U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $6.6 Million in Grants for Indiana 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 constructing a new bridge in Elkhart and expanding a Greenfield-area rest stop on I-70
WASHINGTON - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced more than $6.6 million in grants to fund an array of highway-related efforts in Indiana, including construction of an overpass in downtown Elkhart to improve driver safety and expanding parking options at a heavily-used rest area near on I-70 near Greenfield.
"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Indiana 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.
Indiana received funding for the following projects:
| PROJECT | AWARD |
|---|---|
| Adding 80 new parking spaces at rest area on eastbound leg of I-70 interchange in Greenfield | $2,761,403 |
| Construction of bridge on Prairie Street over railroad with related road alignment in Elkhart | $1,956,601 |
| Construction of road, secondary access at I-94/US 421 interchange in LaPorte County | $1,304,400 |
| Training to help Indiana Department of Transportation prepare Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms to compete for federal highway contracts | $365,887 |
| Rehabilitation of Bakers Camp Covered Bridge in Bainbridge | $185,000 |
| Development of a corridor management plan for the Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway in Wayne and Franklin Counties | $50,500 |
| Development of a corridor management plan for the River Road Scenic Byway in Tippecanoe County | $50,367 |
| TOTAL | $6,674,158 |
A complete state-by-state list of this year's grant recipients is available online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.