Press Release: Gains in Recovery Act Transportation Jobs
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
WWW.COLORADO.GOV/GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19, 2009
CONTACTS:
Stacey Stegman, 303.757.9362, stacey.stegman@dot.state.co.us
Myung Oak Kim, 303.947.5708, myung.kim@state.co.us
RECOVERY ACT SHOWING GAINS IN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, JOBS
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has been actively working to improve Colorado's transportation system and put people back to work through construction projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Since May, Colorado has seen a significant increase in the number of jobs created or sustained on highway-related construction projects.
"Saving jobs and creating jobs are key elements of the Recovery Act -- and we're starting to see measurable benefits of that in Colorado with dozens of transportation construction projects now underway across the state," Gov. Ritter said. "Millions of dollars have been paid to hard-working Coloradans statewide, and that amount is increasing every day."
As of July 31, CDOT and local agencies have:
- 51 projects put out to bid for contractors (worth $225 million)
- 34 projects under contract (worth $174 million)
- 31 projects under construction or starting soon (worth $171 million)
This summer, Colorado has experienced a huge spike in job preservation and creation with Recovery Act transportation funds. The numbers below are cumulative:
Jobs Data (as of May 31)
65 jobs created or sustained
2,224 payroll hours
$12,537 in payroll expenses
Jobs Data (as of June 30)
576 jobs created or sustained
26,706 payroll hours
$661,621 in payroll expenses
Job Data (as of July 31)
1,685 jobs created or sustained
86,332 payroll hours
$2.14 million in payroll expenses
CDOT Executive Director Russ George added, "I must commend CDOT, our local agency partners and Colorado contractors for quickly and efficiently getting these projects underway so that those who really matter can benefit from these dollars. Colorado gets much needed transportation projects but it's the people on the ground who do the real work that really deserve the credit."