http://www.ctb.virginia.
gov/resources/2009/cm_
6_ARRA_June_17_09.pdf

Virginia has obligated half of its discretionary federal transportation stimulus funding. The Federal Highway Administration has accepted the state’s list of $287 million in highway and transit projects proposed for stimulus funding, the Virginia Department of Transportation said yesterday. June 29 was the deadline for the state to nail down how it will spend 50 percent of the $576.6 million in special federal money for transportation.

Federal authorities have dropped consideration of an eastern route for proposed high-speed rail service through Richmond that would have bypassed Ashland and Amtrak’s main Staples Mill Road station.

Virginia spent half a million dollars to carry more than 72,000 transit passengers free to President Barack Obama’s inaugural. The $500,578 cost works out to about $6.92 for each of the 72,293 passengers. The state initially estimated the one-day bus service would cost up to $975,000. Virginia officials say the free service—which handled an estimated 4 percent of inauguration attendees—was key to avoiding massive traffic jams in Northern Virginia during the event. It will seek reimbursement from the federal government.