM
The DOT is great! NY DOT is always making the road a much better place for the cars, trucks and buses to get everyone to there destination.
Posted by: ShopSAR | August 21, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Viva la DOT! It does a great job for all NYC drivers
Posted by: word search maker free | September 07, 2012 at 03:38 AM