Virginia Secretary of Transportation http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/rss/HomePageRSS.cfm Secretary of Transportation - Latest News Releases (c) Secretary of Transportation 2009 Commonwealth of Virginia <![CDATA[5,900 Jobs Created or Retained by Recovery Act Spending ]]> October 30 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine noted that state agencies have reported more than 5,900 jobs created or saved from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds flowing through the State Treasury. To date, more than $5 billion in ARRA contracts, grants and loans have been awarded in Virginia, with more than half in the form of direct aid to localities and organizations outside of state government.

"President Obama's Recovery Act was intended to get the economy moving again and in Virginia we are beginning to see that occur," Governor Kaine said. "These funds have allowed us to begin construction on infrastructure projects that we would not have been able to build, keep our Medicaid plan funded, improve our schools and in some cases build new ones, and expand unemployment benefits to those most affected by the economic crisis."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1130 <![CDATA[ARRA-Funded Route 3 Widening Begins]]> October 28 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine helped break ground on an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project to widen more than 10 lane miles of Route 3 in Spotsylvania County. The project will be paid for with more than $25 million in ARRA funds.

"This is a great example of the type of job the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was intended to move forward, and it would not have been possible without the support of the President and Congress," Governor Kaine said. "This project will put people to work, and it will pay benefits to the region and to commuters for years to come."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1128 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Announces ARRA Funding to Repair Structurally Deficient Bridges Across Virginia]]> October 22 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that 119 bridges across the Commonwealth will be replaced or repaired using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has awarded seven construction contracts to replace 119 structurally deficient bridges across the state that would otherwise have gone unaddressed. The awarded contracts, totaling $50.7 million, are part of the Commonwealth's continued efforts to invest $694.5 million in highway funding from the ARRA. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1121 <![CDATA[Virginia Submits Next Round of High Speed Rail Projects]]> October 2 — Governor Kaine announced that Virginia has submitted its second application for funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) to develop the I-95 Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor.

The application for approximately $1.8 billion would fund 19 projects along the Petersburg to Washington, D.C. section of the Corridor and raise passenger rail speed to up to 90 MPH by 2017.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1103 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Introduces New Passenger Rail Service for Lynchburg and Central Virginia]]> September 30 — Governor Kainejoined Governor Linwood Holton, Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman, Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman and state and local officials on a Whistle Stop Train Tour to launch new passenger rail service between Lynchburg and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.

Beginning October 1, Amtrak Virginia, a partnership between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Amtrak, will expand daily round-trip service between Lynchburg, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York, Boston and many other cities in between.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1097 <![CDATA[Partnership with Dominion Virginia Power to Promote Clean Fuel Vehicles is Announced ]]> September 22 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced as part of his Renew Virginia initiative a partnership with Dominion Virginia Power to install electric vehicle charging stations at certain state rest areas. These charging stations, installed at no cost to the state, are designed to accommodate most of today's hybrid electric vehicles and use of the stations will be complimentary. Earlier this month the first electric vehicle charging stations were installed at the westbound New Kent Safety Rest Area on Interstate 64 and can charge up to four vehicles at a time.

The stations charge vehicles at 120 volts and will eventually be upgraded to 240 volts. During the fall, the Virginia Department of Transportation will continue to work with Dominion to identify other facilities for electric vehicle charging stations installations.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1082 <![CDATA[$17 Million in Highway Safety Grants is Awarded ]]> September 2 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the award of more than $17 million in federal grants to support traffic safety programs in Virginia.

The programs receiving grant funds include increasing safety belt and child safety seat usage and promoting awareness of risks for teen and senior drivers.

For a complete list of grant recipients, please visit: http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/safety/grants/2010_grant_awards.pdf

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1054 <![CDATA[Governor Announces National Award for Greater Lynchburg Transit Company]]> August 27 — Governor Kaine announced that The Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GLTC) has received the 2009 Outstanding Transit System Achievement Award from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

This marks the second consecutive year that the APTA has recognized the quality of Virginia's transit service at the national level with an Outstanding Transit System Achievement Award for a Virginia operator.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1049 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine, Local Leaders Make Case for High Speed Rail in Virginia ]]> July 21 — Governor Kaine joined with regional business and local government officials to appeal for federal funds to develop high speed rail between Washington, D.C. and the Richmond and Petersburg region.

The broad swath of state and local officials stood with representatives of area Chambers of Commerce in a strong show of support for expanded passenger rail service that would encourage economic development along one of the nation's busiest corridors. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1001 <![CDATA[$1 Billion Milestone in ARRA Funding Allocated for Infrastructure Projects is Announced]]> July 20 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that more than $1 billion in American Restoration and Recovery Act funding has been allocated for infrastructure projects in Virginia. The infrastructure projects, and jobs created, would not have been possible without the stimulus money provided by the federal government.

"These projects are beginning at a time when we are facing a national economic crisis, and they are putting Virginians to work," Governor Kaine said. "The projects also will pay long-term dividends to all of us, in the form of improved bridges and highways, railways and other transit, sewage treatment and drinking water."

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