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Home | News | Virginia is slowest spending stimulus funds

Virginia ranks last in the U.S. for using its stimulus funds for highway and bridge construction projects, according to The Journal of Commerce.

A House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee report states that as of Sept. 30, Virginia has only 48.6 percent of its highway and bridge funding out to bid, 26.1 percent under contract and 17.2 percent in projects that have begun. The report was the latest in a series to recognize that Virginia has fallen behind regarding using stimulus funds for road repairs.

"Of the $34.3 billion provided for highway and transit formula programs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $22.8 billion, or 67 percent, is put out to bid on 9,104 projects," says House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.). "Within this total, 7,594 projects totaling $18.2 billion are under contract. Across the nation, work has begun on 6,700 projects totaling $15.9 billion."

Congestion in northern Virginia is a major concern for commuters and freight traffic. Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-Va.), who was elected Nov. 4, offered during his campaign a much criticized program to take money from other state activities to fund transportation improvements, arguing he had a clear plan to address highway congestion problems.

Wyoming ranks first in the U.S. for allocating its stimulus funds for highways; it listed projects totaling 98.9 percent of its allocation out to bid, under contract or already under construction.

11/10/2009

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