The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has obligated more than 50 percent of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds well ahead of the federally imposed timetable. While the national deadline to do this is July 2, 2009 RIDOT reached this point on March 16, 2009.
“This ensures that all the ARRA dollars given to Rhode Island will stay in Rhode Island, and positions us to receive any additional dollars other states might not be able to spend,” said RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis.
RIDOT received over $137 million in stimulus funding and was obligated to spend $45.9 million within 120 days of its receipt. RIDOT has now obligated $69 million.
Thirty of the 54 jobs that make up the list of stimulus projects have been authorized to proceed. Bids for 20 of these projects have been opened. Of that, eight have been awarded and several of them are already in active construction.
When completed it is expected that 1,500 direct construction jobs will have been created and 3,500 indirect jobs will come out of the ARRA funding.
To help new and existing contractors to become familiar with the ARRA transportation contracts RIDOT is hosting a Contract Opportunities Fair on Thursday, April 23, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Crossings, Salon IV & V, 801 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick. The event is free and open to the public.