Federal, state and local departments of transportation (DOTs) in the United States have so far allocated US$7 billion in federal funds during the 2013 Fiscal Year (FY), according to the latest 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) data analysis by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).
The figure, for the year from October 1 2012, is an increase of 56% over the $4.5 billion allocated during the same time period last year.
“The current obligation levels are much more in line with what we expect to see in the marketplace,” said ARTBA chief economist Dr. Alison Premo Black. “The passage of MAP-21 has provided some stability – obligation levels were quite low in FY 2012 and FY 2011 as state transportation departments were dealing with a series of continuing resolutions for the federal aid program.”
ARTBA’s monthly report, Obligation of Federal Highway Funds, states that the $2.3 billion allocated in January 2013 was 13% higher than the amount allocated during January 2012 ($2 billion), but 3.9% less than during January 2010 ($2.4 billion) when state DOTs were said by ARTBA to be rushing to distribute the last of their American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds.
Although allocations are, says Black, off to a good start, there are still some unknowns ahead. Legislation to fund the federal government must be enacted before the end of March if states are to receive more than the $16.9 billion of highway funds that are required to be allocated before the end of the fiscal year.
The figure, for the year from October 1 2012, is an increase of 56% over the $4.5 billion allocated during the same time period last year.
“The current obligation levels are much more in line with what we expect to see in the marketplace,” said ARTBA chief economist Dr. Alison Premo Black. “The passage of MAP-21 has provided some stability – obligation levels were quite low in FY 2012 and FY 2011 as state transportation departments were dealing with a series of continuing resolutions for the federal aid program.”
ARTBA’s monthly report, Obligation of Federal Highway Funds, states that the $2.3 billion allocated in January 2013 was 13% higher than the amount allocated during January 2012 ($2 billion), but 3.9% less than during January 2010 ($2.4 billion) when state DOTs were said by ARTBA to be rushing to distribute the last of their American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds.
Although allocations are, says Black, off to a good start, there are still some unknowns ahead. Legislation to fund the federal government must be enacted before the end of March if states are to receive more than the $16.9 billion of highway funds that are required to be allocated before the end of the fiscal year.
