New report coming Monday: 120 days into the stimulus
June 26th, 2009By Sara Wolfson
While states may typically be excellent at spending federal money quickly, the big question is: are states also good at spending federal money wisely?
Within the $787 billion stimulus bill that became law in February, Congress provided states and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) with $26.6 billion for transportation projects. States and MPOs were given considerable flexibility in how to use these new funds, but with one catch: they have to use it quickly. The first half of the funding has to be committed within 120 days, or Monday, June 29th.
All 55 US states and territories have officially obligated half of their stimulus funds ahead of schedule — $19 billion in stimulus money promised toward 5,300 transportation projects nationwide.
“Every state not only met the 120-day deadline, they beat it,” said Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. “This is a testament to the fact that we’re putting money out there quickly and helping to get the economy back on track.”
Smart Growth America, in conjunction with its state coalition partners, will be releasing a report Monday detailing how well each state is handling its transportation stimulus money. Are the projects creating jobs while making smart investments in transportation? How transparent and accountable are the funding choices? Are the states making progress on their pressing transportation needs?
While some states are doing great work, many are not taking proper advantage of federal stimulus money — spending it quickly on new highway capacity, ignoring lengthy (and often dangerous) repair backlogs for their roads, bridges, and transit systems, and neglecting investments in the other modes of transportation that their state needs and residents demand to keep them from being stuck in traffic without choices.
Check back Monday to see how well your state is faring with this huge opportunity to get people working while making smart transportation investments.
Update, 6/29/09: Read the report now!
June 26th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
[...] of jump-starting the economy and laying the foundation for future economic growth. The report, “The States and the Stimulus,” finds that almost one-third of the flexible ARRA Surface Transportation Program funding [...]
June 27th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Unfortunately, here in Wisconsin I believe some of the stimulus money will be flowing into freeway expansion…
August 28th, 2009 at 9:41 am
[...] to find out how your state stacks up? Read more about the report and download the full [...]