LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle today announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has obligated $296.5 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) projects three weeks ahead of the June 29, 2009, deadline imposed by federal legislation.  By meeting the federal deadline, Michigan is now eligible to receive any Recovery Act funding redistributed from other states. 
 
"This is great news for Michigan workers and Michigan taxpayers," said Granholm.  "We are rebuilding Michigan infrastructure while putting Michigan men and women back to work."  
 
"This investment will result in approximately 8,800 jobs, including 1,800 construction jobs, 1,200 construction-related jobs, 1,300 supporting industry jobs and 4,500 indirect jobs," Steudle said.  "We also have obligated $36.2 million in local projects to date.  Michigan workers are getting a real bounce from Recovery Act funding." 
 
On March 31, 2009, Granholm signed legislation authorizing Michigan to spend $873 million in Recovery Act highway funding.  The bill allowed the state to invest $635.4 million on state trunk lines (US, I and M routes) with $211.8 million directed to programs administered by local jurisdictions and $25.8 million for rural and intercity bus capital projects. 
 
MDOT also has submitted $13 million in Recovery Act-funded rural transit projects to the Federal Transit Administration, placing the state on track to meet the September 1 federal deadline for obligating half of the rural and intercity transit projects.
 
The $296.5 million in highway funding is the first use of almost $7 billion in Recovery Act dollars allocated for Michigan.
 
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