U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $5.4 Million in Grants for Maryland 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 with bridge replacements, bike/pedestrian paths
and expansion of Charm City Circulator
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced nearly $5.4 million in grants to fund an array of highway-related efforts in Maryland, such as using innovative new prefabricated materials to replace the West Nursery Road bridge over MD 295 in Linthicum in less than two days and reconnecting portions of West Baltimore divided by the former I-170 by adding the Fulton Avenue Bridge to a network of bike and pedestrian paths.
"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Maryland 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.
Maryland received funding for the following projects:
| PROJECT | AWARD |
|---|---|
| Reconfiguration of Fulton Avenue bridge over I-170 in Baltimore | $1,669,632 |
| Expansion of Charm City Circulator with addition of new route in Baltimore | $1,560,025 |
| Construction of bridge superstructure on West Nursery Road over MD 295 in Linthicum | $600,000 |
| Acquisition of 277-acre easement along Historic National Road in La Vale | $485,121 |
| Maryland Department of Transportation's "Ready-Set-Go!" initiative to provide training for careers in highway construction | $250,000 |
| Replacement of bridge A-008 on Potomac Hollow Road with prefabricated superstructure | $210,000 |
| Preservation of Loys Station Covered Bridge, Roddy Road Covered Bridge and Utica Mills Covered Bridge in Frederick County | $176,400 |
| Expansion of preparatory efforts by the Maryland State Highway Administration to help disadvantaged business enterprise firms compete for federal highway contracts | $174,600 |
| Development of plan for revitalization of Pulaski Highway in Baltimore. | $130,440 |
| Development of guidelines for Context-Sensitive Design and Management Guidelines for Historic Charles Street in Baltimore | $75,000 |
| Development of plan for Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway | $55,000 |
| Development of map for Historic Charles Street National Scenic Byway | $42,400 |
TOTAL |
$5,428,618 |
A complete state-by-state list of this year's grant recipients is available online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.