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Federal
Highway Administration 23-03
Tuesday,
July 8, 2003
Contact:
Jim Pinkelman, 202-366-0660
U.S.
Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced almost $35
million in Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) discretionary funds for
infrastructure projects in 21 states.
"The Bush Administration recognizes the need for continued strategic
investment to improve America's transportation system," Secretary Mineta
said. "These federal highway
funds will help improve the transportation system, create jobs and benefit the
economy."
The 36 grants were provided to the states in three categories. The
categories, number of grants and the totals provided, are:
*
Discretionary Bridge - Seismic Retrofit, four grants in four states, $24.8
million;
*
Historic Covered Bridge program, 24 grants in 15 states, $5.6 million; and
*
Value Pricing, eight projects in seven states, $4.5 million.
The
Discretionary Bridge Program, established by law in 1978 and continued through
subsequent legislation, consists of two categories: Replacement and
Rehabilitation, and Seismic Retrofit. Grants
in the former category were announced in June 2003.
Seismic retrofitting is undertaken by states to help protect bridges
during seismic events such as earthquakes. The Historic Covered Bridge
Preservation Program provides funds to states to preserve, rehabilitate or
restore historic covered bridges. Value-pricing grants provide funding to support the costs of
implementing projects to promote economic efficiency in the use of highways and
support congestion reduction, air quality, energy conservation, and transit
productivity goals.
The
Secretary of Transportation makes FHWA discretionary funds available upon
selection after requests from states for funds for projects that meet criteria
established by federal law and U.S. Department of Transportation regulations and
procedures. Congress also
designates funding for specific projects under these programs.