Thursday, January 22, 2009
Economic stimulus money could be headed toward roads
A delegate panel pushed VDOT's chief for ideas on how the money could be put to use quickly.
Related
roanoke.com/politics
RICHMOND -- Virginia could gain as much as $800 million in federal highway funding under an economic stimulus package inching its way through Congress, but Virginia Department of Transportation officials told lawmakers Wednesday that it's too soon to say how those funds might be spent in the state.
Members of the House Appropriations Committee pressed VDOT Commissioner David Ekern to cite examples of "shovel-ready" projects that could be accelerated once the stimulus bill passes Congress. And each seemed to have a project close to home in mind.
"First of all, I've got a project for you -- it's called Interstate 81," said Del. Steve Landes, R-Augusta County.
Ekern delivered a summary of a draft version of the federal stimulus package, which still is being marked up in the U.S. House of Representatives. The $30 billion in proposed highway funding is geared toward projects that could be under contract quickly. Virginia could receive between $700 million and $800 million. Ekern said the department has not generated a list of projects because it's not clear what conditions will be placed on the funding.
"To speculate would not do a service to anyone because the rules may change in the next two weeks," Ekern said.
The potential federal funding boost comes at a time when state transportation officials are cutting the state's road-building plan because of the bad economy. The Commonwealth Transportation Board will vote next month on a plan that will slash $1.3 billion from the state's six-year improvement program for roads, rail and transit.
