States Begin Spending Stimulus Dollars While Some in Texas Call for Needless Delays
Texans for Safe Reliable Transportation (TSRT) today praised and defended TxDOTs plan to move forward with the construction of long-delayed transportation projects that will immediately protect and create vital jobs.
At the same time the group called for an end to partisan bickering over the spending of stimulus dollars and noted today that while President Obama stated we are seeing shovels hit the ground" he could have continued: except in Texas."
TSRT noted that calls for delays in project approvals necessarily means more jobs lost in the immediate future a direct contradiction of the goals stated for the stimulus dollars by President Obama. From AP this morning:
Transportation projects that were once on hold are now starting up again as part of the largest new investment in Americas infrastructure since President Eisenhower built the interstate highway system" Obama said while speaking at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The Transportation Commission TxDOT staff and community leaders throughout the state have done outstanding work setting out to ensure stimulus funds are allocated and authorized within the timeframes specified by the federal government" said Bill Noble a spokesman for the organization. Some are now apparently trying to slow down TxDOTs approval of key shovel ready projects and are wrangling over the funds that have already been allocated to maintenance."
TxDOTs process over the past four months to determine how the funds are spent has invited unprecedented participation from cities counties local MPOs RMAs toll authorities and public testimony as well as considered the many stipulations governing the use of the funds.
It has been a fair and thorough process that does not need to be changed delayed" said Noble.
