U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $13 Million in Grants for Florida 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
Funds will help create jobs by repairing roadways and implementing strategies to reduce congestion
WASHINGTON - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced more than $13 million in grants for Florida to fund an array of highway-related efforts ranging from improving safety and reducing congestion on I-10 in Duval County to finishing a segment of the Snake Road Improvement Project.
"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Florida 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.
Florida received funding for the following projects:
| PROJECT | AWARD |
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| Improving safety and reducing congestion on I-10 at the Marietta Hammond Boulevard Interchange in Duval County | $3,750,000 |
| Designing and constructing the Sarasota County Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) | $2,608,800 |
| Completing segment 3 of the Snake Road Improvement Project in Clewiston | $1,500,000 |
| Building 90 new truck parking spaces at the I-595 Truck Stop in Broward County | $1,019,987 |
| Assisting Miami-Dade County remove and relocate the Tamiami Canal Historic Swing Bridge | $978,300 |
| Completing phase 2 of the Big Bend Scenic Byway Plan for the 220-mile corridor | $707,420 |
| Connecting the Green Mountain Scenic Byway to the Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration Area | $681,855 |
| Developing phases 1 and 2 for an integrated congestion pricing plan for South Florida | $600,000 |
| Allowing the Florida Department of Transportation to expand its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Supportive Services Program | $407,400 |
| Completing phase 3 of the Paynes Prairie Preserve Visitor Center on the Old Florida Heritage Highway | $400,000 |
| Replacing two bridges using innovative construction methods on US 90 over Little River and Hurricane Creeks | $300,000 |
| Providing Construction Career Day activities for middle and high school students | $95,000 |
| TOTAL | $13,048,762 |
A complete state-by-state list of this year's grant recipients is available online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.