U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $10.7 Million in Grants for Missouri 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 repairs, bridge rehabilitation and construction of new truck parking spaces
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced more than $10.7 million in grants for Missouri to fund an array of highway-related efforts including constructing a pedestrian bridge for "City + The Arch + The River" project and rehabilitating the I-70 Westbound Bridge in St. Louis and St. Charles counties.
"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Missouri 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.
Missouri received funding for the following projects:
| PROJECT | AWARD |
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| Rehabilitating I-70 Westbound Bridge over Missouri River in St. Louis/St. Charles Counties | $3,750,000 |
| Building a pedestrian bridge for the "City + The Arch + The River" project in over the Mississippi | $2,000,000 |
| Repairing flood damage in the Bird Point/New Madrid Floodway on Route T in Wayne County | $1,410,000 |
| Building 60 new truck parking spaces on I-70 near Mineola (and other sites) | $1,000,000 |
| Conducting a transportation analysis along the US 71 Corridor to explore transportation alternatives, including transit | $652,200 |
| Installing signage and road arrows along the Cliff Drive Scenic Byway to encourage usage and linkages with residential neighborhoods | $641,990 |
| Expanding support services for disadvantaged business enterprises, including business coaching, networking opportunities, technical assistance and training | $407,400 |
| Constructing a bridge using prefabricated technology on Cart Road over tributary to Brush Creek | $300,000 |
| Closing the Chicago Hub MFA Industrial Crossing in Syracuse for safety and to minimize train-vehicle collisions | $150,000 |
| Installing protective devices and other upgrades to Chicago Hub Rogers Road Crossing | $150,000 |
| Closing the Chicago Hub County Road 1971 Crossing in Strasburg to improve safety | $120,000 |
| Paving of Lewis County-Canton Ferry Landing for weather resistance | $80,000 |
| Closing the Chicago Hub Oak Street Crossing in Centertown to improve safety | $60,000 |
| Restoring the Union Covered Bridge in Monroe County | $2,583 |
| TOTAL | $10,724,173 |
A complete state-by-state list of this year's grant recipients is available online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.