| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act |
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| Latest News |
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Forty highway projects underway across Oregon
As of the end of June, 40 state and local highway projects totaling more than $115 million in ARRA resources were underway across Oregon. A total of 56 construction contracts totaling more than $134 million have been awarded, and numerous other projects have been put out to bid. ODOT expects that all of the highway projects funded through ARRA funds within ODOT's jurisdiction to be underway this construction season.
OTC reallocates ARRA funds
With bid prices on projects coming in well under expectations, ODOT expects to save more than $40 million on Recovery Act-funded projects selected earlier this year. These savings will allow Recovery Act resources to stretch further and complete additional work. On July 23, 2009 the Oregon Transportation Commission approved allocation of these savings to a number of projects.
- $5.8 million was allocated to 22 already-approved projects where additional work could be easily added through a construction change order or where additional resources were needed to complete the project.
- $2 million was provided for transportation enhancements related to the Oregon Solar Highway project. ODOT is developing plans to build the world's largest solar highway installation in West Linn, capable of producing about 3 megawatts of power, and Recovery Act funds will be used for a bicycle/pedestrian path near the site and other enhancements.
- $35 million was approved to purchase two trains to operate the Amtrak Cascades passenger rail service between Eugene and Portland. The trains currently providing the service are owned by the Washington Department of Transportation, which will need to remove the trains from Oregon in order to scale up service from Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia in the near future.
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| History and Background Information |
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The federal economic stimulus legislation, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, HR 1), provides Oregon more than $440 million to preserve and improve the state’s highways, transit systems, rail, bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure and more. Funding is being provided to the state, local governments, and transit districts under a variety of programs.
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| Oregon Transportation Commission Approved Projects |
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At its February, March and April 2009 meetings, the Oregon Transportation Commission approved $248.6 million in projects for funding with the ARRA funds under ODOT's jurisdiction.
| Transportation Enhancement projects |
$10 million |
| State and local road, rail, public transit and port projects |
$224 million |
| Grants (5311) to rural transit districts |
$14.6 million |
| Total |
$248.6 million |
All of these projects are combined on a list we are continually updating. Check back often for the latest information.
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| High Speed Rail |
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An Amtrak train pulls into Portland's Union Station.
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Oregon Competing for $2.1 Billion in High Speed Rail Funding
On July 16, Governor Ted Kulongoski announced that ODOT applied for $2.1 billion in federal funding through the High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program, an opportunity provided by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Read the news release from the Governor's office (pdf)
Download Oregon's pre-application request (pdf)
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| Public Transportation |
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The ARRA contains substantial funding for public transportation.
On April 15, 2009, the Oregon Transportation Commission approved $14.6 million in ARRA funds to rural transit districts through the 5311 grant program managed by ODOT’s Public Transit Division. The list includes grants for vehicle replacement, vehicle repairs, capital improvements, equipment and more.
In addition, transit districts in six urban areas in Oregon-- Portland, Salem/Keizer, Eugene/Springfield, Corvallis, Medford, and Bend-- will receive allocations of funding through the Federal Transit Administration.
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| TIGER Surface Transportation Discretionary Grants |
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ARRA provided $1.5 billion in discretionary grants for surface transportation projects across all transportation modes. The U.S. Department of Transportation has named this the TIGER grant program and has released preliminary guidance on criteria for distributing funding.
TIGER grant fact sheet (pdf)
Additional TIGER grant information
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| Local Government Funding |
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The ARRA provides local governments in Oregon about $100 million in highway program funding. Metropolitan planning organizations, cities over 5,000 that are not in an MPO and counties will receive allocations of funding and will be able to select projects to complete with this funding. Jurisdictions that do not receive an annual allocation of Surface Transportation Program funds can submit projects to ODOT under a $5 million discretionary grant program.
Overview of local government funding (pdf)
Allocations of funding to local governments (pdf)
Requirements for use of economic stimulus highway program funds (pdf)
Information Sessions for Local Governments
ODOT hosted a day-long Federal Stimulus Local Agency Orientation on March 31, at OSU’s La Sells Stewart Center C&E Auditorium in Corvallis to provide more in-depth details about delivering stimulus projects. View streaming video of the presentations at this meeting.
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| Go Oregon |
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ODOT Go Oregon projects
Governor Ted Kulongoski signed into law Senate Bill 338, the “Go Oregon” state stimulus plan. The plan authorizes $175 million in bonding to fund projects that will make needed repairs to schools, colleges, transportation infrastructure and address deferred maintenance projects across the state. Projects for the Oregon Department of Transportation account for almost $4 million in "Go Oregon" funding.
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