METROPLAN ORLANDO Positions Central Florida for Stimulus Dollars

2/12/2009

METROPLAN ORLANDO Board approves a ranked list of potential transportation projects to receive economic stimulus funding.

METROPLAN ORLANDO, the regions transportation planning organization, is moving forward with a prioritized list of construction-ready projects eligible for funding under the federal economic stimulus legislation currently in conference committee. The METROPLAN ORLANDO Board approved the list of 225 potential projects in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties worth nearly $3.5 billion during its regularly scheduled board meeting on February 11.

"We're still awaiting the final details of the federal economic stimulus package, but it was important for us to approve this list to position Central Florida to take advantage of the funds as soon as they are released," said METROPLAN ORLANDO Board Chairman and Osceola County Commissioner John Quiñones. "We're ready to put people to work and improve our transportation system immediately."

The House version and the Senate version of the legislation both include provisions to direct a portion of the funding directly to organizations, like METROPLAN ORLANDO, in an effort to best direct resources to projects identified as local priorities. The prioritized list is significantly more comprehensive than the level of funding anticipated, giving the board an opportunity to take advantage of funding that may only apply to specific categories, including: (1) highway projects, (2) management and operations (ex: traffic light synchronization, etc.), bridge and resurfacing projects, and (3) enhancement projects (ex: bicycle trails, sidewalks, etc.).

Transit and aviation projects were approved separately because funding will be directed to these categories directly from the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Aviation Administration, respectively.

The priority list will also be used by the Florida Department of Transportation and the local FDOT district covering Central Florida. Both will also receive funding as part of the economic stimulus legislation and will use the METROPLAN ORLANDO list as they contemplate funding projects through out the state.

To be eligible for stimulus funding, projects must be construction-ready within a specified number of days and must meet federal standards, such as the National Environmental Protection Act. The projects must also be part of the METROPLAN ORLANDOs long range transportation plan. Since the intent of the stimulus is to move programmed projects forward faster, project expenses incurred prior to the president's signature on the stimulus bill will not be reimbursed.

Summary of Projects in METROPLAN ORLANDO's Regional Stimulus List

Project Category	Number of Projects	Total
Highway	21	$2,962,800,000
Management and Operations; Bridge; and Resurfacing	90	$93,634,653
Enhancement and Other	77	$153,089,450
Transit	8	$24,915,000
Aviation	29	$200,038,781
METROPLAN ORLANDO List Total	225	$3,434,477,884

To view the complete list of prioritized projects, please click here. Central Floridians can also leave comments by emailing clambert@metroplanorlando.com or calling (407) 481-

For more information contact:

Cynthia Lambert
407-481-5672 x320
pr@metroplanorlando.com

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