Mayor Fenty and DDOT Announce Transportation Stimulus Funding Milestone and First Project Underway

The Fenty Administration along with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and the USDOT Federal Highway Administration today announced work has started on the first transportation related American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) project for the District. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) began work this weekend on the repaving of the Southeast/Southwest Freeway (I-395).  

“This is an incredibly exciting time to be involved in transportation improvements for the District,” said Mayor Fenty.  “Not only are we addressing out-of-date infrastructure and necessary bridge repairs, but we are working towards expanding our alternative transportation and safety programs such as SmartBike and Safe Route to Schools as well.”

DDOT Director Gabe Klein said, “The staff at DDOT is working very hard to meet our deadlines to ensure the city realizes all the benefits from the available ARRA funding.”  Klein added “Our partnerships with the USDOT and Federal Highway Administration provide us with the tools we need to ensure we meet our goals.”

The work on the Southeast/Southwest Freeway project included milling and overlay of the roadway between the Case Bridge and 2nd Street, southeast.  The remaining work on the westbound lanes and ramps are scheduled to be completed in May, 2009, weather permitting.  $1M of the $1.7M project was funded from the stimulus bill and 135 laborers worked on the project.

Through ARRA, billions of dollars nationwide are being invested in projects related to infrastructure development and improvement, health care, and other areas that will create jobs and opportunities for unemployed workers to rejoin the labor force.

Working together with the District’s workforce and economic development agencies DDOT’s infrastructure investments will create job opportunities for District residents.

The Southeast/Southwest Freeway project is part of DDOT’s “Citywide Pavement Restoration” and the first of 15 projects identified by DDOT as “shovel ready.”  Other ARRA projects that have been obligated include the New York Avenue Bridge over the railroad tracks near Florida Avenue, northeast, a Great Streets project on Pennsylvania Avenue east of the river, and improving the downtown streetscapes.  

The District received a total of $123.5M in ARRA funding for transportation related projects including road, bridges and other transportation related programs of which 55% is now obligated.

Over $86M of the total monies are identified as state highway funds. The District was required to meet a 50 percent obligation target on the $86M amount by June 30, 2009.  It has exceeded this goal and already obligated 70 percent of that amount.

States that don't meet these targets may have unobligated funds redistributed to other states.  Meeting the target makes the District eligible to receive any available unobligated funds.

For a full list of DDOT’s stimulus projects or more detail on the District’s ARRA projects, visit the District’s stimulus web site at recovery.dc.gov.