VICE PRESIDENT APPLAUDS COLORADO FOR QUICK USE OF RECOVERY FUNDS

Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today congratulated Colorado for its swift work to move highway projects forward with Recovery Act dollars. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law in February in Denver by President Obama, requires that states commit 50 percent of their highway funds by June 29, 2009.Colorado reached that milestone on May 7.

 

In fact, CDOT has already committed three-quarters of its Recovery Act dollars and has advertised for bids on 35 projects. Work has begun or will start soon on 12 projects. Colorado ranks in the top half of states for quickly advancing projects from the drawing board to the pavement.

 

"CDOT has done a terrific job of stepping up to the plate to quickly use Recovery Act funds to create jobs and invest inColorado's critical transportation infrastructure," Gov. Ritter said. "During this difficult economic time, it is important for all state agencies to move aggressively and take advantage of all opportunities to help the people of Colorado."

 

As of today, Colorado's largest ARRA project that will soon begin is the rehabilitation of C-470 in Douglas County from US 85 to I-25.  The $22.3 million project, completely ARRA-funded, will include concrete replacement, installing intelligent transportation systems and resurfacing.  This project's primary benefits will include improved safety, mobility and pavement preservation on C-470.  Portions of the C-470 bike path also will be rebuilt as part of the project.

 

"We have been working very hard to get projects advertised and under construction quickly," said CDOT Executive Director Russ George. "More and more people are getting back to work as these projects get underway across the state."

 

Nationwide, to date, $19 billion has been obligated to fund over 5,300 approved for highway and other transportation projects nationwide.  Of those, 1,900 projects are already underway. 

 

"Our number one priority with the Recovery Act is getting folks back to work – and there is no better way to do that in these early days than by putting shovels in the ground and jump-starting projects like these that create jobs and boost local communities," said Vice President Biden.  "By delivering on these projects ahead of schedule and under-budget, we have been able to do even more than we expected -- create more job opportunities more quickly, with more dollars left over to put toward more projects that put people back on the job."