Monday, August 10, 2009
Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, decided last week to publicize the best and worst performing states when it comes to using stimulus funds for highway projects. Using a formula based on the percentage of Recovery Act highway funds put out to bid, under contract or actually underway, Oberstar’s committee determined that Wyoming ($186 million; 45 projects) had done the best job of utilizing its highway monies, having committed 76% of its funds. Right behind Wyoming was New Hampshire ($182 million; 24 projects; 64%) and Oklahoma ($523 million; 48 projects; 53%).
On the other hand, Florida was deemed to have done the poorest job of using the stimulus funds to begin new road efforts, having used only 2% of its allocated highway funds. Even though state officials had launched 66 projects, they had received considerably more money than Wyoming—$1.76 billion. Then, there’s Hawaii, recipient of $199 million, which has only started one new highway project and, as of June 30, had yet to spend a single dollar. South Carolina was also singled out, having been given $486 million and launched only 15 projects, using only 3% of available funds.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Wyoming is Best, Florida Worst in Utilizing Recovery Act Highway Funding (House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
Letter to Wyoming Governor Freudenthal (House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee) (PDF)
Letter to Florida Governor Charlie Crist (House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee) (PDF)
T&I Committee Transparency and Accountability Information by State and Formula Funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee) (PDF)
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