U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $15.7 Million in Grants for Connecticut 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: Kelly Hanahan
Tel: 202-366-0660
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $15.7 Million in Grants for Connecticut Highway Projects
Funds will help create jobs by improving safety and supporting disadvantaged businesses
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced more than $15.7 million in grants for Connecticut to fund an array of highway-related efforts ranging from improving safety and reducing congestion on I-95 and building a new ramp at the Water Street Terminal in Bridgeport.
"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Connecticut 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.
Connecticut received funding for the following projects.
| PROJECT | AWARD |
|---|---|
| Implementing operational upgrades on I-95 in New Haven to reduce congestion and improve safety | $3,750,000 |
| Improving safety and operations on I-95 in Groton | $2,000,000 |
| Improving the Pleasure Beach Water Taxi in the City of Bridgeport | $1,900,000 |
| Building a second ramp at Water Street Terminal at the Port of Bridgeport | $1,825,000 |
| Incorporating Safety Edge and Warm Mix Asphalt innovations on I-95 in Guildford, Madison, and Clinton | $1,800,000 |
| Implementing a complete street strategy for Downtown New Britain | $1,304,400 |
| Conducting a study on pricing strategies for the I-95 corridor from New Haven to New York | $1,120,000 |
| Acquiring and preserving the 177-acre Plymouth Reservoir to provide access to the Thomaston Dam | $800,000 |
| Conducting a study on pricing strategies and environmental issues on I-84 in Hartford | $644,000 |
| Installing a new multimodal signage system in downtown New Haven | $391,320 |
| Providing supportive/developmental services to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms | $237,021 |
| TOTAL | $15,771,741 |
A complete state-by-state list of this year's grant recipients is available online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.