Commission Awards 32 Economic Recovery Projects

The source of the following article is Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT)-Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

Final List Still to be Determined.

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Transportation is continuing its push to jumpstart the economy and provide work for Missourians through transportation projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission today approved 32 road resurfacing projects throughout the state that are funded by the federal economic stimulus package. The projects total $38,992,000 and will support an estimated 1,000 jobs.

Most of the work involves laying asphalt to make road surfaces smoother and safer. More than $14 million will be used to resurface sections of Interstate 70 in Lafayette and Cooper counties.

MoDOT is analyzing the provisions of the economic recovery legislation to determine how it will spend the rest of the stimulus money not already obligated. Fifty percent of the funds must be obligated no later than June 17, and the projects must be completed within three years.

In addition, the Federal Highway Administration has said priority should be given to projects that maximize job creation and economic benefit and are located in economically distressed areas. The guidelines can be found at www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/guidance.htm.

“The $637 million Missouri received in economic stimulus funds is welcome, but won’t come close to meeting the $31 billion we have in transportation needs over the next 20 years,” MoDOT Director Pete Rahn said. “Still, it’s a step in the right direction.

”The 32 projects awarded today join four projects the Missouri Department of Transportation started Feb. 17 within minutes of President Barack Obama signing the federal economic recovery bill. Missouri was the first state in the nation to have work under way with economic stimulus funds.

“We’re aggressive in getting these stimulus projects going for two major reasons: we want to put Missourians to work fast, and we want to show that investing in transportation infrastructure provides immediate economic relief,” Rahn said. “These are projects we could have ready to go quickly to create or maintain jobs. They will make our highway system better and safer and save lives.”

Under the act, Missouri will receive approximately $637 million for road and bridge projects and an estimated $150 million to address air, rail, transit, waterway and pedestrian projects throughout the state. That amount of work will support an estimated 14,000 jobs and have an estimated $2.4 billion impact on the state’s economy.

More information on the second round of economic stimulus projects awarded today can be found at www.modot.org/readytogo

Editor’s note: Here is the list of economic stimulus projects awarded March 4.

1. County Route Project Description Cost Carroll/Saline 41 Resurfacing $1,569,000
2. Saline 240 Resurfacing $67,000
3. Saline 41 Resurfacing $575,000
4. Macon 156 Resurfacing $544,000
5. Schuyler / Putnam 136 Resurfacing $977,000
6. Schuyler 202 Resurfacing $423,000
7. Macon D Resurfacing $89,000
8. Ralls J Resurfacing $412,000
9. Ralls EE Resurfacing $247,000
10. Ralls / Monroe W Resurfacing $212,000
11. Marion W, 61 Resurfacing $177,000
12. Lafayette I-70 Resurfacing With Superpave And Bp-1 $6,861,000
13. Platte I-29 Ultrathin Bonded Wearing Surface Overlay(Type C) and Optional Paving $11,799,000
14. Clinton A Resurfacing $577,000
15. Ray C Resurfacing $182,000
16. Clay 69 Resurfacing $260,000
17. Lafayette FF Resurfacing $438,000
18. Ray M Resurfacing $206,000
19. Cooper I-70 Coldmilling & Resurfacing With Superpave $7,612,000
20. Maries/Pulaski 28 Resurfacing $829,000
21. Newton 86 1” Resurfacing With Bp-2, New 2’ Shoulders $846,000
22. Barry 86 1” Resurfacing With Bp-2, New 2’ Shoulders $950,000
23. Vernon K Resurfacing $125,000
24. Vernon W Resurfacing $136,000
25. Vernon BB Resurfacing $282,000
26. Jasper P Resurfacing $225,000
27. Jasper JJ Resurfacing $180,000
28. Barry / Lawrence 39 Resurfacing $498,000
29. Stone/Taney 265 Resurfacing $295,000
30. Ripley 142 Resurfacing $764,000
31. Butler M Resurfacing $358,000
32. Butler 142 Resurfacing $277,000.

MODOT lists the transportation projects in the rural areas on their blog but there is no information as to how many projects they've approved for St. Louis region especially St. Louis City! Is there any transparency or it is business as usual? We urge the minorities to contact Governor Nixon's office and the White House. The links to the White House, Sen. McCaskall, Rep. Clay, and Gov. Nixon are on the right column of this blog. Raise your concerns. Speak up for yourself.

Eric E. Vickers
Attorney, Minority Inclusion Alliance
St. Louis Metropolitan.