U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $6 Million in Grants for Wyoming 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 reconstructing roadways and trails and installing new truck parking spaces
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced more than $6 million in grants for Wyoming to fund an array of highway-related efforts ranging from constructing a key project in the Grand Teton National Park to building needed truck parking along I-80.
"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Wyoming 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.
Wyoming received funding for the following projects:
| PROJECT | AWARD |
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| Surveying, designing and constructing phase 3 of the Grand Teton National Park Pathway System | $2,930,000 |
| Constructing new bicycle and pedestrian facilities on the Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway to improve safety and mobility | $1,253,575 |
| Building 43 new truck spaces on 1-80 Wamsutter in the south central part of the state | $828,788 |
| Improving traffic operations at I-25 at the College Drive Interchange to reduce crashes | $400,000 |
| Surveying and designing 20 miles of the Red Gulch-Alkali Back Country Byway in Washakie and Big Horn Counties | $200,000 |
| Constructing START bus stop improvements in Teton County | $123,918 |
| Developing three corridor management plans for the Bighorn Mountains Scenic Byways | $117,000 |
| Improving access and parking safety at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center (NHTIC) in Casper | $85,700 |
| Reconstructing 16 miles of road and trails to provide safe access to the Weston Hills | $64,000 |
| Providing construction project cost accounting as part of the On-the-Job Training/Supportive Services Program | $25,000 |
| TOTAL | $6,027,981 |
A complete state-by-state list of this year's grant recipients is available online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.