Yesterday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Florida will receive $13 million in grants for highway improvement projects.
State officials will use the grant money to fund an array of highway-related efforts ranging from improving safety and reducing congestion on I-10 at the Marietta Hammond Boulevard Interchange in Duval County ($3,750,000) to providing Construction Career Day activities for middle and high school students ($95,000).
"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Florida residents as well as strengthen the state's economy," said Secretary LaHood. "The demand from the states for these funds shows just how critical the need is for infrastructure investment."
In June, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) invited states to apply for federal funding from 14 grant programs. More than 1,800 applications poured in from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C, totaling nearly $13 billion, which is more than 30 times the funds available.
"At a time when states are facing serious budgetary constraints, these grants will help fill a critical need," said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. "Investments like these are immediate and long-lasting and will help create jobs."
The discretionary grant programs were created by Congress to give the Federal Highway Administration leverage to support projects that maintain the nation's roads and bridges, improve roadway safety and make communities more livable.
Florida received funding for the following projects:
| PROJECT | AWARD |
|---|---|
| Improving safety and reducing congestion on I-10 at the Marietta Hammond Boulevard Interchange in Duval County | $3,750,000 |
| Designing and constructing the Sarasota County Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) | $2,608,800 |
| Completing segment 3 of the Snake Road Improvement Project in Clewiston | $1,500,000 |
| Building 90 new truck parking spaces at the I-595 Truck Stop in Broward County | $1,019,987 |
| Assisting Miami-Dade County remove and relocate the Tamiami Canal Historic Swing Bridge | $978,300 |
| Completing phase 2 of the Big Bend Scenic Byway Plan for the 220-mile corridor | $707,420 |
| Connecting the Green Mountain Scenic Byway to the Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration Area | $681,855 |
| Developing phases 1 and 2 for an integrated congestion pricing plan for South Florida | $600,000 |
| Allowing the Florida Department of Transportation to expand its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Supportive Services Program | $407,400 |
| Completing phase 3 of the Paynes Prairie Preserve Visitor Center on the Old Florida Heritage Highway | $400,000 |
| Replacing two bridges using innovative construction methods on US 90 over Little River and Hurricane Creeks | $300,000 |
| Providing Construction Career Day activities for middle and high school students | $95,000 |
| TOTAL | $13,048,762 |
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