Stimulus News You Can Use is one way WSDOT is working to keep transportation stakeholders updated on the fast-moving effort to put people to work and improve the state’s infrastructure. Each edition will have information on project delivery and highlights. Sign up to receive stimulus news e-mail updates . Visit the Newsletter Archive for earlier editions.
July 28, 2011
This week's stimulus update
WSDOT preparing for next round of TIGER award grants – WSDOT and Washington local governments are preparing for the third nationwide competition for TIGER Grants, or Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery Grants. The U.S. Department of Transportation is accepting applications for the $527 million in TIGER 3 grant funds available this year, inspired by the original TIGER program included in the 2009 Recovery Act.
The U.S. Department of Transportation held an informational webinar on the application process in July and will begin accepting grant requests in September. Pre-applications are due by October 3, 2011 and completed applications must be submitted by October 31, 2011.
Washington has received five TIGER, or Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery, grants in two national competitions. The first round steered $1.5 billion in Recovery Act funds to high priority highway, rail, port, and transit projects nationwide, including projects in Spokane in Seattle. In the second round of awards, nicknamed TIGER II, three Washington local governments received $45 million of the $600 million available grants for a bridge project, rail improvements, and a road expansion project.
An update on the five grant awards is provided below:
North Spokane Corridor, $35 million TIGER grant – The Francis to Farwell Southbound lanes project is under construction and expected to be complete in spring 2012. The Parksmith Interchange project is expected to be awarded soon and complete in October 2012.
Seattle – Mercer Corridor Improvements, $30 million TIGER grant – Construction is under way and planned for completion in spring 2013.
King County – South Park Bridge Reconstruction, $34 million TIGER II grant – The contract has been awarded and major construction is scheduled to begin August 1.
Port of Vancouver – West Vancouver Freight Access, $10 million TIGER II grant – The grade separation project will be advertised in August and the extended rail siding project will be advertised in early 2012.
Franklin County – East Foster Wells Road Extension, $1.01 million TIGER II grant – The project was awarded in May and is now under construction.
Ferry and Transit project updates
WSDOT Ferries Division completed 10th and final Recovery Act project
In June, WSDOT completed a vessel preservation project on the M/V Kittitas. The project was the last of the 10 terminal and vessel preservation projects. The projects are now complete and WSDOT has spent the nearly $8.5 million it received in Recovery Act funds.
New Recovery Act-funded GTA Transit facility completed
Grant Transit Authority opened its new maintenance and operations base in Moses Lake on June 17. The Recovery Act provided $3.6 million for the $5.1 million project, while WSDOT invested an additional $600,000. The facility includes an administrative building which will house operations and administrative staff. The facility provides covered parking for 28 fleet vehicles and a three-bay maintenance shop with plenty of room for fleet maintenance.
Three transit agencies received eight Recovery Act-funded buses in May and June
Three Washington transit agencies recently received Recovery Act-funded bus deliveries. Clallam Transit received four 35-foot buses in June, Jefferson Transit received two 35-foot buses in June, and Pacific Transit received two 30-foot buses in May.
Highway stimulus delivery (dollars in millions)
Highway projects | State | Local | Total |
|---|
Operationally complete |
44 (86%) |
161 (96%) |
205 (94%) |
Total Projects |
51 |
168 |
219 |
Funding allocated |
$340 |
$150 |
$490 |
Amount expended |
$308.7 (91%) |
$146 (97%) |
$454.7 (92.8%) |
Two completed safety programs are now counted as projects. All projects are now certified, advertised, and either under way or complete.
The Recovery Act highway project list has updated project status. |
Completed Recovery Act highway projects:
WSDOT – US 395/Lee Road to I-90
Port of Tacoma – Lincoln Ave Grade Separation
Airway Heights – Lawson Street Reconstruction
Bainbridge Island – Manitou Beach Drive
Spokane – Hatch Road/43rd to Perry
Ferry County – Countywide Guardrail
Thurston County – Old Highway 99 Turn Lane
Thurston County – Prairie Creek Bridge Replacement
June 2011 Recovery Act employment update:
In June 2011, highway projects receiving Recovery Act funds provided $4.2 million in payroll. To date, employees have worked almost 4.5 million hours on the projects, earning $177 million. More information on Recovery Act employment is available at the employment data website.
June Data | State | Local | June Total | Notes |
|---|
Payroll (in millions) |
$2.1 |
$2.1 |
$4.2 million |
$172.2 million to date |
Labor hours |
48,516 |
46,442 |
94,958 |
4.5 million to date |
Monthly FTEs
(173 hours per monthly FTE) |
280 |
269 |
549 |
2,147 yearly FTEs to date (2080 hours per FTE) |
Employees |
769 |
987 |
1,756 |
Note: Not a count of unique employees |
Note: Includes all labor on projects receiving Recovery Act Federal Highway Administration funds. |
Last revised on November 22, 2011