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States gear up for stimulus funds

“Democracy in Action” as New Websites and Accountability Standards Facilitate Transparency

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has triggered a remarkable surge of activity in all 50 states that goes far beyond the necessity of qualifying ready-to-go projects pursuing funding. At least 38 states have created new websites to help manage the project selection, disbursement, and oversight process, and new sites are going up almost daily. These brand new websites reflect President Obama’s commitment—and certainly mine as well—to keep the American public fully informed about what’s happening. That means spelling out investment levels, openly inviting project proposals, and explaining how the funds will be tracked and monitored.

Let me share a few examples:

Colorado

Governor Ritter has created an Economic Recovery and Accountability Board to provide oversight of ARRA funds—with the information to be posted online. 

Maine

Governor Baldacci has issued an executive order to ensure accountability, transparency, and legislative oversight of federal funds. 

Montana

Legislation is moving through the state Senate to create a commission—including private citizens—on ARRA oversight.

The list goes on from there.

I am greatly encouraged by how swiftly states are moving into position, so that they can deliver these funds where they are needed most—and put people to work as quickly as possible.

This is truly a great example of democracy in action. And as I’ve said repeatedly, the DOT will do its part to ensure that every dollar of ARRA is spent wisely, responsibly, and with full transparency.

Amtrak gets $1.3 billion in capital funding from stimulus

In the past two weeks, I've been fortunate to be able to announce the release of funds from the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for several different projects, projects that put Americans to work while also positioning the American economy for the future.

Today's good news, however, is a capital investment in America's rail capacity. And, by now everyone knows that any significant Amtrak announcement ought to be handled by one of its most faithful passengers, Vice President Joe Biden.

So, today Vice President Biden announced $1.3 billion in grants to Amtrak. This roughly doubles the size of Amtrak's capital investment program over a two-year period. Funds will be used to upgrade railroad assets and infrastructure and for capital projects that expand passenger rail capacity. In the spirit of the stimulus, these funds will create jobs near recently closed manufacturing facilities in areas that have been hard hit by the economic downturn.

We're putting idle cars back in service. We're rebuilding key elements of the power supply that have been in service since the 1920s. And, we're installing positive-train-control for increased safety.

A while ago I told National Public Radio that rail travel would be "a transformational issue for this administration when it comes to transportation," and this grant, managed by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), begins to make good on that claim.  As James RePass, leader of the National Corridors Initiative said, "Suddenly, we have a president who absolutely, positively gets it." Columnist Neal Pierce says the change in rail policy by this administration "couldn't be more dramatic."

We are committed to a modern rail system-for freight, for passengers, for America.

Cyclists are important users of transportation systems

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of addressing the National Bike Summit. I was invited to speak as a member of the Obama administration, but I have been a supporter of bicycling for many years and was a member of the Congressional Bike Caucus when I was in Congress.

Still, I don't think the League of American Bicyclists knew what to expect when they invited me to their summit.

I hope they were pleasantly surprised because I am committed to investing in programs that encourage bikes to coexist with other modes and to safely share our roads and bridges. And there’s strong support in Congress for these goals as well.

In the Department of Transportation, bicyclists have a full partner in working toward livable communities. We're excited that the Federal Highway Administration is looking at best practices in Europe to improve safety and mobility for walkers and cyclists. We're excited that a federally funded pilot project to study the effects of improved walking and bicycling facilities in four communities is underway. I think I conveyed that excitement to the summit, judging by the early response (BikePortland.org, Streetsblog.org)

I welcome the vigor of the bicycling community in advocating for bike-friendly measures in the upcoming authorization bill, CLEAN-TEA. Bicycles are a critical part of a cleaner, greener future in American transportation, so keep those wheels spinning.

Secretary's Blog 3/12/09

First Economic Recovery Act Money Released

$12 Million for Pennsylvania Airports

The Department of Transportation has lived up to its promise to move Recovery Act funds out the door as quickly as possible.

Providing additional resources for critical aviation projects as part of this historic effort is especially important.

