Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley last week said that the first phase of transportation projects to be financed by the federal economic stimulus package will take about $365 million of the $610 million provided to the state for such work.
“President Obama and Congress have delivered much-needed economic recovery funds and now it is time to put our people to work,” O’Malley said in a release. “We are acting immediately to get transportation projects out the door so we can preserve jobs, protect families, and improve the economy in every region of our state.”
The governor said the $610 million it will invest in transportation will support 17,500 jobs.
The first phase of transit projects includes the purchase of an additional 100 hybrid buses, replacement buses for rural transit systems, and station improvements for the county’s MARC system. The $2.9 million contract to move forward with work at the Laurel MARC station was already approved by the Board of Public Works.
O’Malley said he will announce additional transportation projects to be funded by the stimulus dollars after he meets with local governments and transit and highway representatives at the federal level.
