The State Transportation Board took action to approve the preliminary list of more than 100 statewide ready-to-go highway projects eligible to receive federal economic recovery funding.
From here, ADOT staff will continue working with local planning councils around Arizona to finalize agreement before the prioritization process moves forward.
The board is expected to finalize the approval of project prioritization, along with funding, at its next regular meeting on March 13th, in Phoenix.
The funding and prioritization process is focused on collaboration at the local levels with a view to the entire state highway system. Arizona is set to receive $521 million in recovery funding, $350 million of which will be allocated by ADOT. Currently, the funding allocation distributes $130 million to the Maricopa County region, $45 million to the Pima County region and $175 million to Arizona's 13 other counties.
Arizona is on a fast track to break ground on these projects. Half of the incoming economic recovery dollars are required to be obligated within 120 days. All funds must be spent and all projects must be complete within three years.
The projects funded by economic recovery money are designed to benefit drivers and communities across Arizona and put thousands of Arizonans back to work. The projects are expected to create 17,000 jobs statewide as highway and bridge improvements get under way.