Contact: Chris Lippincott
Phone: (512) 463-9957
 

February 25, 2009

 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: TxDOT Prepares to Put Funds to Work

AUSTIN - On Wednesday, February 25, staff for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) released a list of projects that could be developed using $1.2 billion in funds available to the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as the economic stimulus package. TxDOT also recommended a list of maintenance and preservation projects that would require approximately $500 million in stimulus money.

The Texas Transportation Commission will meet in Austin on Wednesday, February 25 and Thursday, February 26. Wednesday's commission meeting is scheduled to include a discussion of TxDOT's work to prepare for the expenditure of stimulus funds. Thursday's meeting is scheduled to include commission action on the staff-recommended list of maintenance projects.

The Texas Transportation Commission is expected to vote on the $1.2 billion staff-recommended list during a special meeting on March 5. The staff recommendation was created by applying criteria developed by the state's local transportation leaders to an extensive list of projects that met the initial requirements for readiness established in the stimulus bill.

Project lists and more information are available on the TxDOT Web site, www.txdot.gov (keyword: "stimulus). Citizens can comment on TxDOT's proposal to implement the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Web site, by fax (512-463-9896), by e-mail (AskTxDOT@dot.state.tx.us) or by writing to the department (125 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701).