U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $12.4 Million in Grants for Arizona Highway Projects |
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Topics: Ray LaHood
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Federal Highway Administration
17 August 2011
FHWA 37-11
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Contact: Doug Hecox
Tel: 202-366-0660
Funds will help create jobs by improving pedestrian safety and constructing a new bridge on US 95 near Yuma
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced nearly $12.4 million in grants to fund an array of highway-related efforts in Arizona ranging from paving a heavily used gravel road on tribal land and building a new bridge near Yuma to installing pedestrian safety devices in downtown Winslow.
"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Arizona residents as well as strengthen the state's economy," said Secretary LaHood. "The demand from the states for these funds shows just how critical the need is for infrastructure investment."
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) invited states to apply in June for federal funding from 14 grant programs. Requests poured in from every state, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. – more than 1,800 applications, totaling nearly $13 billion, which is more than 30 times the funds available.
"At a time when states are facing serious budgetary constraints, these grants will help fill a critical need," said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. "Investments like these are immediate and long-lasting, and will help create jobs."
Congress created the discretionary grant programs to give FHWA the latitude to support projects that maintain the nation's roads and bridges, improve roadway safety and make communities more livable. In previous years, Congress designated some of this grant money for specific projects and FHWA awarded the remainder through a competitive process. Because the FY11 budget passed by Congress last April directed that all such funds be discretionary, FHWA awarded these funds through a competitive process.
Arizona received funding for the following projects:
| PROJECT | AWARD |
|---|---|
| Construction of new Fortuna Wash Bridge in Yuma | $3,261,000 |
| Purchase of new vessel to improve Chemehuevi Transit Authority's service to a Native American community with limited access to vital services in Mohave | $2,915,000 |
| Construct a new bridge over the Artesia Wash on Main Street Indian Reservation Road (IRR) 101 in Sells | $2,800,000 |
| Relocation of intersection of Colorado River Indian Reservation Road and SR 95 in Parker | $1,753,000 |
| Safety improvements for pedestrians in downtown Winslow | $488,285 |
| Technical assistance for disadvantaged business enterprise firms statewide and to prepare them to compete for work on highway projects | $407,400 |
| Construction of four-mile pedestrian/bike path from Kaibab Paiute Tribal Administration building to Community Center building near Pipe Springs Road in Fredonia | $304,670 |
| Paving Chapay Street, the North Reservation Community access road in Yuma | $300,000 |
| Development of a pre-apprenticeship program to provide highway construction training seminar | $250,000 |
| TOTAL | $12,479,355 |
A complete state-by-state list of this year's grant recipients is available online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.