USDOT's 2014 TIGER Grant Awards

[Grzrd]

USDOT has posted the 2014 TIGER grant awards:

http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/TIGER14_Project_FactSheets.pdf

Kentucky's Mountain Parkway Extension received a $24 million grant.

[hbelkins]

Yep. I found out when the rest of the world did -- when the governor and Congressman Hal Rogers made a joint announcement in advance of USDOT's formal announcement.

[Revive 755]

^ Too many planning projects IMHO.  There's already enough maintenance and known needs out there awaiting funding for construction.

[froggie]

Plenty of "known needs" among the planning projects there as well.  Which, as you know, just about every project requires environmental documentation before it can proceed.

Plenty of construction projects too (including a US 10/CSAH 83 interchange in Ramsey, MN and widening MD 175 through Fort Meade), which of course require a lot more money.  By including some planning projects, the money gets spread around a little more.

[hbelkins]

Regarding the Mountain Parkway grant -- Kentucky is probably lucky they got their application submitted in time. State offices are closed the afternoon of Good Friday, and I took the morning off for a doctor's appointment in Lexington. When I got out my BlackBerry (yes, my work device is still a BlackBerry but that should change hopefully soon) had blown up with emails and phone calls. The consultants were trying to get the application together and everybody in state government was out of the office. They were looking for some specific info I had that I had to dig up and send them once I got home. Not sure if the deadline snuck up on them or what.