A look at MDOT’s stimulus allocations

The federal government allocated more than $26 billion through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for improvements to the nation’s transportation infrastructure.

Mississippi’s share was $354.5 million, of which $338.5 has already been obligated to 162 projects, according to a February report from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

California and Texas are the states that received the largest amounts of funding, with $2.5 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively. Funds were provided for highway projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, federal lands and five island territories. American Samoa and North Mariana tied for the smallest amounts of funds: $4.5 million each. Both have populations of approximately 60,000 people.

As of December 31, 2009, more than 70 percent of the nation’s stimulus funds had been put out to bid on more than 12,000 projects.

The report also states that total employment from these projects, which “includes direct, indirect, and induced jobs, reaches almost 890,000 jobs.”

MDOT Stimulus Funds Breakdown (fact box)

Funds Available: $354,564,343

Funs Obligated: $338,527,623

Projects Obligated: 162

Projects with Notice to Proceed: 68

Projects Completed: 13

Highway Miles Improved: 307.6 – includes 4 miles of new construction

Bridges Improved: 5

Bridges Replaced: 14

Source: AASHTO report. Numbers last updated January 2010.

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