U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $1.9 Million Grant for North Dakota Highway Project

Topics:  Ray LaHood

Federal Highway Administration
17 August 2011

FHWA 37-11
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Contact: Nancy Singer
Tel: 202-366-0660

Funds help improve access to Highway 24 for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

WASHINGTON - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced a $1.9 million grant for North Dakota to improve access on Highway 24 for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe as well as strengthen the region'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.

North Dakota received funding for the following project:

A complete state-by-state list of this year's grant recipients is available online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.