U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $12.6 Million in Grants for Utah 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 road repairs and expanded bike safety
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $12.6 million in grants to fund an array of highway-related efforts in Utah, such as constructing the Provo Intermodal Center to provide centralized parking and transit options and improving safety for the Snowbird area's growing bicyclist population.
"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Utah 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.
Utah received funding for the following projects:
| PROJECT | AWARD |
|---|---|
| Rehabilitation of I-80, from Wanship to Coalville | $3,750,000 |
| Widening of eastbound SR 210 to accommodate four miles of "safety shoulders" for bicyclists and installation of avalanche control systems in Snowbird | $1,741,800 |
| Construction of Provo Intermodal Center for central access to rapid transit and parking in Provo | $1,630,500 |
| Construction of 12 additional parking spaces on each direction of I-15 in Iron County | $1,100,132 |
| Improvements to I-84 bridge over Echo Frontage Road Summit County | $1,000,000 |
| Construction of key elements of rest area at Lions Park Scenic Byways Moab | $963,673 |
| Widening of eastbound SR 190 to accommodate three miles of "safety shoulders" for bicyclists in Snowbird | $500,000 |
| Safety improvements and additional parking facilities along Scenic Byway 12 in Garfield and Wayne Counties | $480,000 |
| Construction of Midblock Road from Laney Avenue to Murray-Holladay Road in Holladay | $456,540 |
| Utah Department of Transportation to help prepare people for careers in highway construction | $350,000 |
| Development of a livability plan for Utah Department of Transportation's Scenic Byways and Backways program | $334,000 |
| Replacement of functionally obsolete SR 39 bridge over Beaver Creek east of Huntsville | $150,000 |
| Update Corridor Management Plan for Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway in Nephi and Payson | $103,999 |
| Utah Department of Transportation program to prepare disadvantaged business enterprise firms to compete for federal highway contracts | $102,324 |
| TOTAL | $12,662,968 |
A complete state-by-state list of this year's grant recipients is available online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.