Contact: White House Media Affairs
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More than $8 Billion Made Available Across the Country for Mass Transit
President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced the availability of $81,640,826 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for Wisconsin in public transportation funding. The funding was part of $8.4 billion made available to repair and build America’s public transportation infrastructure.
“All over the country, resources are being put to work not only creating jobs now – but also investing in the future. A future that strengthens our transit system, makes us more energy efficient and increases safety,” said Vice President Joe Biden. “With this recovery package, we will be creating jobs, saving jobs, and putting money in people’s pockets. And with these resources, we’ll not only be rebuilding roads and bridges and schools, we’ll be rebuilding America.”
“Investments in public transportation put people to work, but they also get people to work in a way that moves us towards our long term goals of energy security and a better quality of life,” said Secretary LaHood. “That is why transit funding was included in the ARRA and why we think it is a key part of America’s transportation future.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation has already committed $540 million in federally financed loans, about one-third of the total cost, for the intermodal center, which is proceeding on time and on budget.
The U.S. Department of Transportation will monitor state compliance and track job creation. The projects will be web-posted for the public to see with information on projects accessible at http://www.recovery.gov.