Pittsburgh International and Allegheny County Airports will receive the first funding allocations for airport infrastructure projects..

I’m committed to getting this economy moving again, and these grants are a part of making that happen.

This is money that will create jobs now, but it’s also an investment in the long-term safety of our airports and their economic vitality. It’s also a critical investment in our nation’s airport infrastructure that will boost the local economy by providing jobs for Pittsburgh-area residents.

The FAA is moving swiftly to work with airport sponsors to ensure that all of the roughly 3,400 airports eligible to receive Recovery Act funds obtain those funds for eligible projects as soon as possible.

As with all projects funded through the Recovery Act, taxpayers can monitor how this money is spent by visiting www.recovery.gov.

  

Senate Testimony Highlights Need for Public Transportation Investment

 

Today I testified before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on reauthorization of federal surface transportation programs.   With the current authorization set to expire at the end of September, the time is right to examine our current highway, transit and rail programs to see how they might better serve the traveling public and contribute to America’s economic recovery, and I welcomed this opportunity for a dialogue with the Senate on our nation’s transportation needs.

Even before we act on the new authorization, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) already has resulted in a $48 billion down payment toward much-needed investment in our transportation infrastructure.  Funds are already going out to states, local governments and airport authorities, putting people back to work while improving the safety and efficiency of our transportation system.

In my confirmation hearing just over one month ago, I outlined four key themes for my tenure as Secretary.  In addition to economic recovery, which is my primary immediate concern, and safety, which is always an important part of the mission of the Department, I suggested that sustainability and livability would be hallmarks of my policies.  As I told the committee, these principles must become an integral part of all of our transportation planning.

It is clear that our transportation system and the development it enables must be sustainable.  Climate change must be acknowledged as a reality.  Funding for public transportation must increase to help out here.  Sustainability must permeate all we do, from highways and transit to aviation and ports.

I am also committed to a strong focus on people and communities where they live and work. This implies a commitment to livability -- that is, investing in ways that respect the unique character of each community.  The era of one-size-fits-all transportation projects must give way to one where preserving and enhancing unique community characteristics, be they rural or urban, is a primary goal, rather than an afterthought.  I intend to make livable communities a major part of reauthorization.  

That is why I am especially pleased that ARRA makes available $8.4 billion for capital expenditures for our nation’s public transit, especially at a time when transit ridership is at a 50-year high.  This funding will address the need to restore and improve our nation’s transit systems, and at the same time save or create thousands of good, well-paid jobs across America.

The Senators and I agreed that there is much work ahead of us.  I believe that working together we can craft an improved federal surface transportation program that helps improve the lives of the American people.

Focus on Accountability and Transparency

 

President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Congress have sent a very strong, clear message to the American people:  Every dollar spent through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be accounted for.  I couldn’t agree more.

 

This money will be spent by the book. No shortcuts. No boondoggles. And full transparency.

 

At the Department of Transportation, we are absolutely committed to accountability.

 

The true meaning of bipartisanship is when the President gives the only Republican in his nominated Cabinet the most amount of money to spend in the recovery program.

 

They may sound like kidding around, but I do not take this responsibility lightly.  Not at all.

 

The American people have put a tremendous amount of trust in their government, and they deserve to see that trust pay dividends in careful, well-documented spending.

 

That is why I am personally addressing Department of Transportation employees regarding our peculiar responsibility for $48 billion in ARRA funds.  While we have always taken our oversight role seriously, now it’s time to kick it up a notch.

 

And, we have already jumped out in front of this by establishing our TIGER team of leaders across several offices to manage these funds. Their task is to track the money as it is being spent, ensure transparency, and meet all accountability requirements.

 

I have directed all DOT employees to cooperate fully with that team, and I fully expect they will.

 

The transparency made possible by recovery.gov provides yet another layer of accountability.  So, as we at DOT go about the important business of creating jobs and encouraging economic development around the nation, I expect the American people to hold our feet to the fire.