Stimulus News You Can Use is one way WSDOT is working to keep transportation stakeholders updated on the fast-moving effort to put people to work and improve the state’s infrastructure. Each edition will have information on project delivery and highlights. Sign up to receive stimulus news e-mail updates.

The stimulus story this week

• WSDOT and local governments are preparing to advance more stimulus projects after Governor Gregoire included new safety, highway, and transit projects on the November 13 Recovery Act certification.
• Franklin County and Omak each reported completing a highway project, raising the total of completed projects to 71 statewide.
• Nationwide, over 10,000 transportation projects have now been approved for stimulus dollars.
• NOTE: As the construction season comes to a close, Stimulus News You Can Use will move to a biweekly schedule starting this week. The next edition will be updated on December 2. As major milestones occur, WSDOT will send subscribers updates electronically.

This week by the numbers (project dollars in millions)

Key issues: State

Governor Gregoire certifies more projects for stimulus funds – On November 13, Governor Gregoire signed the state’s 12th certification for Recovery Act projects. The certifications make the four individual highway projects, four state highway safety projects, and one transit project eligible for stimulus funds.

• WSDOT – I-405/Portland Ave to Port of Tacoma Rd – Northbound HOV
• Battle Ground – Arterial Overlay
• Clark County – Arterial Overlay
• Washougal – E Street, 6th Street to 32nd Street
• Community Transit – Bus Replacements
• Three state highway cable median barrier projects
• One state highway centerline rumble strip project

Recovery Act GMAP forum held on November 18 – Governor Gregoire held a Government Management Accountability & Performance (GMAP) forum focusing on statewide Recovery Act performance on November 18. The report included performance and spending updates from WSDOT, Commerce, DSHS, Employment Security, and other agencies. A previous stimulus GMAP forum was held on July 22. Data for the report will be available at www.accountability.wa.gov.

• The WSDOT update focused on the benefits Recovery Act projects are providing for the state, including transit programs. The transit projects are providing 253 passenger vehicles (buses, minibuses, vans), 30 hybrid upgrades to buses, 11 ferry terminal and vessel improvement projects, and 16 new bus shelters.

Two more highway projects completed – 
Local projects: 

• Franklin County – R 170 Landslide Phase 1 
• Omak – Okoma Dr./SR 215 Sidewalks

Key issues: National

Biden: 10,000 stimulus transportation projects approved nationwide – Vice President Biden announced on November 12 that 10,000 stimulus transportation projects have been approved to receive federal Recovery Act funds to date. The projects include highway, transit, airport, Amtrak, port, and ferry improvements. “This is a significant milestone on the road to recovery, but we continue to work every day to create more jobs and drive economic growth,” Biden said in a news release.

• The Recovery Act includes $48.1 billion for improvements to highways, rail, transit, bridge, and airport construction nationwide, including $26.8 billion for Federal Highway Administration projects.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation has obligated $30.6 billion of $48.1 billion to fund 10,041 approved transportation projects, including 6,547 projects under way, according to the release.
• Almost 5,000 highway projects are under way nationwide receiving $12.8 billion. To date, the Federal Highway Administration has approved 8,838 projects costing $20.5 billion.

FRA Administrator travels to Europe for high-speed rail meetings – Federal Rail Administration Administrator Joseph Szabo traveled to Italy, Germany, and Belgium from November 7 to November 17 to discuss high-speed rail system development with government officials. The Recovery Act included $8 billion for High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail. Awards are expected to be announced before February 17.

GAO described stimulus review efforts in its annual report – In its annual performance and accountability review, the U.S. Government Accountability Office outlined the measures it has taken to report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The office, which received $25 million for Recovery Act reporting, has employed 74 additional people to help with its reporting, including a bimonthly review of sixteen states and the District of Columbia. The agency has released three reports and maintains its reports at a dedicated website, www.gao.gov/recovery.

Recovery Act programs highlighted in annual US DOT Inspector General Report – Maximizing the federal stimulus investments and implementing the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail system were listed as top challenges for the US DOT for federal fiscal year 2010, which started in October. Items listed include:

• Implementing the $1.5 billion TIGER Discretionary Grants program
• Enhancing oversight of Recovery Act spending
• Designing and implementing High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail
• Reporting accurately and consistently on job creation

Stimulus project of the week

Crews wrapping up stimulus project on I-5 in Cowlitz

Travelers on Interstate 5 in Cowlitz County will have a smoother ride as the result of a project funded in part by the Recovery Act.
WSDOT’s contractor, Granite Northwest, Inc. of Camas, has repaired and retrofitted approximately 180 damaged concrete panels on nearly 14 miles of I-5 between Kelso and Castle Rock. In addition, crews paved the northbound lanes of I-5 between Ostrander Creek and the Toutle River Bridge. Crews will be working on the side of highway, completing the final touches for the $15 million project over the next few weeks.

Construction began June 24 and throughout the summer crews ground out existing pavement, remove damaged concrete panels, overlaid the surface with new asphalt, and improved guardrail along this section of I-5. Many of the concrete panels on this section of I-5 were more than 40 years old. Replacing damaged concrete panels and resurfacing the interstate extends the life of the roadway and provides motorists with a safer, smoother drive. This project also strengthens I-5, allowing the interstate to continue handling heavy commuter and freight traffic for years to come. The project supported approximately 55 direct, indirect, and induced jobs.

On average, this stretch of I-5 carries approximately 52,000 vehicles per day. Paving and restoring I-5 preserves the interstate system, extends its life and keeps commuter and freight traffic moving. 
 


Important dates

November 18: Governor’s GMAP accountability forum on the Recovery Act
November 20: Next report to U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
January 10: Next quarterly report due to OMB
February 17: Deadline for the U.S. Department of Transportation to announce TIGER grants and High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail awards (both are expected earlier)
March 1: Deadline for obligating federal highway funds


Websites of interest

WSDOT ARRA website: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/funding/stimulus
Washington recovery website: http://www.recovery.wa.gov/
Federal recovery website: http://www.recovery.gov/
FHWA recovery website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/index.htm
Federal Transit Administration recovery website: www.fta.dot.gov/recovery
Federal Rail Administration recovery website: http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2153
Federal Aviation Administration recovery website: http://www.faa.gov/recovery
OMB recovery website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/recovery_default/