| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act |
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| Latest News |
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ARRA transportation funds flowing into Oregon economy
Here in Oregon, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has lived up to its name, as ARRA’s transportation funding has both promoted economic recovery and invested resources in improving the state’s transportation system in ways that strengthen communities and improve long-term economic opportunities.
Some 186 transportation-related projects are either in design, in construction or complete as of November 30, according to ODOT's Highway Finance Division. That translates to more than $94 million dollars spent in the ARRA program since last February, when ODOT put the first ARRA dollars to work making safety improvement on U.S. 26 in the Portland area. From building sidewalks to updating traffic lights, from expanding a multi-use path in Douglas County to upgrading rest areas in eastern Oregon - ARRA funds are helping Oregon businesses and Oregon workers, along with crews from ODOT, shore up the public's investment in transportation infrastructure all over the state. Read ODOT's ARRA accomplishment report or view the latest status update.
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| Recovery Act Accomplishments Report |
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Putting Oregon back to work
ODOT's Recovery Act Accomplishment Report (pdf) details how ARRA is helping to keep Oregon on the move by putting Oregon back to work. Among the most important accomplishments under the Recovery Act:
- Jobs were created quickly, putting Oregon contractors and workers back on the job within months;
- Multi-modal investments improved Oregon’s transportation system, reducing congestion, providing better transit options, and helping Oregon companies move their goods to market;
- Local communities were able to fund priority projects;
- Jobs were distributed throughout the state, particularly in Economically Distressed Areas;
- ODOT developed new ways to move projects through the federal environ-mental process quickly and at reduced cost.
Read the full report (pdf) for more detailed information.
By the numbers
Quick facts from the Recovery Act Accomplishments Report -
- 600 lane miles of state highways paved.
- $461 million invested in Oregon's surface transportation system.
- $126 million proved for public transportation.
- 94 buses and van purchased by Oregon's small town and rural transit districts.
- 65 percent of ODOT's funding flowed to Economically Distressed Areas.
- 54 dayes to obligated 50 percent of ODOT's funding - more than twice as fast as required by law.
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| October 2009 Update |
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Status reports show ARRA projects making an impact
ODOT and its local government partners have obligated almost 80 percent of the funds that were made available to the department and the Oregon Transportation Commission, ODOT Director Matt Garrett told the Interim Senate Business and Transportation and House Transportation committees in late September. The recent approvals by the OTC represent most of the unobligated balance (see below).
In the state transportation program alone, more than $185 million worth of projects are underway, he told the group, with more than 62 projects keeping Oregonians working around the state. Local jurisdictions are also putting ARRA transportation funds to work, and public transit investments are ramping up local businesses, such as Supreme Northwest Manufacturing in Woodburn, where employees are building new hybrid buses paid for by ARRA.
Overall, transportation in Oregon is being boosted by ARRA as follows:
- $223.7 million for state programs and projects
- $100.2 million for local governments (cities and counties)
- $10 million for Transportation Enhancement projects (pedestrian/bicycle/etc.)
- $75.9 million in federal transit funds ($61.2 going to urban transit agencies and $14.6 to ODOT)
Updated ARRA reports are showing that the stimulus is providing needed economic stimulus today, creating and sustaining family wage jobs, and adding lasting benefits to the transportation system for years to come. Watch here for the latest on the ARRA transportation program.
Download the status report for state transportation projects (pdf).
Download the status report for local government projects (pdf).
Download the status report for public transit projects (pdf).
A list of all ARRA funded programs and projects is available on the Oregon's Recovery Web site.
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 previously 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 investigating the options for building the world's largest solar highway installation, capable of producing about three megawatts of power, and Recovery Act funds will be used for 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 improve 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 applies for funding to improve intercity passenger rail service
ODOT has submitted applications for $2.3 billion in ARRA funding to upgrade the state's portion of the Northwest High-Speed Rail Corridor, which runs from Eugene to Vancouver, Canada.
The requested funding would cover a variety of projects, including rehabilitation of Portland's Union Station. A number of projects would increase the speed, frequency and reliability of passenger trains, including a layover track at the Eugene Station, improvements to the congested Portland "rail triangle," and an environmental impact statement that will examine the potential opportunity to move passenger trains off the Union Pacific mainline and onto parallel short line tracks.
The Federal Railroad Administration divided the $8 billion in ARRA funding for intercity passenger rail between Track 1, for specific projects, and Track 2, for corridor development programs. ODOT requested funding under Track 1 to complete environmental work and design for projects; ODOT requested funding for construction of these projects under Track 2.
Description of projects for Track 1 and Track 2 (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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| Local Government Funding |
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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 are in charge of selecting projects to compete with this funding.
Overview of local government funding (pdf)
Allocations of funding to local governments (pdf)
Jurisdictions that did not receive an annual allocation of Surface Transportation Program funds competed for funding under a small cities grant program that awarded nearly $5 million to 52 projects.
Small cities program projects (pdf)
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