U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $9.4 Million in Grants for Ohio 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: Nancy Singer
Tel: 202-366-0660
Funds will help create jobs by expanding highway and ferry improvements
WASHINGTON - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced more than $9.4 million in grants for Ohio to fund an array of highway-related efforts including resurfacing and repairs on I-70 in Iredell County and replacing a Kelley's island ferry boat.
"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Ohio 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.
Ohio received funding for the following projects:
| PROJECT | AWARD |
|---|---|
| Replacing Kelley's Island Ferry Boat | $2,720,000 |
| Resurfacing I-70 in high-truck-volume area in Guernsey County | $2,000,000 |
| Repairing roadways, widening shoulders and resurfacing for pedestrians and cyclists on Cuyahoga County National Park to improve safety and accessibility | $1,947,393 |
| Improving Lime Kiln Dock, South Bass Island terminal | $790,000 |
| Reconfiguring the Warrensville Van Aken Intersection | $453,804 |
| Replacing and preserving deteriorated areas on the Barkhurst Covered Bridge | $406,240 |
| Restoring and protecting the McClellen Road Covered Bridge by replacing crucial bridge parts and treating the bridge with a fire retardant material | $400,000 |
| Purchasing land for a visitors' information center next to the Ghent Historic District on the Heritage Corridors of Bath | $251,556 |
| Removing billboards at the Ohio & Erie Canal way - Cascade Locks Resource Protection scenic byway to provide better visibility for visitors | $240,000 |
| Replacing the roof and making deck and portal repairs on the Armstrong Covered Bridge | $168,000 |
| Installing lighting and adding fire retardant paint at the Bickham Covered Bridge | $41,633 |
| Restoring mile markers on the Historic National Road Mile Scenic Byway | $36,000 |
| Installing lighting and fire protection at the McColley Covered Bridge | $3,037 |
| Using an innovation called Precast Concrete Pavement Systems to restore US 35 in Dayton | Waiver of State match |
| TOTAL | $9,457,663 |
A complete state-by-state list of this year's grant recipients is available online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.